THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411220245
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 39 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The Indian River River Cats ran away with the Virginia Beach Girls Fall Softball Junior League championship title. The Cats had a 12-0record and finished the season with a 14-5 win over the Saints for the tournament title.
The River Cats are a girls Chesapeake softball team that registered to play in the Virginia Beach fall softball league because Chesapeake does not have a community fall ball program. The Greenbrier Girls Softball Association sponsored the River Cats and three other Indian River teams.
In the championshipgame, the Cats were the same girls with the same hats, uniforms and bats from previous games. The bodies were there, but the team spirit seemed to be missing as the Cats got off to a shaky start.
Early in the game, the Saints led by a 4-1 score. Even River Cats coach David Dozier was pacing a little more than usual.
``The girls were hitting the ball,'' said Dozier. ``But they were just hitting right to the outfielders. I knew their hitting would come around, but I was just anxious to get started.''
Finally, they shook off the jitters and the Cats began peppering the outfield with base hits.
Angie Couch led off with a single, followed by doubles from Sarah Bell and Elisabeth Smith for the first Indian River runs. Tonya Wilson and CeCe Thrasher each singled for a total of five straight base hits that tied the game at 4.
Tara Wilson connected for a single and Joanna Cleveland added a line drive to centerfield. Smith connected again for a single that loaded the bases. Tonya Wilson cracked the ball to bring in her teammates and land on second.
The Cats let the Saints slip in one more run which brought the score to 11-5.
In the sixth, the Cats put three more runs on the scoreboard on singles by Bell and Smith and a RBI triple by CeCe Thrasher. Meagan Grinels' hit brought Thrasher home for a final score of 14-5.
There were a total of 21 River Cat hits during the tournament final.
``Every girl on the line up can hit,'' said Dozier. ``That has been one of the keys to our success, plus the girls have really worked as a team at every practice and in every game.''
Dozier was assisted by Frank Cleveland and Danny Thrasher.
Twelve teams made up the North and South divisions of the Virginia Beach league. The River Cats placed first in the Southern Division.
The Saints placed first in the Northern Division. Their only loss during the regular season had been to the River Cats. by CNB