Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408090026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
``We're no patsy,'' said Salem coach Terry Lokey, most of whose players come from the softball teams at Salem and Glenvar High Schools.
At the same time, Salem is not an all-star team, which puts it in a minority in the 12-team field that includes 11 state champions.
The Virginia representative in the tournament for girls ages 16-18 is the Bedford National Debs, which meets Texas in the first round at 7 p.m.
``We would have loved to play in the state tournament,'' Lokey said, ``but that was not an option for us because we were already in the World Series.''
Salem had a 14-0 regular-season record against locals teams.
``I think we'll be competitive,'' said Lokey, whose daughter, Erica, alternates between pitcher and shortstop with Ronda Rankin, a first-team All-Timesland choice for Salem. ``We probably don't have the depth of some of the teams.
``We're not as deep because we don't have the numbers to choose from. We were looking at about 15 different players; the others had four or six teams to choose from.''
This is the first year Salem has been affiliated with Dixie Debs after making the switch from Little League.
``I would say that the opportunity to host and play in the World Series was a very strong motivation for the move,'' Lokey said.
Salem will meet defending champion Tennessee at 8 p.m.
by CNB