ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606100078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
There never was any concern about the Cave Spring softball team's offense.
When it came to hitting, the Knights were past masters. The grandest slugger in a lineup full of fence-busters was Sarah Ogilvie. She smacked seven homers, and at one point the Knights had slammed 20 in 21 games on their way to the school's first berth in the Group AAA tournament.
Ogilvie, a junior, is the Timesland softball player of the year and tops a team that includes teammates Kari Whitney (outfield) and Kerry Fair (pitcher). The coach of the year is Glenvar's Spike Harrison, who also won the award in 1994.
Lord Botetourt, which claimed the Blue Ridge District title, also has three first-team choices. The Cavaliers are represented by utility player Katrina Elliott, catcher Teresa Snodgrass and infielder Aimee Bird.
The other outfielder is Liberty's Lisa Carr. Joining Bird in the infield are Floyd County's Sonya Hylton, James River's Angie Sink and Franklin County's Jenny Chitwood. The designated hitter is Jessica Beamer, and the other pitcher is Glenvar's Amy Layman.
``I never expected to hit this well,'' Ogilvie said. ``But I practiced more last summer just for this season.''
Luckily for Ogilvie she never will realize her worst nightmare. ``I wouldn't want to be a pitcher facing our lineup this year,'' she said.
Ogilvie hails from Texas, but moved to her Southwest Roanoke County neighborhood 11 years ago.
``I played softball because all the kids were boys and they pretty much got me started,'' she said. ``I hope to go to college one day to play softball.''
Ogilvie also makes a case for Cave Spring's defense.
``I think the defense was as good as our offense,'' she said ``Overall, we're better this year than any other season. Usually, though, we're a defensive team.''
Ogilvie beat out Snodgrass and Carr for player of the year. Usually, catchers aren't in contention for that award, but Snodgrass was outstanding defensively and offensively. She had to be if she was to be the first-team selection at what proved to be Timesland's deepest position. The fact that Snodgrass was Region III's co-player of the year proved how good she is.
Carr didn't play for a dominant team, but she put up some great statistics and never was thrown out trying to steal a base. She led Timesland in that department with 54 during the regular season, more than doubling the total of her nearest competitor.
Harrison's team lasted the longest in state competition. While Glenvar has had some well-rounded clubs in the past, this one overcame an injury to a key player, freshman Kelli Julg, and lacked dominant hitting.
Harrison had a major distraction when he was elected to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, meaning he had to split time among teaching, coaching and trying to help run a government.
``I missed a [Region C] game with John Battle for the Board of Supervisors' meeting,'' Harrison said. ``But I'm probably going to miss a meeting in July to attend the [Virginia High School Coaches' Association] all-star game. I've never missed one of those.''
He tried to compensate for the loss of Julg and learned a lesson.
``At first I tried to juggle people around,'' Harrison said. ``Then, I put everyone back in their normal positions and it worked out much better.''
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Ogilvie, Harrison. Graphic: Chart:by CNBAll-Timesland 1996 Softball.