Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 21, 1991 TAG: 9103220561
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Last year, the district put Salem and Lord Botetourt in the Group AA semifinals and failed, by one run, to have two finalists.
Park-View Streling beat Salem in the semifinals 10-9 and came back the next day to knock off Lord Botetourt 14-9 to win the championship.
No one will be surprised to see two Blue Ridge District teams back in the state tournament. The question is, which two teams.
The most likely candidates are Lord Botetourt, Northside and Salem, but don't count out William Byrd.
On the Group A level, most of the Glenvar team that lost 3-2 in last year's Group A semifinals to Cumberland, is back and to try and repeat the 1989 state championship performance.
In the Roanoke Valley District, Franklin County hopes to parlay the area's best pitcher, Shelley Bowles (16-1, 1.65 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 118 innings) into a return to the Group AAA tournament after a year's absence.
The Blue Ridge Conference, which plays slow-pitch softball, will be a battle between Roanoke Catholic and North Cross for a divisional title.
Lord Botetourt, 18-4 last year, appears to be the top team in the Roanoke Metro. The Cavaliers return six starters including pitcher Janelle Sowers (10-1, 1.84 ERA), who is now a sophomore.
Sowers' only loss came in the state tournament the night after she pitched the Cavaliers into the finals. Katrina Wilhelm (5-1, 1.93) is also back along with All-Timesland pick Karen Lee (.381, 23 stolen bases in 27 attempts), who moves from left field to center.
Becky Meacham (.357) hopes to improve on her ratio of 78 percent in throwing out base stealers as the Cavs' catcher.
"I like our chances to at least win the district and go from there," says Botetourt coach Andy Ward. "Janelle has improved a great deal in her speed and we're working with her on a couple of junk pitches."
Botetourt's goals include winning the state. "We want to be on the dance floor [get to the state] and then we'll worry about winning it once we get there," said Ward. "Last year, as a first-year coach, I went in with a lot of apprehensions. I didn't know what to expect, how to deal with the girls. It was a learning experience for me. So I think I've improved from last year to this year."
Glenvar returns three pitchers in Stephanie Martin (10-3), Nikki Hall (3-3) and Bobbi Jo Wright (4-0) along with top hitters shortstop Terri Beamer (.420), second baseman Tammi Beamer (.400) and catcher April Watts (.440), who averaged nearly two RBI per game.
"We've got two goals," said Glenvar coach Spike Harrison. "To play in the finals of the state. This particular group has never beaten Salem."
Cumberland returns the pitcher who beat Glenvar in the semifinals. "We went out and purchased a pitching machine. It'll throw hard all year long so we'll be ready," said Harrison.
A look at the other Roanoke Metro teams:
CAVE SPRING: Is still looking for pitching to be factor in the Roanoke Valley District, but returns hitters Jackie Baker (.400) in center field, Heather Hoback (.380) in left and Heather Hollowell (.325) at short.
CRAIG COUNTY: Second baseman Betsy Boardwine, third baseman Donna Keffer, outfielders Shelly Keffer and Janet Trent; and reserve outfielder Angie Horn give the Rockets a good nucleus. But without a returning pitcher, Craig County will have difficulty matching last spring's 6-8 Pioneer District mark.
JAMES RIVER: Pitcher Lorrie Hill returns for the Pioneer District Knights who will be under veteran boys' basketball coach John Shotwell for the first time. Also back are third baseman Wendy Campbell who moves from second, left fielder Marcia Mundy, backup pitcher Christy Rhodes and utility player Felissa Orange.
NORTH CROSS: Second-team All-Timesland Kristen Humphries (.656, 58 RBI) is moving from third to short as the Raiders hope to battle Roanoke Catholic. Other top hitters back are second baseman Julie McGhee (.475), left fielder Laurie McGhee (.410), outfielder Michelle Mayhew (.407) and pitcher Kelly Baetz (13-4), who hit .393.
NORTHSIDE: Shortstop Patti Fisher, one of Timesland's best athletes, heads a veteran team that will make it tough for front runners in the Blue Ridge District. The Vikings have both pitchers, Andrea Herron and Tina Kimberlin, back along with five other returning starters from a team that went 11-6.
PATRICK HENRY: Summer Clayton (.423), an All-Timesland infielder, will move to short and try to make All-Northwestern region for the third straight year. Karen Carter is back at third while Kim Saunders, who hurt her back and played in only two games, will return to the outfield. Pitching is a question PH must solve to win the Roanoke Valley District.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC: Coach Carol Kimbleton returns after a one-year absence and gets back a veteran team that she coached as sophomores. Pitcher Lauren Phelan (8-1 in regular season) is back along with heavy hitters Amorelli Ronquillo (.667), a second-team All-Timesland choice, and first baseman Shannon Simpson (575) in the Blue Ridge Conference.
ROANOKE VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Pitcher Amy Smith (8-6) returns, but the Eagles have only one proven hitter in first baseman Stephanie Webb (.395). Infielder Danae Wegner played at Berean Christian and should help.
SALEM: The Spartans have plenty of hitting in catcher Pam Feazell (.250, 16 RBI), second baseman Kelly Robinson (.392, 29 RBI), left fielder Leigh Stull (.378, 18 RBI), centerfield Michelle Harrison (.451, 37 RBI) and outfielder Yolanda Helm (.392, 22 RBI). The only experienced pitcher is Debbie Cobb (2-1, 2.72), who also hit .333 with 29 RBI when playing first base.
"I think the Blue Ridge District is the best, but then I'm prejudiced," said Salem coach Buddy Ward. "The two of us [Botetourt and Salem] dominated the region last year, but then Northside could have gone as far as either of us."
WILLIAM BYRD: The Terriers have experience to improve on a 7-10 record and challenge for Blue Ridge District crown. Pitchers Marcee Hufton (3-4, 4.54) and Lisa Hodges (4.6, 6.10) are back. Hufton also is a good hitter at .305 and catcher Sharon Yeargan (.338) is top returning hitter). First baseman Jenny Craft (.267) led team with 18 RBI.
WILLIAM FLEMING: The Colonels hope to improve on an one-win season behind sophomore pitcher Penny Smith, first baseman Tammy Litton, an All-Roanoke Valley District pick, and shortstop Sheila Fulk, a second-team All-RVD choice who moves to second base.
by CNB