ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HAMPTON
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
PERSISTENT PLAY got Kari Whitney hurt two years ago. A persistent attitude helped her to a second All-Timesland softball season in 1996.
Less than 11 months ago, Cave Spring's Kari Whitney was in excruciating pain. Playing in the Virginia High School Coaches' Association East-West all-star softball game was the farthest thing from her mind.
While warming up for a summer softball tournament in Chicago, Whitney was chasing a fly ball that was out of her reach.
``So I jumped stopped,'' said Whitney, a two-time All-Timesland player from Cave Spring. ``I turned to go after another ball and planted my left leg.''
Down she went. ``It didn't hurt that badly, so I got up to go back to the bench and ice it down a little. When I got up, I realized there was nothing to stabilize [my knee]. I couldn't stand up.''
That was the beginning of a five-day tournament. Whitney waited and watched, in pain, for until her team was through playing to return to Roanoke.
``I could have flown back, but I would have needed two seats. Besides, I don't fly,'' said Whitney.
When she returned to Roanoke, the news was bad.
``The doctor told her, `Kari, of all the things you've done [to yourself], you couldn't have done it worse,''' said Kari's mother, Carol Whitney.
Kari Whitney made All-Timesland as a sophomore, then suffered through an injury-filled junior year that included another bad moment when she landed on her back after flipping during a softball game.
Her most serious injury came last August after her junior year. On that seemingly harmless play in Chicago, the Knights' left fielder had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and also the meniscus in the back of the knee. Whitney endured three hours of surgery in September before starting to rehabilitate an injury that usually takes at least a year's recovery time.
Whitney is not the usual athlete to let something like an injury stand in the way of softball.
``In those first few rehabilitation sessions, she'd turn purple [from pain]. I'd have to leave,'' said Carol Whitney.
``I knew I'd get back if I worked hard enough,'' said Kari Whitney. ``The doctor told me it was possible if I worked hard enough.''
So Whitney went to physical therapy three times a week. She worked out at the Roanoke Athletic Club on her own, lifting weights to regain motion in her knee. She said her doctor was amazed when Whitney was ready to play this spring, particularly after his diagnosis.
``Kari lives and breathes softball,'' said Carol Whitney. ``She plays it year around. She'll go to the batting cage and hit 500 balls. After her freshman year, she'd work on arm strength, hoping to throw it from the fence to home plate.''
Her hard work has always gotten results. Despite a high batting average, Kari Whitney was better known for her defense when she made All-Timesland as a sophomore. At that time, she had the speed to chase down any softball hit her way and easily threw runners out trying to take an extra base.
Getting back for a senior year, much less being chosen to play in the VHSCA game was another matter. Her speed was down and she opened the season at first base for Cave Spring.
At least she opened the season somewhere.
The knee ``wasn't 100 percent,'' said Kari Whitney. ``By the time it started to warm up outside, I felt pretty good.''
By the middle of the year, Whitney was back in left field. Her batting average was headed to a final .516 and her 36 RBI led Timesland.
Two runs she drove in during the first-round of the Northwest Region tournament against E.C. Glass stood out this year. With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh and the Knights down by a run, Whitney smacked the first pitch through the infield to send two runners home.
Cave Spring eventually went to the Group AAA state tournament for the first time in school history and Whitney was good enough to make All-Timesland for the second time.
What Whitney didn't get was a college scholarship. No matter, she's going to South Carolina to major in exercise sciences and has talked to the coach about walking onto the softball team.
``She was real professional in telling me about the program,'' said Whitney. ``I think she'll give me a chance. I'm a hard worker and have my heart in [making] it. She asked me to send a tape this spring, but I couldn't turn or anything, so I didn't send one.''
Considering what happened this past year, don't count Whitney out from playing for South Carolina. Not if heart and hard work are the key measurements.
ALL-STAR NOTES: The VHSCA softball game is this afternoon. Other Timesland athletes on the West squad are: William Byrd pitcher Tamassa Adams, Lord Botetourt catcher Teresa Snodgrass and Floyd County outfielder Kim Moran.
The all-star baseball game is scheduled tonight with four Timesland players on the West roster including Player of the Year Chad Shaffner from Grayson County. Shaffner is an outfielder.
Other Timesland players are Cave Spring infielder Doug Kenney, Bath County catcher Corey Wolfe and Giles pitcher-first baseman Josh Stephens.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 linesby CNB