Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Michelle craved apples, perhaps not the most exotic fruit to American palettes, but a rare delicacy in the South Pacific. She commanded her husband, an American sailor, to bring her apples. To comply with her wish, Michelle's husband drove some 20 miles to the naval base to procure apples.
By the time he returned, Michelle no longer craved apples. The baby, a girl, was born.
She was named Apple.
``I've told this story a million times,'' said Apple Gomez, rolling her eyes when asked to recount the events that led to her being given such a name.
These days, Apple Gomez is more at ease letting her considerable softball skills tell their story on the playing field. Gomez, 22, is an All-American shortstop for Humboldt State, the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II. The Lumberjacks, who hail from the small northern California town of Arcata, play today at noon against Merrimack in a winner's bracket game of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship at the Moyer Sports Complex.
Raised almost solely by her mother, Gomez lived in the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii as a child before settling in the San Diego suburb of National City. She spoke no English as a youth, but her estimable talent on the baseball diamond was obvious. She played hardball with the boys until she discovered softball at age 14.
Though diminutive in stature, the 5-foot-4 Gomez is extremely strong, evidenced by the fact that she not only played fullback on the Sweetwater High School football team, she was named second-team all-conference.
Gomez has continued to reap honors in college. She was named All-Northern California Athletic Conference at a different position in each of her first three years. She played shortstop as a freshman, moved to the outfield, then played second base last year before earning All-Western Region and All-America honors this year at shortstop.
``She's been a leader on this team since her first year,'' said Humboldt State coach Frank Cheek. ``She leads us in about everything.''
Her 10 home runs this year are a school record, as are her 25 career homers. A powerful leadoff hitter, Gomez leads the team with a .425 batting average. She's 17-for-19 in stolen base attempts.
``She gets on, we score,'' said Lumberjacks first baseman Jennifer Fritz.
In Thursday's action:
Merrimack 5, Nebraska-Omaha 1: Judy O'Connell's two-run home run keyed a three-run first inning as the Northeast Region champion Warriors advanced to meet Humboldt State at noon today in a rematch of last year's championship game.
Keri Lyman (13-3) scattered six hits and struck out one for Merrimack (40-9), the 1994 national champion. Lyman's string of scoreless innings ended at 19 1/3 when Tracy Carey singled home a run in the sixth.
UNO (39-17) plays in a loser's bracket game today at 7 p.m. against the loser of an earlier game between Bloomsburg and Wisconsin-Parkside.
Wisconsin-Parkside 4, Kennesaw State 3: Cara Dornstauder doubled home Jackie Aiken in the top of the eighth inning, as the Rangers ended the Owls' Division II-record 40-game winning streak.
Wisconsin-Parkside (44-12), which meets second-seeded Bloomsburg today at 2 p.m., trailed 3-0 after three innings, but Aiken's two-run home run in the sixth off All-America pitcher Kelly Rafter tied the score 3-3. It was Aiken's 25th homer this season.
Kennesaw State (48-5) plays the Humboldt State-UNO loser today at 5 p.m.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***