Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990 TAG: 9006020138
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tracy Palmer has started every game for Salem, a team that has made the state tournament all the three years it has been eligible.
Palmer Palmer might not have been the key player in the Spartans' first two state appearances, but few would argue that without the senior shortstop-pitcher this year, Salem would have been on the sideline before the Group AA tournament.
Lord Botetourt's Andy Ward, in his first year, is the Timesland softball coach of the year.
The Cavaliers have had some good teams in softball, but this is the first time Lord Botetourt has won the Region III championship or made the Group AA tournament.
Palmer rallied in the final weeks to beat out Franklin County junior Shelley Bowles for the title of player of the year. For nearly half the season Bowles, who is one of the All-Timesland pitchers, had not given up an earned run. She also was quite a hitter as the Eagles again dominated the Roanoke Valley District.
The other pitcher on the All-Timesland team is Parry McCluer's Jenny Williams, who never missed an inning as she carried the Fighting Blues to the Pioneer District championship and a berth Friday in the Group A semifinals.
The infielders are Patrick Henry's Summer Clayton, Magna Vista's Hope Jones, Liberty's Carolyn Karnes and Palmer.
The outfielders are Jefferson Forest's Angie Dudley, Lord Botetourt's Karen Lee and Tunstall's Jenny Radford.
Cave Spring's Sarah Goodman is the catcher, and Glenvar's Heather Browning is the designated hitter.
The Timesland award caps a tremendous career and senior year for Palmer, who won the B'nai B'rith athletic-achievement award, which is one of the top prizes given for scholar athletes in the Roanoke area. She also was on the All-Blue Ridge District volleyball and basketball teams and was instrumental in guiding the Spartans to state tournaments berths in those two sports.
Until Palmer pitched and helped lead the offense in an 8-5 victory over Poquoson in a Group AA first-round game earlier this week, the Spartans had never won in girls' state tournament competition.
Palmer was thrust into the role of leader for Salem when Wendy Yarborough, the 1989 Timesland softball player of the year as a junior, didn't return.
"It took me by surprise," said Palmer, who suddenly became the Spartans' main pitcher. "There was no one else with any experience. I certainly got plenty of experience this year."
Palmer got so much experience that she developed a sore arm and was unable to pitch the final game of the Region III tournament.
"It was a good year, but it could have been better," Palmer said. "I didn't have my control all the time, but I couldn't ask any more from my hitting."
First-year Salem coach Buddy Ward said, "I don't know where we would have been without her, but she never had a bad game."
Andy Ward (no relation to Buddy Ward) didn't have much of a softball background when he took over Lord Botetourt's program. He had played recreation softball and was a baseball player at Grundy, but his primary sport was football.
"I was surprised at how well we've hit the ball," said Andy Ward, whose team had only three returning starters. "I knew we could compete with Salem as along as we hit."
The Lord Botetourt coach beat out Glenvar's Spike Harrison, who took the defending Group A champions back to the state tournament and to the Region C championship despite having only one senior on his team.
by CNB