Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990 TAG: 9006030129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Patriots outlasted Botetourt 14-9 Saturday to win their second consecutive Group AA softball championship. For the second game in a row, an opponent let Park View off the hook.
With the Cavaliers down 4-1 in the fourth, Park View loaded the bases with one out against struggling freshman Janelle Sowers. But Botetourt's April Wiltshire speared a line drive by the Patriots' Jodi Rymer and stepped on third for an inning-ending double play.
Then, Botetourt (19-5) loaded the bases with one out off Rymer, who was the winning pitcher in both of Park View's state tournament games despite giving up 18 runs and 25 hits. Rymer escaped by getting Tanya Toliver on an infield pop and Tonya Livengood on a groundout.
"That was the turning point," said Andy Ward, the Cavaliers' coach. "With the bases loaded and down three runs, you have to score. Then you have a new game."
Park View also lived dangerously in the semifinals. The Patriots were a strike away from elimination against Salem, but scored three runs in the seventh inning to win 10-9.
On Friday, Park View had three hits. Against Sowers, the Patriots started early when catcher Nikki Tinsley hit a home run in the first inning.
"We're really a better hitting team than what we showed in the semifinals," said Beth Walker, Park View's coach. "We came out and decided we were going to jump on the ball."
It paid off in the fifth. The Patriots (19-5) scored seven runs, driving Sowers from the mound. When Botetourt scored five in the bottom of the inning, back came Sowers. Two rallies by the Cavaliers, however, only served to cut the final margin.
Though Sowers wasn't nearly as effective as she had been in pitching a one-hitter in the semifinal round, she was the victim of seven errors and eight unearned runs.
The Cavaliers' final rally was a three-run sixth that cut the deficit to five. Sowers shut down Park View in the top of the seventh, thanks to the Cavaliers' third double play. But Rymer, facing the bottom of the Botetourt order, breezed to three straight outs, including two on strikeouts.
Park View-Sterling 2020730-14134 Lord Botetourt 1000530-9117
Rymer and Tinsley; Sowers, Wilhelm (5), Sowers (6) and Meacham. HR-Tinsley (PV), 1st, none on. W-Rymer (18-5). L-Sowers (10-2).
by CNB