Northeast softball holds off Crofton, 5-1, to win first county title in a decade

Kayleigh Fyffe could hear it — yellow plastic clappers on her fans’ side and desperate hoarse dugout screams on the other swelling to an overwhelming din. Northeast led Crofton all through Wednesday’s county championship game, but a four-run lead with one out to go had never been more fragile.

Cardinals batter India Stokes knew how to hit her way to first; two more Cardinals loomed from second and third. One of the county’s most capable producers of a grand slam, Marley Connor, threatened to do exactly that.