Will they meet again?
It sure seems that way as the brackets for the Division I private-school girls state tournament are set up for the top-seed and defending champion Bishop O’Connell Knights to play the second-seeded Potomac School Panthers in the championship game. The teams met in the past two title games, with O’Connell winning each, last spring and in 2019. The 2020 tournament was not played because of the pandemic.
In 2017 and 2018, the teams met those seasons in the semifinals of the state tourney, with O’Connell winning those contests, as well.
So, the Northern Virginia private-school teams have met four years in a row in the state competition.
O’Connell has an easier path to reach the state final again this season. Potomac School will should win its first game, then have a tough semifinal.
What’s interesting, is the schools are just a few miles apart, but do not play during the regular season, which is unfortunate for girls high-school softball fans. It would be a favorite game to see. Maybe that can be changed in coming years.
In the meantime, will it be five straight years the teams meet in the state?
We’ll see what happens.
– Dave Facinoli
dfacinoli@sungazette.net