ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605090019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER FLOYD
There's an old song that says something about having a home where the buffaloes roam. For the Floyd County High School softball team, the goal is to go where the Buffaloes have never been - beyond the opening round of the Group A state tournament.
With a 14-2 start (3-0 in the Three Rivers District) and a lineup that features the top seven Group A hitters in Timesland, six of whom hit .500 or better, coach Wes Starkey's team may be poised to make a run at a state title.
"Before the season started, I told all the girls they could set personal goals and they didn't have to tell me what they were," Starkey said. "But our team goal has been to make it at least to the second round of the state playoffs. Last year we went farther than any Floyd County team has when we lost in the first round. This year we want to do better."
The biggest obstacle before the Buffaloes may be their membership in Region C, which boasts perennial powerhouses Glenvar and James River. Only two of the three may qualify for the state tournament, and that doesn't even take into account the possible emergence of a Hogoheegee District contender.
"Without a doubt, I feel as if our region is the toughest region in the state," Starkey said. "We have a lot of respect for teams like Glenvar and James River. When you think softball, the name Glenvar just comes to mind. James River has also become a very fine team."
The Knights handed the Buffaloes one of their two losses three weeks ago in a sub-par outing by Starkey's team.
"We made a lot of mistakes," Starkey said. "We could have done much better. That wasn't Floyd County softball."
The trademark of a Starkey-coached squad is the constant ringing sound opponents hear as the Buffaloes pound out hit after hit. It is a skill Starkey says comes from an intense offensive practice regimen.
"I believe in hitting both off the machine and live arms in practice," Starkey said. "Add those things to the dedication of our girls and we've been able to hit the ball on a consistent basis."
But don't take Starkey's word for it. A quick glance at Floyd County's batting averages indicates a dominant offensive machine.
Seven Buffalo regulars were hitting at or better than .471, led by senior Kim Moran's .571 average (24-for-42, 15 RBI) and junior Sonya Hylton (.500, 23-46, 14 stolen bases), a 1995 All-Timesland selection and Timesland's top hitter. Add Hylton and Moran's numbers to the other five sluggers and you get a group collectively hitting .515 (124-241).
"After all the practice we go through, with the pitching and the machine, the opposing pitchers aren't that difficult to hit," Moran said.
But all the hitting in the world will only score a team more runs. Titles are won with pitching and defense, two aspects of the game Floyd County handles very well. Those skills are often overshadowed by the team's offensive prowess.
Senior pitcher J.J. Sowers has been the ace of Starkey's staff, compiling a 6-1 record and 3.28 ERA, while striking out 36 batters in 32 innings.
"She's been big for us all year," Starkey said. "She's the one we look at to shut down the opposition, and so far she's had an outstanding year. She was a little wild earlier in the season, but she has since settled down."
For Sowers, pitching comes easy when you can count on the defense to make plays.
"As far as I'm concerned, we've got one of the best defenses in the state," Sowers said. "It's won a few games for us this year. "
With the total package of offense, defense and pitching, these Buffaloes could find themselves in the rich pastures of the state tournament.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB