Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The freshman shortstop emerged not only as the team's best hitter this season, but she put together the best single offensive season in RU history. Pickel hit .405 with 66 hits, 21 doubles, 5 home runs and 35 RBI, all of which were school records. For her efforts she was named Big South Rookie of the Year.
``I didn't know such a thing existed,'' Pickel said of the award. ``Nobody told me about it, but I was very happy.''
In addition to her exploits at the plate the Woodbridge native was called upon to play shortstop, which she did with Cal Ripken-like zeal. She started all 53 games and played every inning (324).
``The thing that was very impressive was that she started every game for us and never let up,'' said Radford coach Jeff Woods. ``There were a number of games when pitchers wouldn't give her pitches to hit once they realized what a threat she was. But she stayed with it.''
Most people assumed Pickel, who stands 5-foot-2, was more of a contact hitter and played her shallow, only to have a price extracted. Of Pickel's 66 hits, 29 went for extra bases. Though her success this season was rewarding, the possibility for improvement remains.
``I hope she can maintain, but I think she can get better,'' said Woods. ``She has a small strike zone, so the pitchers have to give her something she can hit. As she gets better hitters around her, I think she can improve her average to over .500.''
While Pickel has enjoyed great success at the plate, she has struggled defensively at times, committing 22 errors - one number she would like to see decrease next year.
``I am usually a better defensive player, but it all seemed to turn around this season,'' said Pickel, who was named second-team all-conference. ``I made more errors in my first tournament than I ever did in high school. I am going to have to work hard on the basics and practice.''
Pickel's success has been a pleasant surprise, but she nearly ended up elsewhere. When Woods first saw Pickel play he was scouting one of her Garfield High School teammates (five of whom went onto play college softball). What he witnessed was the Highlanders' future at shortstop.
One of the factors in Woods' decision to recruit Pickel was the strength of her high school program. Garfield advanced to the state playoffs in each of her four years on the squad and captured the state crown her junior year.
The Highlanders won 20 games this season, the most in the program's four-year history, but the 33 losses Pickel and her teammates endured proved frustrating.
``At first I wasn't used to [losing], but it was a learning experience,'' said Pickel. ``We have a lot of freshmen [six as starters], so we will be able to grow together and improve.''
Wild weekend: When the RU baseball team reflects upon the 1995 season, this past weekend undoubtedly will be listed among the most memorable. The Highlanders faced the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in a key Big South Conference series and the matchup provided a little bit of everything.
On Saturday, Radford split of the doubleheader with the Retrievers. In the first game the Highlanders committed eight errors enroute to dropping a 17-8 decision. The loss made victory in the each of the last two games imperative for the Highlanders, who are locked in a three-way race for the Big South Conference crown.
In the second game, the Highlanders squeaked out an 11-10 victory in nine innings (doubleheader games are scheduled for only seven innings in college baseball) in a game that had more changes in momentum than a professional wrestling match. Trailing 6-2 going into the sixth inning, UMBC scored four runs to tie the score. The Highlanders then scored three in the bottom of the inning for what most assumed would be a victory.
Not to be outdone, UMBC scored four more times in its half of the seventh to take a 10-9 lead. Radford rallied to tie the score, but not before controversy erupted. Highlander third baseman Rob McCandless was thrown out at home, in a very close play, attempting to score the winning run. After taking exception to the call and exchanging pleasantries with the home plate umpire, Radford's Joe Raccuia was ejected from the game. The Highlanders eventually won the game on a two-out single by McCandless in the ninth.
That paled in comparison to Sunday's events, which will be etched in the Radford record book for years to come. With the score knotted at 4 on a cold, rainy day, the Highlanders erupted for 13 runs in the fourth inning.
The Highlanders eventually won the game 28-6, establishing school records for runs in an inning and in a game, and hits in an inning (10) and in a game (28). To put the game in perspective, every RU starter but catcher Jeff Collins drove in at least one run, the inning's first seven batters scored and everyone in the lineup hit twice in the fourth inning.
``We got some hits early and it took the pressure off,'' Radford coach Lew Kent said in an obvious understatement.
While the offensive output was impressive, the victory was far more important to the Highlanders because it allowed them to keep pace with Winthrop and Liberty in the conference race. RU faces Liberty in a critical series this weekend at home.
ETC: After getting off to a relatively slow start, left fielder Duane Filchner has been torrid. The senior is hitting a blistering .528 (28-for-53) in his last 13 games, including a three-home run game against Richmond last week.
``Duane got off to such a slow start it was almost a joke,'' Kent said. ``He was hitting .220 after 14 games, but you knew it was only a matter of time.'' Filchner has raised his batting average to .377.
Jim Abbott recorded seven strikeouts in Sunday's game against UMBC to raise his season total to a school record 94. ... Base-running juggernaut Bill Brennan is now 12-for-12 in stolen-base attempts. Brennan is trying to become only the second Highlander to steal 10 or more bases in a season without being caught.
MAC Misses: Former basketball star Rebecca McNeil tried out for the Olympic Sports Festival team this past weekend in Virginia Beach. The RU center survived the first cut when the 223 participants were narrowed to 77. The Virginia Beach site was one of four nationwide. Fellow RU freshman Candice Miles also tried out for the team.
Chris King covers sports for the New River Valley bureau.
by CNB