THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 1996 TAG: 9606110420
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: 1996 ALL-TIDEWATER PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 69 lines
Lisa Slingerland's Princess Anne teammates often refer to the senior first baseman as ``Mama Sling.'' She was, after all, the tie that held the Cavaliers' softball family together.
Slingerland helped turn the Cavs' second-place regular season finish into Beach District and Eastern Region championships. A feat - no doubt - that would not have been possible without Slingerland's all-around play.
``Lisa's a tremendous player,'' said Salem coach Larry Bowman. ``I think she was a catalyst for them. She can beat you with the bat, she can beat you with her glove and she can beat you with her speed. She's a great all-around player.''
Slingerland - the first non-pitcher to earn Player of the Year honors on the Virginian-Pilot's fourth annual team - time and time again demonstrated her passion for the game and desire for the Cavaliers' success.
She dove for balls, often using her her 5-foot-9, 120-pound frame as a blockade. She was a pesky thief on the base paths, diving head first or tearing up her badly scabbed knees.
``If I get on first base,'' said Slingerland, who has accepted a softball scholarship to Radford. ``I'm going to score no matter what.''
Slingerland scored 31 runs, stole 32 bases, drove in 21 runs and batted home runs. On defense, Slingerland committed just one error.
The rest of the first team:
Dawn Bell: A senior shortstop from Bayside, is a three-time All-Tidewater pick and a two-time All-State selection. She batted .483, stole 19 bases, scored 38 runs and knocked in 13. She accepted a scholarship to Louisburg Jr. College.
Sarah Putnam: A senior catcher and pitcher from Nansemond-Suffolk, she's a three-time All-Tidewater pick as a utility player. The four-time TCIS player of the year has earned a softball scholarship to Maryland. She batted .449 and was 14-2 as a pitcher with 103 strike outs in 96.2 innings and an ERA of 0.51.
Michelle Pritchard: A senior outfielder from Salem, she had 16 assists and batted .370 with three home runs and 32 RBIs.
Jaci Morris: A senior outfielder from Western Branch, had a perfect year on defense with no errors. She batted .333 with a pair of homers, 11 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
Dana Crisostomo: Great Bridge senior outfielder made just two errors and posted a .293 batting average with 10 RBIs and 28 runs scored. She's signed with Norfolk State.
Lori Ferguson: A senior third baseman from Princess Anne was one of the Beach's top sluggers with a .412 average and 14 RBIs.
Nicole Belote: A senior infielder from Western Branch, had been a second-team pick twice as a pitcher. Her defensive skills caught the attention of George Mason, where she'll play on scholarship. Aside from her outstanding pitching numbers (77 strikeouts, 1.60 ERA, 46 hits allowed in 101.3 innings), Belote made just four errors, hit .382 and drove in eight runs.
Calee Morris: A senior first baseman from Western Branch was the Bruins' cleanup hitter. She finished with a .333 average and eight RBIs.
Heidi Hill: A junior pitcher from Bayside, she was the surprise of 1996. The first pitcher from the Beach District to go undefeated in the regular season since Kim Theriault did it for Green Run in 1986, she went 21-3 with a 0.92 ERA and allowed 102 hits in 167 innings. She had 162 strikeouts.
Melissa Hirsch: A sophomore pitcher from Princess Anne, compiled a 20-4 record with a 1.30 ERA, fanned 109 batters and surrendered 100 hits in 160 innings. She also batted .327 average and accounted for 12 runs.
Tracey Berger: A junior catcher from Bayside left a few pitchers shaking in their shoes when the ball left her bat, despite her .265 average. She belted a 200-foot home run against Lake Taylor in the region quarterfinals. Berger knocked in 12 runs and scored 16 and has signed to play at Louisburg Jr. College. by CNB