THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190222
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
On Tuesday, Nansemond River's softball team did all the right things.
But did they do the right thing?
The Warriors unveiled a wildly effective bunting strategy Tuesday and rolled to a 5-0 victory over Poquoson, the Warriors' first victory over the Islanders in five years and the first by a Jerry Varacallo-coached team in seven years.
The Warriors don't have much time to celebrate, however. Tuesday, they meet the Islanders again in the first round of the Bay Rivers District tournament. Expect the Warriors to lay down a lot of bunts again. But the element of surprise that contributed to the tactic's success last week will be gone.
Did Varacallo make a mistake in playing the bunt card last week? The seeds for the district tournament were already set, rendering last week's game virtually meaningless. So why not save bunting for when it really counts.
``I debated that,'' Varacallo conceded.
Ultimately, he decided that a victory over Poquoson, no matter the circumstances, was more important to his players' confidence than anything else.
Besides, like many successful plans, this one wasn't some bolt of inspiration out of the blue. It was borne of desperation - nothing else was working. The Warriors could generate little offense against Poquoson left-hander Leslie Inge.
``I told the girls the day before (Tuesday's game) not to be surprised if everyone is called on to bunt at one time or another,'' Varacallo said.
That's precisely want happened Tuesday. All starters, including No. 3 hitter Heather Behrends (.433 average, .641 slugging percentage) and cleanup hitter Angie Gatling (.411, .750), at least attempted a bunt. Kari Harrell beat one out, five others successfully sacrificed and Poquoson made five of its six errors fielding bunts.
In addition, Chrissy Mims fired a one-hitter. And while she struck out just three, she induced 13 Poquoson hitters to hit the ball in the air, resulting in easy plays for the Warrior defense.
``I think it's the best game Chrissy's thrown,'' Varacallo said.
And Chrissy's thrown a lot of good ones. The junior will take a 12-4 record into Tuesday's tournament, along with a 2.10 ERA. She's allowed only three hits and one run in her last three games.
Mims also leads the team with a .500 batting average.
The Warriors finished in a second-place tie with Poquoson, best in the school's five years. Nansemond River's record, 14-4 overall, 11-3 in the district, is also its best ever.
But the Warriors have never advanced beyond the first round of the district tournament, where Poquoson has knocked them off the past two years.
The Warriors will try to avoid making it three losses to the Islanders in a row Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. at York. In the opening game at 3 p.m., fourth-seeded Lakeland will take on the host school. The final is set for 4 p.m. Thursday. by CNB