Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHLANDS LENGTH: Medium
The William Byrd softball team wasted its opportunities Thursday, squandering several chances to score in a 1-0 loss to Richlands in a Group AA semifinal on a sweltering evening in Richlands.
The Blue Tornadoes, on the other hand, proved to be a very opportunistic group. Richlands (21-4) advanced a runner as far as second base only once, but once was enough. Angel Tolliver singled up the middle with one out in the fifth inning, becoming only the third Blue Tornado to reach base to that point.
Tolliver took second on a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Huma Javed, the No.9 hitter who promptly singled up the middle as Tolliver barreled home with the game's only run.
``I just wanted to get a hit,'' said Javed, who also singled to drive in Richlands' only run in a 1-0 victory over Rustburg in the first round of the state tournament. ``Nothing can compare to this, but I never thought it could happen again.''
With their backs to the wall, the Terriers rallied in the sixth. With one out, Tamasa Adams and Sara Hudson singled to put runners on first and second.
Chastity Vandergrift then blasted a 3-1 pitch to center for a single, and Adams rounded third in an attempt to score from second. Richlands center fielder Michelle Hill gunned the ball to catcher Elisha Perkins, who lunged to her left to tag out Adams.
``As soon as I let it go I knew I had her,'' Hill said of her throw.
``She was dead at the plate,'' said Billy Meador, William Byrd's coach. ``Their center fielder made a great play. If I had it to do it over I wouldn't send her.''
Still, the Terriers had runners on second and third. But Dana Walton grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
In the seventh, Byrd threatened again when it had a runner on second with one out. But Carrie Doupnik struck out and Heather Ring grounded to the pitcher to end the game.
``We went 23-1 and had our best year ever,'' Meador said. ``I am extremely proud of this team and everything it has done. We had a great run.''
The final inning, in many ways, was a microcosm of the game for the Terriers. In every inning but the first and fifth, Byrd advanced a runner as far as second base but was unable to score.
``When you get to this level you have to be able to pitch, play defense and hit,'' Meador said. ``And we didn't hit today.''
While Byrd squandered several opportunities to score, much of the credit should go Latisha Steele. She held the Terriers to four hits and overcame four errors by her teammates.
Byrd's Tracy Doupnik (17-1) was every bit Steele's equal, allowing only five runners to reach base in the game - all on singles.
by CNB