THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503210105
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
TALK AROUND Eastern District softball circles is how Granby goes into the season as the favorite to win its third consecutive league title.
Everywhere, that is, except Granby.
``You won't hear me saying that,'' Granby coach Mickey Lamastra said. ``We don't want to be overconfident.''
That's because overconfidence might be the only thing thing separating the Comets from making a serious run at a three-peat.
The Comets return nine players who made one of the all-district teams a year ago, including first-teamers Donna King (pitcher/third baseman), Kelly Rogers (second baseman), Lauren Bowen (outfielder), and Elaine McCall (pitcher/infielder).
Add a core of quality newcomers and is easy to see why Granby will open as the team to beat.
Lake Taylor and Booker T. Washington should provide strong opposition. The Titans, led by first-team all-district pitcher Jennifer Beahm and catcher Kacey Wardlaw, feature experience and unusual depth.
The Bookers, who had just nine players and were beset by internal problems a year ago, will try to rebound behind new coach Paul Palombo.
Norview was the only district team to defeat Granby last year but is missing some key players from that squad.
As for Maury, softball is one of the few sports in which the Commodores struggle to be at least competitive. Maury was winless last year, but coach Joe Stupka sees signs of improvement in 1995.
A rundown of district teams:
GRANBY
Coach: Mickey Lamastra.
Last year: 12-6 overall, 7-1 district.
Key returners: Donna King (Sr., 3B); Kelly Rogers (Sr., 2B); Summer Jernigan (Sr., SS/OF); Lauren Bowen (So., OF); Elaine McCall (So. P), Gina Frazier (So. OF).
Top newcomers: Lucy Treto (Fr.); Erika Miller (Fr.); Liz Hillard (Fr.); Kathy Waits (So.).
Outlook: Comets appear loaded - only one player from the 1994 team was lost to graduation - but Lamastra feels team needs to cut down on mental mistakes . pitcher with 14 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA . . . Rodgers hit .425, and McCall and Bowen each hit over .300.
LAKE TAYLOR Coach: Laura Felch.
Last year: 6-10 overall, 4-4 district.
Key returners: Jennifer Beahm (Sr., P); Kacey Wardlaw (So., C); Tracey Millard (So., 2B); Kelly Clayton (Sr., 1B); Kindy Cornell (So., OF); Dawn Hirsch (So., IF/OF).
Top newcomers: Shannon Rosenbaum (So., SS); Erin Finn (Fr., 3B); Christina Tarr (Fr. 3B/OF); Danielle Hebeet (Fr., IF/OF); Penney Fay (Jr., 1B).
Outlook: Felch is delighted that for the first time in years, players have had to compete for starting slots . . . Beahm, a senior, was the leading vote-getter in the all-district balloting last year . . . Hirsch and Clayton were second-team all-district selections, while Millard made honorable mention year's team lost, 8-3, to Booker T. Washington in the district tournament final.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Coach: Paul Palombo.
Last year: 11-5 overall, 5-3 district.
Key returners: Donna Self (Sr., P); Tracy Reamey (Sr. 2B); Jennifer McMullen (Sr., 1B); Bonnie Phelps (So., 3B).
Top newcomers: Sharon McLannan (Sr., SS); Racquita Washington (So, RF); Cheryl Haynes (So., C); Blair Sherwood (Fr., CF).
Outlook: First-year coach Palombo may be new to softball, but he's had plenty of success guiding the Bookers' girls soccer and tennis teams (114-40) somewhat disappointing junior campaign . . . Palombo is stressing teamwork, an element that might have been missing in last year's team. Despite their troubles last season, the Bookers did win the Eastern District tournament to qualify for regionals.
NORVIEW
Coach: Ginger Rothermel.
Key returners: Liz Peoples (P); Nicole Drew (SS); Heidi Grace (OF).
Outlook: The Pilots shocked many by knocking off Granby last season, but were unable to maintain some consistency and fell in the district tournament semifinals . . . Peoples was a second-team all-district selection . . . Improvement defensively could help Norview challenge the league leaders.
MAURY
Coach: Joe Stupka.
Last year: 0-16 overall, 0-8 district.
Key returners: Ruth Romillo (Jr. P/IF); Katie Owen (So., C); Jennie Saunders (So., P/OF); Shannon Spangler (Sr., SS/CF); Nicole Fewell (Sr., 3B); Kelly Cooper (Sr., 1B); Melanie Mushill (Jr., DH/OF).
Top newcomers: Erin Irelan (Jr., P/IF); Mary Malone (Sr., LF/3B); Kerry Brown (Jr., 1B/OF).
Outlook: Being competitive is the modest goal for first-year coach Stupka . mound. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PAUL WHITE
Pitcher/outfielder Elaine McCall is one of nine returning Granby
players who earned All-Eastern District honors last season.
by CNB