ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603140101
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
In the ever-changing Blue Ridge District softball picture, Lord Botetourt moves back into the role of favorite this year.
The Cavaliers nipped at the heels of last year's dominant team, William Byrd, and returns their battery plus a slew of other players. Byrd, which lost at Richlands in the Group AA semifinals, lost much of its team, including two-time Timesland Player of the Year, Tracy Doupnik.
Going into the season, Lord Botetourt appears to have the strongest team in the Roanoke area.
In the Roanoke Valley District, Lynn Saunders replaces long-time coach Fuzzy Minnix at Cave Spring as the Knights attempt to win their fifth consecutive title. In the Pioneer District, Glenvar and James River figure to be in another big battle. Liberty and Staunton River should be improved in the Seminole District, and Roanoke's three private schools could be factors in the Blue Ridge Conference.
Much of Lord Botetourt's team comes from the girls' basketball squad that took the Group AA championship last fall.
``I'm sure it's their long-term goal to add the softball state title to that,'' said Cavaliers coach Andy Ward. ``First, we have to get out of the district and regional.''
Last year, Lord Botetourt lost to two-time defending state champion Rustburg in the Region III tournament. The Cavaliers return pitcher Jessica Thompson (9-3, 1.19 earned run average, 84 strikeouts) along with All-Timesland catcher Teresa Snodgrass (.418, 24 runs batted in).
The leading returning hitter is Aimee Bird (.565, 18 RBI, four triples). Katrina Elliott (.473, 21 stolen bases) is back as the leadoff hitter, and Marissa Michalski is giving up track to play softball. Shortstop Sara Moore, who was out last year with a broken thumb, also will be back.
William Byrd returns three starters: pitcher Tamassa Adams (6-0, four saves, 1.28 ERA), who was All-Timesland at shortstop after hitting .494 with 42 RBI and a .966 fielding average; center fielder Carrie Doupnik (.446, 24 RBI, 17 stolen bases); and right fielder Heather Ring (.446, 27 RBI, 18 stolen bases) is back in right.
Salem will be tough as usual with seven starters back, including pitchers Erica Lokey (7-4, 2.68 ERA) and Nikki Long (6-3, 1.30 ERA, 63 strikeouts). Lokey hit .567 and played shortstop when not pitching.
Northside may have its strongest team in a while with two returning pitchers - Erin Weaver (5-7, 2.80 ERA), who lost four one-run games, and Crystal Lloyd (2-0, 3.50 ERA). Weaver also hit .478 and will play either first or third. Outfielders Leslie Grim (.400), Amanda Oliver (.415) and Tawnya Jarrard (.375) also return.
In the RVD, Cave Spring enters a new era with plenty of returning players. Third baseman Sarah Ogilvie (.517), left fielder Kari Whitney (.468) and first baseman Stacy Morioka (.404), who moves to shortstop, give the Knights plenty of offense.
Princess Kemp (5-2, 2.69 ERA) returns as pitcher, a chore handled by several players last year.
Patrick Henry returns seven starters, but it lost All-Timesland pitcher Michelle King, the 1995 RVD Player of the Year. Erica Carter (4-4) moves up to No. 1 pitcher for coach Lloyd Woods. The best hitters are outfielder Allison Suggs (.364), third baseman Sarah Turner (.352, 15 RBI) and infielder Kris Carter (.295).
Franklin County returns three starters, including 1994 RVD Player of the Year, catcher Nikki Potter (.384, 17 RBI, three triples). Outfielder/pitcher Erin Conley (.483, 19 RBI), second baseman Amy Carter (.433) and third baseman Jenny Chitwood (.322) give coach Todd Hunley's crew plenty of offense.
William Fleming's program falls under the direction of coach James McGeorge, who takes over for long-time coach Louise Thompson, who retired. First baseman Claire Brewer (.420) is the top returning hitter. Evie McAllister is back at shortstop after recovering from a broken finger. Margaret Paige at center field and Sammey Radar at catcher are the other veterans.
In the Pioneer District, Glenvar is a solid favorite. Much of that is because Amy Layman (9-4), a second-team All-Timesland choice last year after making first team as a freshman, returns for a third year of pitching. This year, she'll get help from freshman Kelli Julg.
Other returning starters are outfielder Sherry Thompson, first baseman/outfielder Amanda Rydell, second baseman Ingrid Moldenhauer, third baseman Heather Dennis, catcher Tara Huff and left fielder Kathy Jenkins.
James River could give Glenvar a battle if veteran pitcher Sara Mundy (13-7) is able to throw. Mundy injured her arm two years ago in a collision at home plate and then was reinjured in basketball. If Mundy can pitch, she'll team with three players who made first- or second-team All-Group A - third baseman Angie Sink (.566, 52 RBI), outfielder Heather Vines (.397, 39 RBI, five homers) and shortstop Tiffany Cox (.486, .36 RBI, four homers).
Craig County returns Laura Nelson and Bonnie Boardwine at pitcher, neither of whom played last season. Other returnees are pitchers Tanya Bradley and Lindsey Huffman. The Rockets were winless a year ago.
In the Seminole District, Liberty figures to improve around All-Timesland outfielder Lisa Carr (.411, 34 stolen bases in 35 attempts). The Minettes have other good hitters in catcher Sue Cowlbeck (.391), third baseman Selena Byers (.401), right fielder Danielle Wilson (.431) and second baseman Anna Bramlett (.393).
Staunton River returns six starters, headed by pitcher Jamie Witt (8-10), who pitched all of the Golden Eagles' games. She'll get help from Erin Wolfe, who is a left-hander coming up from junior varsity.
In the Blue Ridge Conference, eight starters are back at North Cross, headed by seniors Jennifer Vermillion (.402) at second and Page Goodwin (.386) in left field. Roanoke Valley Christian is headed by Amy Ford (.375) going from second to third and shortstop Jessica Davison (.360). Roanoke Catholic won one game two years ago with eighth graders, went 7-7 last spring with freshman and now looks to a group of sophomores headed by third baseman Kathleen Miller (.600), first baseman/outfielder Sara Sprague, who hit better than .500 and left fielder Leslie Goad, who hit better than .400.
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Wayne Deel. Among the returnees for Lord Botetourt thisby CNBseason are (left to right) pitcher Jessica Thompson, who had a 9-3
record last year; All-Timesland catcher Teresa Snodgrass; and
shortstop Aimee Bird, who led the team in hitting last year. color.