Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993 TAG: 9306150150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Highlanders' Group A baseball and softball teams each must win two more games to give the school three team state champions for the year and six for the past two years.
Joining the two Glenvar teams in the quest for more state honors are Jefferson Forest in Group AA baseball and Salem in Group AA softball. All four teams play in the state semifinals either this afternoon or tonight.
The Highlanders' softball team is trying to win another title as it travels to St. Paul for a 4:30 game. Glenvar has won three of the past four Group A softball crowns. Despite the success, Glenvar probably is the longest shot fo the Timesland teams still alive to survive tonight.
St. Paul bombed Glenvar's fellow Pioneer District member James River 10-1 in the first round while Glenvar struggled to ease past Honaker 4-2.
Glenvar will use pitcher Bobbie Jo Wright, who has been through all the state tournament wars with the Highlanders.
"I'll tell her to roll with the punches, find out where the the umpire's calling strikes and throw it there. Don't play mind games," said Glenvar coach Spike Harrison. "We have to keep our cool because it's an unfriendly environment. We've played in unfriendly environments before."
The Highlanders' baseball team still is wondering who will be the pitcher when it plays host to Castlewood at 4:30 at Salem High School. Coach Larry Wood hopes ace Jason Anderson has something left, but after struggling through 6 1/3 innings with no decision in a 5-4 victory over Honaker in the semifinals, the junior's availability is questionable.
"I probably won't decide until game time. I'll leave it up to Jason to decide what his limitations are, but right now we're looking at David Henderson [who beat Honaker in relief]," said Wood.
The Glenvar coach started Trevor Willis and finished with Anderson against the Blue Devils when the Highlanders rallied to win the Region C championship 8-7 over the Blue Devils.
Glenvar has rallied to win three consecutive tournament games - two on its last at-bats.
"I told the kids you have to have luck to get here. You also have to be good. We've had our share of luck the last three games. But right now, this team is playing and feeling as if it's never out of a game," said Wood.
Salem will face Rustburg at 7 p.m. at the Moyer Complex in a rematch of the Region III championship game eight days ago. Rustburg's Katie Phillips pitched a no-hitter as the Red Devils won 5-0.
"She's a good pitcher with a good riser and curve ball," said Salem coach James Wright. "But we were just down mentally and physically after nine innings with Tunstall [in the semifinals] and three trips down there."
The Spartans will start freshman Ronda Rankin who pitched only in relief during the earlier loss. Rankin, center fielder Michelle Harrison and shortstop Yo Helm are three of Timesland's top hitters.
"I think the girls will be prepared. They want to meet her again. They know they played a bad game. They were swinging the bats like they were swatting flies. They weren't swinging hard," said Wright.
Jefferson Forest hopes to repeat its 1988 state title run by winning at Virginia High at 7 p.m. Teddy Wilson will start for the Cavaliers, probably against Virginia High's Shawn Fouch, who is 8-1.
"We don't have an ace pitcher," said Jefferson Forest coach James Thacker. "We pitch by committee."
The Cavaliers do have a strong offensive team led by Timesland Player of the Year Ryan Gilleland.
by CNB