Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506060069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This year there was extra mileage as Castlewood had to make two trips from the far southwestern part of the state to Salem before defeating previously unbeaten Floyd County 11-2 in the championship game Saturday.
Both teams will play in the Group A state tournament with Floyd County hitting the road Tuesday for a first-round game.
When the semifinals were rained out for a second time Friday, Castlewood decided to stay for the night instead of making yet another 300-plus mile round trip back home.
``We're so tired, we don't know where we are,'' said Castlewood coach John Sabo, who put his girls up in a motel after school officials told him not to come home.
Of course that meant the team came without extra clothes, right?
``No,'' said pitcher Shannon Casteel, who won both a semifinal and the title game while allowing only five hits. ``I packed extra clothes just in case because it seems like the rain just kept falling.''
For the others who didn't think ahead, Casteel said they hit a nearby Wal-Mart Store.
On Saturday, Castlewood (21-1) first beat Glenvar 2-1 as Casteel outdueled the Highlanders' Amy Layman. Floyd County (21-1) used Kim Moran's four-hitter to beat James River 3-1 for its third victory over the Knights.
In the title game, Casteel met a Floyd County team with several of the same players that beat Castlewood for the Region C girls' basketball title last fall en route to a second consecutive state title.
``I didn't want to lose to them in two regional finals,'' said Casteel, who earned a Division I basketball scholarship to UNC Wilmington. She is friends with Floyd County softball/basketball standout Leigh-Ann Pursifull.
Castlewood sewed up the game with a six-run sixth, but Casteel had all the runs she needed when Castlewood scored four times in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. Casteel didn't allow a hit until Moran led off the sixth with a double.
``At the beginning of the season, our goal was to make the state [which Floyd did], win the district and have a winning season,'' Floyd County coach Wes Starkey said. ``We reached our goals and really exceeded our state expectations. Now we'll reset our goals.''
Castlewood 2, Glenvar 1:Castlewood ended a streak of six consecutive state tournament trips by the Highlanders (14-8). Layman struck out seven, but the Blue Devils scored twice in the fifth on a wild pitch and an infield grounder.
Floyd County 3, James River 1:The Buffaloes used a hit, two errors and a walk for two first-inning runs to beat 13-game winner Sara Mundy for James River (14-8).
see microfilm for box score
by CNB