Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 13, 1994 TAG: 9406140254
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Not many people, because Salem and Lord Botetourt seemed to be taking turns dominating the district.
No one counted on Tracy Doupnik, a junior, dominating the district as a pitcher and a hitter. Doupnik is Timesland's player of the year in softball, beating out teammate Tamasa Adams for the honor.
Timesland's coach of the year is Glenvar's Fenlon "Spike" Harrison, a repeat choice who has been turning out Group A powers for years.
The All-Timesland team has three repeat first-team choices - James River outfielder Kara Mundy, Salem infielder-pitcher Ronda Rankin and Cave Spring designated hitter Shannon Simpson.
Lord Botetourt infielder Ashley Moore, James River infielder Amber Vines and Parry McCluer infielder Stephanie Rhodes - chosen as a utility player - move up from second to first team.
The other All-Timesland pitcher, joining Doupnik and Rankin, is freshman Amy Layman, whose hot hand has carried Glenvar back to the semifinal round of the Group A tournament Tuesday against James River at the Moyer Complex in Salem.
Two sophomores join Mundy in the outfield - Cave Spring's Kari Whitney and Liberty's Lisa Carr. The catcher, also a sophomore, is Franklin County's Nikki Potter. The other infielder is William Byrd's Adams, another sophomore.
James River has the most selections on the first and second teams. The Knights, with a total of four choices, had sophomore infielder Angie Sink and freshman pitcher Sara Mundy - Timesland's leader with 15 victories - on the second team.
The choice for player of the year came down to teammates Doupnik and Adams. Both were dominant in turning the Terriers into a Region III power.
"My mom and dad were active in softball," Doupnik said. "They got me started when I was in third grade."
Byrd started softball before Doupnik came on board, but the Terriers didn't have a lot of success against Salem and Lord Botetourt, which were taking turns making state championship games.
This year, Doupnik hit .455 and went 11-3 with an 0.98 ERA.
"I was surprised. I never thought I'd do as well as I did," said the Byrd pitcher, who has a drop, fastball and change-up in her repertoire. She's working on a riser, but hasn't used it yet in competition.
Adams hit .483 with 25 RBI as Byrd's top hitter. She was Timesland's leading home run hitter, but found time to back up Doupnik's pitching with a 6-0 record. One coach said, "She's the best young hitter we've seen around here for years."
Harrison beat out another long-time coach, James River's John Shotwell, for Timesland honors. Because this award was picked before the end of the playoffs, Shotwell has a chance to turn the tables on Harrison when the two play in a state semifinal Tuesday.
The determining factor was Glenvar winning three of four games between the two clubs including the Region C and Pioneer District title games.
Most of that is attributed to Layman, a freshman, who after a rocky start turned the Highlanders from a mediocre club to a state power. Harrison's coaching experience helped him see the Highlanders (17-7-1) through some rocky days early in the season.
"This year's group has come on real well. Our big fiasco was when we lost all three games in Salem's tournament," Harrison said. "It's been a strange season because we looked so bad in the middle of it."
The Highlanders lost 16-2 to Parry McCluer in what Harrison says was the worst game a team of his has played in the 12 years he has coached. Then, Layman arrived.
"Her control and confidence came out and the rest of the team jelled," he said. "The team needed to see her throw strikes and throw well."
This is one of the youngest All-Timesland teams ever, with only four seniors on the squad. However, Rankin, one of Timesland's top talents in years, may not be back if the family moves to Tennessee as rumors say they will.
by CNB