THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605220178
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jami Frankenberry
LENGTH: 64 lines
The Chicago Bulls have nothing on girls teams at Southampton Academy.
While the Michael Jordan-led Bulls won three straight National Basketball Association championships from 1991 to 1993, the Raiders took Virginia Commonwealth Conference titles in three sports - basketball, volleyball and softball - this year.
Southampton Academy beat Tidewater Academy 7-6 on Saturday in the VCC softball tournament championship. The Raiders turned a double play in the final inning for the victory.
``It was just pure excitement,'' said Beth Hartson, who coached the Raiders in all three sports. ``To realize that group of girls had won everything, it was just thrilling.''
Five Southampton Academy seniors - Anna Story, Wendy Worrell, Jessica Partridge and sisters Jennifer and Jessica Pope - started in each sport.
Hartson said knowing the feat was possible made it more difficult.
``When we won volleyball a lot of people came up and said, `Now you've got to do it in softball,' and I just said, `Don't put that pressure on us,' '' Hartson said. ``When we went into the season, I thought we'd be pretty good, but not the best. When we continued to win and got successful I thought maybe we could do it.''
Southampton Academy got help in the softball tournament from Tidewater Academy, which upset top-seeded Isle of Wight in a semifinal. The Chargers, who ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the state slow-pitch poll, had beaten the Raiders twice this season.
``When Tidewater knocked them out the girls were very enthusiastic,'' Hartson said. ``They knew we had a better chance.''
In softball, Jennifer Pope (.538 batting average), Jessica Pope (.442), Worrell (.391), Partridge (.380) and Story (.375) provided most of the offense, but got help from junior outfielder Krystal Bryant, who led the team in hitting with a .561 average and committed just one error. And junior pitcher Anrae Gurganus went 11-4.
NEW FACES: Athletes at Smithfield High may wonder if they're in a different school for the first few days next year.
Football players will walk into the locker room and greet Joe Jones, who moved from Franklin High to become the Packers' football coach and athletic director. Boys basketball players will notice Jonathan Penn, who decided to pursue a master's degree, is replaced by Steve Edwards, the coach at Windsor High last season. And baseball players will be led by John Bagley, allowing Ron Reese to tend to his assistant principal duties full time.
``We feel like we're making some positive moves,'' said current Smithfield athletic director Timmie Edwards, who will step down to devote full time to his assistant principal work. ``We're optimistic and looking forward to it.''
The Packers are also searching for varsity and junior varsity girls basketball coaches.
BRIGHT IDEA: Tuesday's Bay Rivers District baseball semifinal at Nansemond River marked the beginning of a new tradition for the school: night baseball games. The lights took two weeks to put in and have been up for three weeks.
``Everywhere else in the state there's night baseball,'' said Nansemond River baseball coach and athletic director Phil Braswell, who added the field can now be used for American Legion baseball this summer. ``It gives us flexibility.''
Braswell said the lights cost $70,000, which was raised through private donations.
If the top-seeded Warriors defeated York on Tuesday, they will be under the lights for tonight's district tournament final at 7 p.m. against the Poquoson-Southampton winner. by CNB