THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 1995 TAG: 9504190562
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
How highly do rival softball teams think of the pitching of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy's Sarah Putnam?
Consider the comments of one area coach when asked about the Saints' prospects for this season.
``They lost a lot of players (eight) from last year,'' the coach said. ``It'll be a young team, not much experience. . . . Wait, that Putnam girl's still there, right? I'm glad I'm not playing them.''
Such is the respect commanded by Putnam, a junior who has started for the Saints since the eighth grade and was a first-team All-Tidewater performer last season while leading N-SA to the private schools state championship game.
Making matters worse for opponents, Putnam has picked up her game even more this season.
She admits she's placed extra pressure on herself, given the youthful talent surrounding her. And while the Saints have come together and played well of late, Putnam has led the way.
Last week, for example, she led the Saints to four victories over quality opponents. First, she overpowered a Greenbrier Christian team that had reeled off seven consecutive wins, striking out 13 in a 9-0 victory. She then led the Saints to three wins in as many games in the Booker T. Washington Spring Classic, including a 6-4 triumph over the sixth-ranked host school and former summer-league teammate Donna Self.
``I was really up for that game,'' Putnam said. ``I think we all were.''
Putnam's numbers for the tournament: 18 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, 23 strikeouts.
The junior also delivered at the plate, rapping a pair of triples and driving in six runs over the three days.
It all made Putnam an easy choice for the tournament MVP award, and The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's Athlete of the Week honors.
Speed is what separates Putnam from most of the area's hurlers, although she's developed an effective changeup and a knuckleball. Putnam isn't sure how fast she throws, but her heat apparently is a bit too strong for the NS-A baseball players. She said the guys often try to hit against her in gym classes, but rarely with much success.
``My brother David (a freshman catcher) is about the only one who can really hit it,'' she said.
The baseball players are simply finding out what softball players in these parts have known for years. by CNB