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But there is no question about it: Sherwood (16-3 in 2006) will be circled on every team’s calendar this season. And handling that pressure is going to be crucial to its success. But maturity should be on the Warriors’ side this year.

Senior left-handed pitcher Dana Ward (16-3 record last year), who tallied a school-record 256 strikeouts in 2006 en route to a 0.65 earned-run average and batted .404 with 25 runs batted in, will return to the pitcher’s circle. This’ll be her third year starting. She held opponents to a .066 batting average last season, threw 12 shutouts, a perfect game, four one-hitters and will be the literal center of attention.

But Ward doesn’t have the spotlight solely on her. There are other talented returnees as well in senior catcher Katie Obal, sophomore Taylor Stockinger, who’ll move from third base to shortstop and senior first baseman Shannon Price, who spent last year in the outfield. Obal threw out 5 of 8 runners who tried to steal on her last year and led the team at the plate with a .541 batting average and 26 RBI. Sherwood also has high expectations for freshman second baseman Kat Korrea.

Juniors Kelly Morrow and Kathy Holonich will play outfield. Holonich boasted a 1.000 fielding percentage in right field in 2006 and batted .418 with 25 RBI. Morrow batted .333 with 13 RBI and had a .984 fielding average.

‘‘We have the skill,” Sherwood coach Pat Flanagan said. ‘‘Nothing about the game has changed. The field is the same. The ball is the same. The bats are the same. We have to be determined and we can’t doubt ourselves. So far, their attitude, their work ethic, they’ve been pretty businesslike. They know they can’t just show up in their uniforms thinking, ‘Oh, don’t we look good.’”

With 13 seniors, Blair (16-2) is possibly the most seasoned team in the county. Last year the Blazers won the Montgomery 4A South Division title, their second division title overall and first since 2003. But they fizzled out early in the playoffs for the second straight year. This season Blair’s main focus is a successful postseason run.

‘‘I’ve been waiting for this year since these kids came in as freshmen,” Blair coach Louie Hoelman said. ‘‘I remember saying, ‘I can’t wait until their senior year.’ And all of a sudden it’s their senior year. ... I know the team will be judged by how far we get in the playoffs. We’re trying to focus and peak at the right time. I think it will be a disappointment if we couldn’t win the region and get to states. Anything less than that would not be a successful season with the experience we have.”

Three-year starting right fielder Allison Rubin is a stalwart in the outfield for the Blazers. Her speed enables her to run down just about anything hit in her direction. She’s also an important part of the team’s offense. She batted .444 with three home runs, 18 runs scored and 12 RBI in the second position last year and will lead off in 2007.

Senior pitcher Annie Dennenberg, who split time with senior Michelle Linford last year, will start off the season as the team’s lone pitcher — Linford injured her shoulder and is awaiting test results to see if she’ll be available this year. Dennenberg compiled an 8-1 record last season, with 52 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA. Linford, who also plays shortstop, recorded a 7-1 record, with 59 strikeouts. She batted .491.

Springbrook (11-5) suffered two big personnel losses last year in 25-year coach John Haberman and catcher Avian Spiller, who batted .321 with 21 RBI and boasted a .965 fielding percentage.

But, the Blue Devils, under the leadership of first-year coach Michael Miller, do return their starting pitcher, Kelly Callan. And they’ll also rely on returning seniors Lauren Reed, at first base, and Melaney Cox in the outfield for strong performances.

After relinquishing its 2005 Montgomery 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division title to Poolesville last season, Paint Branch (9-7) surprised everyone, including itself, by getting to the Class 3A West Region final (losing to Tuscarora). The Panthers lost five players from that team, including four-year starting pitcher⁄shortstop Stephanie Wood.

The Panthers’ first goal is to regain the division title. And, backed by talented returnees, junior first baseman Michelle Tabisz, who batted .366, senior leftfielder Natalia Sanchez (.521 with 17 RBI) and senior third baseman Amy Ferguson (.407 with 15 RBI), among others, that’s a definite possibility.

Junior Noelle Tom-Wigfield will take over as starting pitcher. She pitched in seven games last season, tallying 32 strikeouts. But she’ll have a lot more responsibilities and how well she copes will be important to the team’s overall success.

