THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120747
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: PATTI WALSH
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Losing to three of state's top Group AAA softball programs turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Nansemond-Suffolk.
The Saints (6-3), true to fashion, blistered Norfolk Collegiate, their toughest Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools foe, 11-0 in Thursday's non-conference match-up at Northside Park.
``We've been trying to play at a higher level,'' N-SA coach Mike Putnam said. ``It kind of rubbed off.''
The defending TCIS champs took advantage of five Norfolk Collegiate (6-1) errors in the first inning and manufactured five runs.
Lead off batter April Wescott walked and rounded the bases on Katie Young's single to right. Lea Wilson then reached first on an error, but was tagged out on Sarah Putnam's grounder to second that scored Young.
Then the Oaks fell apart.
With Putnam on second, Allison Dunn took four balls and Meg McIntosh picked up three RBIs on an grounder to second that the Oaks threw around the park. Four errors on the play helped McIntosh around all four bases as the Saints took a 5-0 lead.
In the Oaks' half of the inning, Putnam struck out the sides and then shut down Norfolk Collegiate's offense in order for the next two innings.
The Oaks finally put a runner on base in the bottom of the fourth with two out when Kellie Jones reached on an error.
In the meantime, N-SA increased its lead to 9-0 on a pair of Allison Williams' RBIs, a passed ball and a Wilson RBI.
Putnam, who fanned nine, lost her bid for no-hitter in the Oaks' half of the sixth when Julie Tebault singled to right center.
``I think we were a little intimidated because it was Sarah Putnam (pitching),'' Tebault said. ``We finally got our bats on it but they were right to her and there was nothing we could do.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER, The Virginian-Pilot
Nansemond-Suffolk's Sarah Putnam, who struck out nine in an 11-0
victory, dives safely into third behind Norfolk Collegiate's Gina
Agriste.
by CNB