The Sherwood softball team stands alone at the top, brimming with ambition, camaraderie, and an exuberance that’s palpable. Their excitement is palpable as they celebrate being the only unbeaten team in the 6A category across the state.
“Honestly, it’s really special,” said junior shortstop Daisha Cornwell after the Bowmen’s decisive 10-1 victory over Mountainside in a nonleague match at Sherwood High School. “We’ve faced tough opponents and overcome many obstacles this season. Our chemistry is stronger than ever, and we’re ready to win every game.”
“That means a lot to all of us, and I think that it just drives us to push even harder,” junior second baseman Hollie Maughan remarked. “Now we know that other teams are going to be coming after us and wanting to take us down. We understand we have a target on our backs, but we’re ready to embrace that challenge and continue improving.”
Such a performance should certainly make teams around the state sit up and take notice, as the Sherwood squad is displaying an air of dominance.
Following their impressive win over the Mavericks, the Bowmen’s record stands at 8-0. Currently, they are positioned at the top of the OSAA 6A power rankings. Their victories include a remarkable 17-5 triumph against a Jesuit team that entered the game with an impressive 7-0 record.
“Even though we know we’re ranked No. 1 right now, we always know that we can overcome even more, and we’re ready to fight through those challenges,” Maughan added.
The Sherwood team didn’t emerge from obscurity this season; they previously recorded a 22-8 mark last year, advancing to the quarterfinal stage of the 6A state playoffs, where they were eliminated by the eventual champions, Sheldon, in a 4-1 match.
Sherwood has retained several prominent players from that roster, including senior outfielder Camryn Knight, recognized as a first-team all-Pacific Conference selection and a third-team 6A all-state pick last season. Senior pitcher Destiny Cornwell also returns as a first-team all-league honoree.
Additionally, the Bowmen have four second-team all-league players returning: senior catcher McKenna Parmalee, Daisha Cornwell, and junior outfielders Jordyn Henderson and Maisy Schindler. Maughan herself earned an honorable mention as an all-conference player.
Still, the Bowmen faced uncertainties this season, particularly in replacing graduated all-state honorable mention pitcher Faith McHill, and adjusting to a completely new coaching staff.
Kris Moore has stepped in as the head coach this year, following last year’s coach, Alex Flores, who transitioned to an assistant coaching role at a college. The Bowmen also welcomed two new assistant coaches, Savannah Braun and Sydney Wagner, both of whom contributed to the Tualatin team that reached the 6A state title games in 2018 and 2019.
Despite these concerns, Sherwood launched the season with fervor, starting off with an 18-0 blowout against Lake Oswego and maintaining their momentum ever since. A significant factor cited by the team is their strong sense of unity.
“I think this year’s team has a ton of good chemistry,” Parmalee noted. “As you can see, we have a ton of energy in the dugout. We all just want the best for each other and are willing to give our all on the field.”
“Team chemistry is key for us. We all get along really well, and it’s a fantastic group of girls. We play selflessly for each other. We all share the same goal and come together with the commitment to win,” Daisha Cornwell added. “There’s a shared hunger for victory among us.”
The Bowmen are not only focused on winning; they also aim to enjoy themselves. Their games are filled with exuberant cheers and dance moves, and the players rarely sit down, preferring to stay engaged right from the first pitch until the final out.
“The fun aspect is huge for us,” Maughan emphasized. “We’re each other’s biggest supporters, and we’re always ready to lift one another up. Regardless of our positions on or off the field, we have each other’s backs. We’ve grown immensely in that aspect, knowing we can rely on every single one of our teammates.”
“This year’s team is a blast to be a part of, and honestly, we perform so much better on the field when we’re enjoying ourselves in the dugout,” Parmalee said. “However, we can also focus when it’s time to lock in.”
That sentiment certainly rings true for the Bowmen.
Just like in the previous season, Sherwood boasts a formidable duo in the circle, with Destiny Cornwell returning as a standout pitcher, alongside freshman Presley Sarono-Ramos, who has quickly made her mark.
In their first eight games, Cornwell achieved a 1.68 earned-run average, allowing 18 hits while striking out 29 and walking six in 25 innings. Sarono-Ramos impressively holds an ERA of 0.74, giving up just three hits and recording 29 strikeouts with 15 walks over 19 innings.
“I’m having a lot of fun. This is a really good experience,” Sarono-Ramos stated. “I think I’m fitting in pretty well. The team was really open to me, and they have been really supportive.”
Sarono-Ramos also has a knack for delivering in critical moments. During the match against Mountainside, the Mavericks had runners on first and second base with no outs in both the first and second innings, but Sarono-Ramos extinguished the threat, striking out the last two batters to wrap up the top of the second.
“When I go out there, I always think about my team and how they want to play and how I can support them,” she shared. “I just want to contribute to everything and try my hardest.”
When not pitching, Sarono-Ramos is also an asset at first base and has proven effective at the plate, batting .444 with three doubles and a team-leading 10 RBIs. Her impressive performance against Mountainside saw her go 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs.
“I was struggling at first, but then Coach Savannah helped me out,” Sarono-Ramos remarked. “She fixed something, and now I’m hitting.”
Maughan currently leads the team with a .550 batting average, complemented by two triples, a home run, and seven RBIs. Daisha Cornwell is batting .450 and has hit three triples. Speedsters Knight and Schindler add to the lineup’s dynamics; Schindler boasts a .435 average with two doubles, two triples, six RBIs, and a team-high eight stolen bases, while Knight has a .421 average, three doubles, seven RBIs, and five steals.
The Bowmen’s lineup appears incredibly solid with no evident weak points; sophomore third baseman Kaya Stevenson holds a .385 average, Parmalee is hitting .364, and Henderson rounds out the squad with a .278 average.
In the victory over Mountainside, the Bowmen delivered 11 hits, including six doubles, with Knight, Daisha Cornwell, and Parmalee each contributing two hits.
“Our offense has done a really good job adjusting to a bunch of different pitchers,” Parmalee noted. “We faced three different pitchers today. Our defense is consistently solid, supporting our pitchers. We’ve also got exceptional pitchers working hard for our defense.”
The Sherwood defense is notably robust, featuring three agile returnees in the outfield. Stevenson, playing third, displayed remarkable skill during the matchup against Mountainside, making a pivotal play in the first inning when she caught a hard ground ball, tagged third base, and fired a throw to first for a double play.
“We have a lot of talent this year, and I think everyone gets the chance to showcase their unique skills,” shared Maughan, who made several impressive sliding stops in the game against the Mavericks. “Some individuals excel in certain areas, and when all the pieces come together, it’s simply magical.”
With impressive pitching, hitting, and defense, along with an undeniable sense of camaraderie and excitement, it’s easy to see why the Bowmen are aiming high for the remainder of the season.
“We want to go all the way. We want to win it,” asserted Daisha Cornwell. “We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing and maintain that momentum.”
“I believe we’re going to perform really well for the rest of the season,” Parmalee added. “Our goal is to go all the way. We’ve got the target on our back now, but that only fuels us to put in more effort every practice and in every game, ensuring we never let down.”
