THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180269
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK back on the 1995 South Hampton Roads softball season, they'll call it the year of the pitcher.
This area, once considered pitching-poor relative to the powerful Northern Virginia region, now appears loaded with quality hurlers, which has made it tough not only on hitters but also on those of us charged with selecting The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's All-Tidewater team. The team reserves only two spots for pitchers, and it's not going to be easy paring through the many worthy candidates in what's been a watershed year for area hurlers.
How strong of a pitching year has it been? Bayside's Amy Hooks, a two-time All-Tidewater player of the year who is putting together another fine season, may be the third-best pitcher in her own district.
``The pitching in Tidewater this year is probably better than its ever been,'' Salem coach Larry Bowman said. ``Instead of one or two good pitchers, we've got seven or eight.''
According to Bayside coach Conrad Parker, the pitching breakthrough can be traced to the recent trend toward getting tips from pitching coaches. Parker said he started that trend by bringing in Mona Stevens, a country singer turned pitching coach at the University of Massachusetts. Stevens conducted clinics for five straight summers locally, during which she tutored most of the top hurlers in Virginia Beach.
These days, Tim Laws is the most prominent pitching guru. The father of Great Bridge fireballer Denise Wack, Laws includes several other pitching stars among his pupils, most notably Booker T. Washington ace Donna Self.
The result of all this instruction, Parker said, is that the Group AAA teams in Hampton Roads may be finally ready to put an end to the state tournament dominance currently enjoyed by Northern Region teams.
``(Pitching) was the only thing that's kept us back the last 10 years,'' Parker said. ``Now we've caught up, and I honestly believe we can play with anyone in the state now.''
Good news for area softball fans? Sure. But it sure is complicating things for those of us charged with selecting the cream of a very talented crop.
The post-season tournaments, many of which begin Monday, will go a long way toward sorting things out. So on the eve of the stretch run, here's a breakdown of some of the prime contenders (in alphabetical order, with statistics through Sunday):
Nicole Belote, senior, Western Branch
The stats: 12-3 record, 1.78 ERA, 94 1/3 innings, 55 hits, 75 strikeouts, 34 walks, 24 earned runs.
The skinny: Another second-team All-Tidewater selection a year ago . . . mixes up to six pitches effectively, makes hitters swing, then wish they hadn't . . . average fastball . . . including non-district slate, has probably faced the toughest competition of all the pitchers . . . at her best in big games, according to coach Chris Ake . . . helped by excellent defense . . . leads Western Branch regulars with a .491 average.
Bottom line: A thinking person's pitcher, her value extends well beyond her numbers.
Bronwyn Blair, sophomore, Salem The stats: 13-2 record, 105 innings, 5 walks, 95 strikeouts.
The skinny: Threw no-hitter against Kempsville Friday . . . first team all-district and region in 1994 . . . good velocity, but really excels at changing speeds and location . . . remarkable control . . . one veteran umpire calls her the best pitcher he's seen . . . bats second, hitting .380 . . . losses, both to Princess Anne, were 1-0 and 3-2 in nine innings.
Bottom line: Imagine what she'll be like as a senior.
Melissa Hirsch, freshman, Princess Anne The stats: 12-1 record, 1.38 ERA, 95 innings, 78 hits, 89 strikeouts, 25 walks, 18 earned runs.
The skinny: Doesn't rattle, remarkably calm for a young pitcher . . . has been involved in a lot of close games, but pitches well when there's little margin for error . . . mixes speeds effectively, keeps hits off-balance . . . induces loads of ground balls . . . duels with Salem's Blair have been mound classics, but Hirsch has won both.
Bottom line: So what if she's only a freshman?
Amy Hooks, senior, Bayside The stats: 5-3 record, 0.98 era, 57 innings, 33 hits, 46 strikeouts, 4 walks, 33 hits, 8 earned runs.
The skinny: Two-time All-Tidewater player of the year, has already signed a letter-of-intent to play for East Carolina University . . . keeps ball down, induces a lot of ground balls . . . makes hitters earn their way on base . . . excellent competitor . . . record hurt by Marlins' inconsistent offense . . . shares pitching duties with sophomore Heidi Hill (6-0, 2.80 ERA), although Hooks generally draws the tougher teams.
Bottom line: Must come on strong down the stretch.
Sarah Putnam, junior, Nansemond-Suffolk The stats: 20-4 record, 0.88 ERA, 126 2/3 innings, 38 hits, 191 strikeouts, 35 walks, 16 earned runs.
The skinny: If numbers were the sole criteria in picking this team, Putnam's line would end all debate . . . A first-team All-Tidewater pick last year (19-2, 1.06 ERA, 174 Ks in 144 innings), Putnam has responded with an even more dominant campaign . . . overpowers hitters with premium heat, but savvy enough to change speeds on hitters the second and third times through the lineup . . . showed what she could do against quality opponents by posting back-to-back victories over Eastern District powers Booker T. Washington and Granby . . . numbers helped to a degree by competing in the relatively weak TCIS, where Putnam's talent far exceeds that of most hitters.
Bottom line: How much more could she have done?
Donna Self, senior, Booker T. Washington The stats: 13-2 record, 0.57 ERA, 165 strikeouts, 26 walks, 99 innings, 8 earned runs.
The skinny: A second-team All-Tidewater pick last season . . . arguably the area's fastest pitcher . . . effort sometimes undermined by a shaky defense . victory a 5-1 one-hitter against Nansemond River . . . is also hitting .455 (bats third) with 21 RBI and 21 runs scored.
Bottom line: Her numbers dazzle, but a big postseason against elite teams wouldn't hurt.
Denise Wack, sophomore, Great Bridge The stats: 11-3 record, 1.82 ERA, 100 innings, 67 hits, 91 strikeouts, 27 walks, 26 earned runs.
The skinny: Pronounced ``Walck'' . . . excellent speed; still learning location and how to change speeds . . . very dedicated, works year-round, rain or shine, on her game . . . can help herself defensively . . . decent hitter and would like to bat, but coach Noble Palmer, wanting to take some of the pressure off her, often uses a DH for her.
Bottom line: Awfully good now, but still a work in progress. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Sarah Putnam, a junior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, has a 20-4
record.
by CNB