Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 15, 1993 TAG: 9307150054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium
"No, not really," said Sowers.
"We both pitched really good, but our fielders did well," added Wright, who ended a career that included two Group A state titles and a semifinal appearance this spring with the Highlanders.
"I think this is the best I've pitched," said Sowers, who was outstanding for four years in pitching the Cavaliers to two state Group AA championship games.
The two Timesland pitchers were outstanding as the West beat the East 8-0 for its first victory in the four-year series.
West coach Spike Harrison of Glenvar has been on the staff every year. He's seen bizarre things happen to keep the West winless in a series of close defeats. One year the West was ready to rally when the game was hit by a thunderstorm producing a rain-shortened one-run loss.
"There were no excuses today except the heat. I thought it had to be 95 degrees to play this game [and it was]. I told the girls I was 0-3 and tired of this. I won't get to coach next year. It'll be St. Paul's turn."
That's because St. Paul beat Glenvar in the state semifinals. Softball coaches are picked a year ahead of time and Harrison was here for a 1992 state championship.
Wright wasn't wrong about the defense. Langley's Katrina Lee played third and second base. She was outstanding at both.
So was Fieldale-Collinsville's Kelly Fackler at first. She preserved the shutout in the fifth when she played a grounder, froze East runners at second and third, and retired the runner at first for the second out. Wright then struck out the next hitter to get the West out of its most serious jam.
The West cemented this game in the first with five runs. Michelle Carman of Chantilly tripled after Lee singled to make it 1-0. Carman was retired at the plate trying to make it a homer. Opening East pitcher Sarah Clarke was shook, though, and she walked three of the next four hitters.
With two out, East third baseman Stacie Elliott of Atlee made a three-base throwing error, allowing three runs to score while Susan Pugh of Brookville raced to third. Pugh scored the fifth run on a single by Melissa Markham of James River.
Timesland hitters also produced a run in the eighth inning. Wright, playing third base, was hit by a fastball by Powhatan's Dana Smith.
She winced, then took first. "Well, it didn't hurt that much but I wouldn't want to stand up there and keep getting hit like that," Wright said.
The Glenvar standout scored when Fackler beat out a single to second with two out.
"This was the best West team," Harrison said. "At the end, the defensive move I pulled [was different]. But I said I wanted the best defensive team if we had a lead."
Fackler is usually a shortstop. Lee's shift to second was also interesting.
"I figure Fackler has to move to the right side of the infield in college and Lee can play anywhere. So that was our strongest defensive team, not that any other wasn't strong also," Harrison said.
Gar-Field's Tracey Russ finished off the East, allowing one hit and one runner the last three innings.
West 500 100 011-8 9 1\ East 000 000 000-0 5 3
Sowers, Wright (4), Russ (7) and Markham, Martin (6); Clarke, Crosby (2), Pankoke (4), Smith (7) and Mitchell, Bedwell (6). WP - Sowers. LP - Clarke. S - Russ.
by CNB