Wheaton (1-17) and Kennedy (1-15) struggled last season but both are confident they’ll be able to notch more wins in 2007.

Kennedy is led by junior outfielders Juliette Turner and Mercedes Reid, senior second baseman Naomi Kling, senior catcher Dahlia Joyner and senior outfielder Lili Pham. Wheaton will look for solid performances from junior pitcher Amy Grubic and seniors Katie Mettee and Rachel Gedling.

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference basically consists of O’Connell (463-55 in last 18 years), and a bunch of team’s trying to catch up to it. Good Counsel (12-12) and Holy Cross (7-9) are hoping to inch closer to the Knights this year after losing early in last year’s WCAC tournament — both lost in the quarterfinals.

That’ll be a tough task for Good Counsel, who graduated a slew of talented players, including pitcher Kim Bartlett, who went 11-9 with 160 strikeouts and a 1.60 ERA, second baseman Laura Raymer (.300) and shortstop Laura Keeley (.250, 21 RBI). But they’ll look to returning junior Grace Bennett, who led the team with a .360 batting average and .900 fielding percentage in a variety of positions, including catcher, pitcher and center field.

Inconsistency has really hindered the success rate of Holy Cross success in recent years. But under first-year coach Rusty Dillon, the Tartans have put an emphasis on polishing their fundamentals and acquiring a true understanding of the game. They’re led by junior pitcher Lanie Parr, who racked up 133 strikeouts and led the team offensively with a .383 batting average, junior catcher Diane Lightner and senior Mandy Finucane.

Fast Facts

Blair Blazers

Head coach: Louie Hoelman, 7th year

Last year’s record: 16-2

League affiliation: Montgomery 4A South Division

Last state appearance: None

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Michelle Linford (Sr., P⁄SS), Annie Dennenberg (Sr., P), Allison Rubin (Sr., OF)

Blake Bengals

Head coach: Mary Moser, 3rd year

Last year’s record: 8-8

League affiliation: Montgomery 4A East Division

Last state appearance: None

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Brooke Speake (Jr., 2B), Hannah Elie (Soph., C)

Good Counsel Falcons

Head coach: Paula Obal, 5th year

Last year’s record: 13-9

League affiliation: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

Last league title: 2000

Players to watch: Grace Bennett (Jr., OF), Krystyna Buda-Ortins (Sr., CF), Karah Kuczarski (Soph., C).

Holy Cross Tartans

Head coach: Rusty Dillon, 1st year

Last year’s record: 7-9

League affiliation: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

Last league title: None

Players to watch: Lanie Parr (Jr., P), Diane Lightner (Jr., C)

Kennedy Cavaliers

Head coach: Rita Boule, 9th year

Last year’s record: 1-15

League affiliation: Montgomery 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division

Last state appearance: None

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Juliette Turner (Jr., OF), Dahlia Joyner (Sr., C), Mercedes Reid (Jr., OF)

Paint Branch Panthers

Head coach: Maura Ryan, 9th year

Last year’s record: 9-7

League affiliation: Montgomery 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division

Last state appearance: 1987 (2nd)

Last state title: 1987 (1st)

Players to watch: Michelle Tabisz (Jr., 1B), Natalia Sanchez (Sr., LF), Amy Ferguson (Sr., 3B)

Sherwood Warriors

Head coach: Pat Flanagan, 11th year

Last year’s record: 16-3

League affiliation: Montgomery 4A East Division

Last state appearance: 1984 (1st)

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Dana Ward (Sr., P), Katie Obal (Sr., C), Kathy Holonich (Jr., RF)

Springbrook Blue Devils

Head coach: Michael Miller, 1st year

Last year’s record: 11-5

League affiliation: Montgomery 4A East Division

Last state appearance: 2000 (10th)

Last state title: 1982 (1st)

Players to watch: Kelly Callan (Sr., P), Lauren Reed (Sr., 1B), Melaney Cox (Sr., OF)

Wheaton Knights

Head coach: Ashley Osbourne, 3rd year

Last year’s record: 1-17

League affiliation: Montgomery 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division

Last state appearance: 1979 (2nd)

Last state title: 1979 (1st)

Player to watch: Amy Grubic (Jr., P)