Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310242
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE:
DATELINE: POQUOSON LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans lost 2-1 to Poquoson in the Group AA semifinals here a year ago.
The victory puts Salem into the Group AA semifinals Friday night against Park View-Sterling at 7 p.m. in Harrisonburg. Lord Botetourt, which received a bye, also will play at 7 the same night in Harrisonburg.
Salem (19-5) survived a seventh-inning scare against Poquoson. The Spartans used a 13-hit attack to build an 8-1 lead going into the final inning. Debbie Cobb sparked a five-run second with a double to knock in a pair of runs.
Meanwhile, Tracy Palmer was sailing along to what looked like her 15th victory when she ran into a streak of wildness in the seventh inning.
Palmer walked four hitters before being replaced by Whitney Long with the bases loaded, none out and one run already in. Long yielded a single and two walks to make it 8-5, so Salem coach Buddy Ward went to Debbie Cobb.
It was the right move. Cobb got three ground balls to the infield and Salem escaped the jam.
"It was deja vu. It was just like when we lost a 7-3 lead and lost 11-9 to Lord Botetourt in the Region III championship game," said Ward. "We were one strike away from winning that game."
Salem had a 13-hit attack off freshman Kim Pankoke, who had won 13 consecutive games for Poquoson (19-2). Laura Hyer, Palmer and Leigh Stull each had two hits for the Spartans.
\ Salem 0500210-8131 Poquoson 0000104-520
Palmer, Long (7), Cobb (7) and Feazell. Pankoke and Byard. W - Palmer (15-2). L - Pankoke (13-1). S - Cobb (1). - Staff report
by CNB