THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605140123
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
GRANBY SOFTBALL pitcher Elaine McCall loves everything.
School.
American literature.
Traveling.
Dylan. Bob Dylan? Yep, him, too. Positively gleeful about the legendary folk singer, she'll tell you she started singing along with his songs before she realized she knew all the words - ``brainwashed'' is her explanation. Reaching inside her blue Volkswagen, she pulls out a homemade Dylan tape. ``I love this,'' she says.
McCall also loves softball, especially playing shortstop. Wait, shortstop? Seems a little odd coming from the Granby righthanded ace pitcher who has a 6-3 record this season.
``Shortstop is so exciting,'' she says in her own giddy style. ``You get to field; you get to throw; you talk continuously with the defense. Most of the time, the ball goes to short. Short is always doing something.''
And while pitchers aren't exactly idle for large chunks of the game, McCall is a go-getter who loves to excel. But with pitching, she only sees herself becoming so good despite an impressive 1.20 earned-run average this season and praise from Granby coach Mickey Lamestra.
``She can wing that ball in there,'' Lamestra says. ``She's got good mechanics; Elaine's very watchful. She can anticipate a bunt.''
The first time McCall watched good pitching, she was 12 years old and attending a softball camp in Chapel Hill, N.C. She was smitten by the power. ``It was so fast,'' she says. ``I was watching it and seeing myself make the ball go that fast.''
Got to get in there and do that, got to, got to, was all she could think. ``I didn't even know what a strike zone was,'' she says. ``But I was thinking UCLA. Lisa Fernandez, watch out.''
McCall went on to learn about strike zones and changeups and most of what she knows about softball from playing Little League and junior level ball. When she arrived at Granby last year, the Comets needed a pitcher and the kid who has a mound in her back yard was the natural choice.
``At first I loved it,'' she says. ``I loved being the center of attention.'' She'd often retreat to her yard and work on improving her fastball.
But last year she came to a couple of realizations about short. No. 1, she liked playing shortstop for her summer league team, the Lady Tides, preferring the versatility the position offers. And No. 2., well, she's short.
At 5-foot-3, McCall doesn't think she has the body type to pack the kind of wallop she would like. ``I like pitching, but it's not my thing,'' she says. ``During ASA, I saw all these wonderful pitchers. I admire them; they have to be dedicated. But I don't want to do this all the time.''
McCall is modest about her success on the mound this season, preferring instead to talk about her hitting. Leading off for the Comets, who are going for their fourth consecutive Eastern District title, she's batting .440 with 15 stolen bases. And although she'd rather have more time at short - she's played the position twice this year, when a teammate pitched in games against Maury - McCall doesn't mind the role she's been given.
What keeps her going? Easy.
``I love to win,'' she says. ``That's not to say I'll do anything to do it, but I love winning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Elaine McCall pitches for Granby.
by CNB