Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 1, 1990 TAG: 9005010468
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I've been thinking about that a lot," said McDonald, Salem's No. 1 singles player. "Today isn't the end of it."
Indeed, the pair likely will meet again in the Blue Ridge District Tournament, and only one will advance to the Region III tournament and have a chance at the Group AA title. William Byrd's Veloso plays in boys' tournaments because the Blue Ridge District doesn't sponsor girls' team play. She and McDonald are considered two of the top AA players in the state.
Monday, McDonald was better. While Veloso's groundstrokes and serve betrayed her, McDonald's thumping serve and baseline game helped him win 6-2, 6-2 at Stoneridge Park near Byrd.
McDonald, a senior, said the key to his win was ignoring Veloso's gender.
"Since the last match," McDonald said of his 7-6, 7-5 loss to Veloso, "I decided to just look at it as a match, and not boy versus girl . . . [to] play her like I play anybody."
McDonald said he played more at ease Monday than the last time. This time, Veloso, a junior, seemed uptight and couldn't control her shots.
She fell behind 4-0 in the first set and trailed 3-2 in the second set when she lost her serve. McDonald, after netting a backhand, overpowered Veloso with a deep service return. Veloso hit long for 15-30, then fell behind 15-40 when her attacking backhand sailed wide. Another long baseline backhand gave McDonald the break.
McDonald won the match with two love games, taking the sixth game when Veloso hit four straight long backhands.
"Nothing was working for me," said Veloso, who double-faulted seven times. "I wasn't patient; I wasn't thinking or anything."
McDonald's win tied the pair's lifetime series at three matches each and lifted his record to 9-1. Veloso is 5-1.
In other high school sports action Monday:
\ BASEBALL: At Daleville, Eric Smith's two-run single in a three-run seventh broke open a 2-1 game and gave Salem a 5-2 Blue Ridge District victory against Lord Botetourt. Todd Tomlin added three hits for the Spartans (4-4 in the district, 7-8 overall). David Meador had three hits for Botetourt (5-3, 9-5).
At Northside, run-scoring singles by Mickey Catron and Bobby Foster in the seventh inning gave Northside a 6-5 Blue Ridge District victory over William Byrd.
\ SOFTBALL: Down 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Lynchburg Christian took advantage of five North Cross errors for five runs and went on to a 12-8 Blue Ridge Conference victory at Lynchburg. Losing pitcher Kristen Humphries (8-2) went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs to lead the Raiders (4-2, 8-2).
At William Byrd, Lisa Hodges pitched a three-hitter and the Terriers defeated Northside 6-3 in a Blue Ridge District game. Patti Fisher stole three bases and scored two runs for Northside, which had seven stolen bases.
At Salem, Tracy Palmer overcame a nine-walk performance by allowing only one hit in 6 innings as Salem defeated Lord Botetourt 8-4. Palmer had a three-run double in the third inning, and Michelle Harrison pounded four hits for the Spartans (6-2, 11-2). Botetourt is 6-2, 10-3.
Cave Spring (3-1, 5-7) scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Patrick Henry 8-7 in a Roanoke Valley District game.
At River's Edge in Roanoke, Shelley Bowles bases-loaded triple helped her total five RBI and lead Franklin County to a 21-7 Roanoke Valley District win against William Fleming.
\ BOYS' SOCCER: At Vinton, Scott Brammer scored three goals and Shawn Niday and Brian Sowers added two each to lead William Byrd to a 9-1 Blue Ridge District victory over Lord Botetourt. Byrd (8-0, 10-0) clinched a bye in the first round of the district tournament, which begins a week from Wednesday.
At Salem, Bruck Alemayehu scored three goals to lead Salem to a 7-1 Blue Ridge District win against Alleghany. Salem is 7-1, 9-2.
At Massanutten, Roanoke Catholic scored four goals in the second half, two by P.J. McCarthy, to defeat Massanutten Military Academy 4-1. Catholic is 3-2-1 in the Virginia Independent Conference, 5-2-1 overall.
\ GIRLS' SOCCER: At North Cross, Lisa Beightol scored two goals and Amy Pratt added another as Cave Spring (6-1-2) defeated the Raiders 3-0 in a nondistrict game. North Cross is 1-6.
At Martinsville, Ann King scored twice to lead the Bulldogs past Salem 3-1. Amanda Jones scored for the Spartans (3-5-1). Martinsville is 9-1.
by CNB