ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HIGH SCHOOLS
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Five Cave Spring errors led to three unearned runs as the Knights fell to James Madison 4-0 in a Group AAA quarterfinal softball game in Springfield.
Cave Spring's starting shortstop, Stacie Morioka, did not play because of a wrenched knee, and that forced the Knights (22-4) to juggle their infield lineup. That ultimately led to untimely errors and spoiled a fine pitching performance by Kerry Fair.
Fair (11-3) went the distance, holding James Madison to one earned run on seven hits while walking one. Fair also had one of Cave Spring's two hits - a single in the fourth inning. Merissa Addy had a single in the sixth to account for the other hit.
James Madison (19-5) will play Stonewall Jackson-Manassas in a Group AAA semifinal Thursday. Stonewall Jackson defeated Langley 2-0 in another quarterfinal Tuesday.
In other high school sports news:
nWilliam Byrd's Michael Berry is the co-player of the year on the All-Group AA boys' soccer team as selected by the coaches, and the Terriers' Jeff Highfill, is the coach of the year.
Berry, who is an All-Group AA player for the third consecutive year, is joined by five other Timesland players on the first team, including teammate Aaron Dowdy.
Blacksburg, which lost to Byrd 1-0 in a Group AA semifinal last week, is represented by Nick Kappas and keeper Ben Pinkerton. Christiansburg's Tony Lisanti, the Region IV and New River District player of the year, and Martinsville's Wes Lewis are the other Timesland All-Group AA picks.
Byrd, which plays Western Albemarle at home tonight for the state title, also has keeper Michael Creasey on the second team. (Complete team in Scoreboard. B4)
nPowell Valley scored nine consecutive runs, most of those on six Grayson County errors, as the Vikings downed the Blue Devils 9-4 in a Group A quarterfinal baseball game Tuesday in Big Stone Gap.
The Blue Devils (22-3) scored all four of their runs in the third inning. After loading the bases against Powell Valley starter Todd Zirkle, Brian McDonnell hit a two-run single to give Grayson County a 2-0 lead. Wes Self added an RBI single and Grayson County scored another run on an error to take a 4-0 lead.
The Vikings (19-4-1) closed to 4-3 in the bottom of the third on two errors, then added three runs each in the fourth and sixth innings to rally for the victory
Zirkle (9-2), a Virginia Tech signee, went the distance for Powell Valley, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking four. He also went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI.
The Blue Devils' Chad Shaffner (8-1) was handed his first loss of the season.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB