DATE: Tuesday, May 20, 1997                 TAG: 9705200216

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: BARCO                             LENGTH:   53 lines

LADY KNIGHTS STAND READY TO TAKE CONFERENCE RECORD A STEP HIGHER

The law of averages says that any team can win on any given night. Once in a while, Currituck County lets that happen to conference opponents in softball. But this could be the year the Lady Knights take their four-year 38-2 conference record to the next level.

Since jumping to the 2A Northeastern Conference, Currituck has had an astonishing 38-2 conference record and an 83-8 record overall. The team has won the conference crown for four consecutive years.

The Lady Knights have also gone to the final four in the state playoffs twice during that period. Last year's postseason was a disappointment. After winning 21 straight games, Currituck was upset in the second round 8-6 by Northside, a team the Lady Knights beat twice during the regular season.

``We're hoping we can get back to the final four this year,'' said Tom Davies, Currituck head coach. ``That's the goal, to get yourself into the final four.

``It should be an incentive,'' Davies added. ``Last year was a lesson I hope they learned. I don't have any problem with losing. But it's the way we lost that bothered me. We didn't play well at all.''

A core of nine seniors hopes to bring Currituck (14-3, 9-1) back to the championship level. The team will open the playoffs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home against North Pitt.

``This is almost a culmination year,'' Davies said. ``We have nine seniors on the team, and eight have been with me for six years. They've never played softball for anybody but me. To compare the last four teams would be nearly impossible. Each team has had their strengths and weaknesses.''

Hitting is a Currituck strong point. Michelle Porr has had a string of seasons hitting over .500 and is hitting around the .650 mark this year. Kelly Lupton, batting in the cleanup spot, is hitting near .500. Kelly Simpson, who has been one of the team's best clutch hitters, has 28 RBI in 17 games. LaTia Banks, Jessica Jones, and Casey Rose have swung hot bats all year.

Davies said Stephanie Dosztan, Casey Lassiter, Charlene Hagan and Kim Lee have also been productive at the end of the regular season, a sign that the team is ready for the postseason.

Hitting its stride too soon has been Currituck's worst enemy the past three seasons. The team started the season with guns blazing, then struggled in the playoffs. Davies, however, sees a difference in this year's team.

``I hope we're peaking,'' he said. ``We've always peaked early and struggled at the end to get runs. This year we didn't start off so strong, and we're hoping we're peaking, that's what you want,'' Davies said. ``It seems like the last three years we played our best ball prior to the playoffs and in the playoffs we have not played up to our potential.''

Last week, Currituck lost a 6-1 decision to Plymouth.

``Maybe that was a wake-up call,'' Davies said. ``Sometimes you just have those games. We beat them 18-2 the first time. Any team can win on any given occasion, I constantly tell the girls.''

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