
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 4, 1995                   TAG: 9506060072
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: E12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: RUST BURG                                 LENGTH: Short

BYRD EDGES RUSTBURG IN REGION III

William Byrd didn't get many hits Saturday against Rustburg, but Heather Ring got the big one the Terriers needed.

Ring's inside-the-park, two-run homer with two out in the top of the sixth inning gave William Byrd a 2-1 victory over the Red Devils in the Region III softball championship game.

Byrd (24-0) and Rustburg (22-2), the two-time defending Group AA champion, advance to this year's Group AA tournament.

The Terriers were held hitless through five innings by Rustburg's Katie Phillips, but Wendy Belcher led off the sixth with a double. After two strikeouts, Ring launched her game-winning homer over the head of center fielder Jennifer Daniel.

Byrd starter Tracy Doupnik scattered seven hits and struck out eight to gain the victory.

Rustburg scored its run in the fifth inning, when Courtney Cowert used a suicide squeeze to get Kristen Stinnett home.

Phillips struck out nine.

by CNB