Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993 TAG: 9306120140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
performer and the Timesland player of the year for the second consecutive spring. Heading into Tuesday's Group AA state tournament semifinal, Harrison is hitting .545 with 15 doubles, five triples and one homer. She has stolen 39 bases and driven in 39 runs. She also made only five errors.
Yolanda Helm: Salem, senior infielder. Helm also made All-Timesland a year ago. This season she was Salem's big hitter for average (.625). She also had seven doubles, four triples and three homers while stealing 33 bases. Helm knocked in 45 runs. She made only two errors at one of the most demanding defensive positions. Temika Hodge: Magna Vista, senior outfielder.
Another one of the Piedmont District's statistical wizards, Hodge hit .573, drove in 52 runs, slammed seven homers, stole 21 bases, had 10 triples and eight doubles. She was an excellent defensive player whose team was unable to get out of the district into regional play.
Brenda LaFlamme: Tunstall, junior pitcher-outfielder. LaFlamme might be Timesland's most dominating pitcher in years. Only Salem was able to beat LaFlamme, prevailing 3-2 in extra innings in a Region III semifinal showdown for a state tournament berth. LaFlamme had 1.44 earned average with 20-1 record. She struck out 179 and gave up only 63 hits in 136 innings. As a hitter, she hit .407 with six homers, 46 RBI, five doubles and six triples.
Kara Mundy: James River, junior outfielder. She led a young, balanced James River team that fought its way into the state tournament once again, only to be beaten in a first-round game. Mundy hit .525 during the season with 16 stolen bases.
Ronda Rankin: Salem, freshman designated hitter-pitcher. This might be Timesland's player of the future. Rankin hit .461 with eight doubles and eight stolen bases. She had amazing power for a freshman with eight homers and 52 RBI through the first round of the Group AA state tournament. As a pitcher, Rankin had a 9-1 record with three saves and a 1.16 earned run average through the Region III tournament. Shannon Smithson: Cave Spring,
sophomore infielder. She hit .420 and was one of the offensive leaders on a balanced Knights team that won the Roanoke Valley District. Smithson, who played every game as a freshman, made only two errors this year.
Jannell Sowers: Lord Botetourt, senior pitcher. Sowers, a returning All- Timesland selection, dominated Timesland for four years along with Wright. She twice pitched the Cavaliers to the final of the Group AA state tournament. This year, Sowers was 9-1 during the regular season while striking out 84 in 66 innings. She also had a 1.16 earned run average. Her only loss was to Salem. Through the Region III tournament, Sowers was 12-3, losing once again to Salem giving her a 2-2 split with the Spartans and then to Rustburg 2-0 in which she gave up just one earned run.
Kelly Witt: Liberty, senior catcher. Witt is an excellent basketball player who hit .596 during the regular season to tie for fifth in Timesland. She also drove in 17 runs for the Minettes, one of the Seminole District's stronger teams during the regular season.
Bobbie Jo Wright: Glenvar, senior infielder-pitcher. Another returning All- Timesland player, Wright is the other star who has dominated Timesland for several years. The Highlander standout is trying to become the leading hitter and pitcher in taking Glenvar to its third consecutive Group A state title. Going into the state semifinals, Wright is hitting .547 with 24 RBI, eight doubles, four triples and 12 stolen bases. She has a 2.51 earned run average as a pitcher and is 11-4 with a victory over Salem.
Spike Harrison: Glenvar, Timesland Coach of the Year. Harrison might be doing his best job of coaching, guiding a team that is overachieving as it tries to win a third consecutive Group A state title. Glenvar has weathered assaults from James River in both Region C and Pioneer District play to make the state tournament. Glenvar is 16-6, but has played one of the toughest schedules of any Group A team in the state.
Second team:Pitchers-Sherry Allison, James River; Jenny Kallio, Cave Spring. Catcher-Stacie Adkins, Tunstall; Shannon Crowder, Cave Spring. Infield-Gina Hill, Carroll County; Cathy Law, Bath County; Ashley Moore, Lord Botetourt; Stephanie Rhodes, Parry McCluer; Stephanie Webb, Roanoke Valley Christian. Outfield-Renee Koppstein, Cave Spring; Lynelle Slade, Jefferson Forest; Amy Moses, Glenvar. Designated hitter-Amber Vines, James River.
by CNB