Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990 TAG: 9005260011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
McNeely rallied twice to defeat Salem's Doris Ballak 7-6 (6-4), 6-4. The Spartan junior, an exchange student from Rheinfelden, Switzerland, had leads of 4-1 in the first set and 3-0 in the second before losing both of them.
"I seem to play better when I'm losing," said McNeely, who played in the singles as freshman and last year, and in the doubles as a sophomore. "For sure I wait until I get down, then I dig in."
McNeely had all sorts of trouble getting her volley to work. When McNeely did get her shot going, the ground strokes were too much for Ballak to handle.
Salem's Doris Ballak and Kristi Garren finished third in the individuals doubles, winning the consolation finals 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 over Chesley Jackson and Pam Bobbitt of Virginia High.
Anne-Carter Coffman, the consolation singles winner, and Marsha Houff of Fort Defiance defeated Betsy Skora and Sarah Riggins of Poquoson for the individual doubles Group AA state championship.
At Winchester, the second-doubles team of Anna Sawyers and Leslie Delp won a three-set match to give Grayson County a 5-4 victory over J. J. Kelly and the Group A championship.
Delp, Mary Lee Sutherland, Rheda Vaughan and Rose Mary Kornett won singles matches for the Blue Devils in the six-hour marathon. J. J. Kelly won at first and third doubles.
Sutherland and Natalie Cooke dropped a 7-6(12-10), 6-3 decision to Rachel Adams and Vanessa Stanley of Stuarts Draft in the state doubles final.
\ BOYS' TENNIS: At Poquoson, Salem's boys failed to win the championship as James Monroe took the Group AA team crown 7-2. It was the Spartans' first loss in 18 matches.
At Riner, Glenvar lost four tough, three-set singles matches and was beaten by George Mason 6-3 in the Group A final.
SOFTBALL: Halifax County scored four runs in the first inning and went on to rout visiting Franklin County 13-0 in the Northwestern Region semifinals. Franklin County had defeated the Blue Comets twice drugin the regular season.
Franklin County pitcher Shelley Bowles suffered her first loss of the season after 16 victories.
Halifax plays Potomac for regional title today. Potomac beat Heritage 4-0 on Wednesday.
On Wednesday at Floyd, Stephanie Martin and Nikki Hall combined on a no-hitter as Glenvar defeated Castlewood 14-0 and advanced to the final of the Group A Region C Tournament at Floyd.
Glenvar plays Parry McCluer on Friday at a site to be determined today.
Parry McCluer reached the Group A Region C final by defeating Galax 20-2 in a game called after five innings.
\ BASEBALL: Devon Floyd hit a two-run home run in the first inning and combined with Jayson Nicholson on a three-hitter and Grayson County held on for a 4-3 victory over Covington in the Group A Region C Tournament.
After the homer by Floyd, who pitched six innings, put Grayson County (15-4) ahead 2-0, Covington came back with a run in the fourth inning.
Grayson County scored twice in the fifth inning to go ahead 4-1.
Covington, though, was not finished. The Cougars scored twice off Nicholson in the top of the seventh inning and had the bases loaded with two out when the game ended.
In all, the Cougars stranded seven; Grayson County left four on.
At War Memorial Park in Altavista on Wednesday, Alleghany County used a seven-run third inning to surprise Buckingham County 9-1 and reach the Region III Tournament final.
The Blue Ridge District champion Mountaineers (13-5-1) will play Seminole District champion Rustburg (19-3) for the state championship at 7:30 Friday night at Altavista.
by CNB