Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990 TAG: 9006020290
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Medium
Sowers won her 10th game in 11 decisions by hurling a one-hitter in a 3-2 victory over Fort Defiance.
Salem, the other Blue Ridge District entry in the Group AA tournament, lost its poise and dropped a 10-9 decision to defending champion Park View-Sterling despite outhitting the Patriots 14-3.
Three Spartans pitchers issued 15 walks and hit a batter. Salem also failed to execute defensively in one inning and then made a base-running blunder that thwarted a seventh-inning rally.
That means Lord Botetourt (19-4) plays Park View-Sterling (18-5) for the championship today at 1. Sowers will be ready.
"I was nervous, but I think I had a good team behind me that helped on defense," Sowers said.
The Cavaliers pitcher got 14 of the 21 outs on pop-ups or soft line drives. In the last three innings, the only out that wasn't a pop-up came when Botetourt catcher Becky Meacham threw out a runner trying to steal second.
Fort Defiance pitcher Amy Roudabush got a single off Sowers in the fourth inning. The Indians eventually scored two runs to tie it when Botetourt's Karen Lee failed to handle a two-out fly to left.
Sowers remained in control, however, allowing only two walks the rest of the way. Botetourt scored the winning run in the fifth when Kim Jones doubled and came home on an error after a single by April Wiltshire.
"I think the loss to Salem in the district championship game helped Janelle," said Andy Ward, the Cavaliers' coach. "She knows now she doesn't have to be perfect and strike out 13 every game."
Salem fell behind 5-2 when starting pitcher Tracy Palmer ran into a wild streak and walked the first four hitters in the third inning.
Spartans coach Buddy Ward then summoned Debbie Cobb to pitch and the Salem should have gotten out of the inning with a 2-1 lead. But third baseman Rachelle Lytton twice threw away ground balls to produce four unearned runs.
The Patriots added two runs in the third when Cobb gave up two of the three Park View hits.
"I wanted to find someone to throw strikes," said the Salem coach, who used three pitchers.
"Then I got in their faces after the five spot [in the third] and they responded to the challenge."
The Spartans (19-6) pecked away with a run in the fourth inning. They added six in the sixth off Jodi Rymer, who pitched Park View to the state title a year ago.
Palmer delivered the key hit, doubling home a pair to make it 7-6. Laura Hyer, who had singled home a run, scored on a sacrifice fly to tie it.
Palmer came home on Kelly Robinson's double. Robinson scored on an error and Salem led by two runs into the top of the seventh.
But Cobb, after getting the first out, walked three straight. Coach Buddy Ward brought in Whitney Long, who got a fielder's choice as one run scored.
But Long walked two, forcing in the tying run, and threw a wild pitch to put Park View ahead.
Salem had a shot in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second and two out, Rymer couldn't handle Hyer's pop fly.
That would have loaded the bases with Palmer, the Timesland softball player of the year, coming to bat. But Cobb, who had been on first, tried to go to third on the dropped fly. She found a Salem runner on the bag and was tagged for the final out before she could make it back to second.
"They're high school kids," said Buddy Ward. "What can you say? They're aggressive and they make mistakes." Lord Botetourt 0011100-361 Fort Defiance 0002000-213
Sowers and Meacham; Roudabush and Hevener. W - Sowers (10-1). L - Roudabush (14-3). Park View-Sterling 0052003-1034 Salem 0201060-9144
Palmer, Cobb (3), Long (7) and Feazell; Rymer and Tinsley. W - Rymer (17-5). L - Cobb (2-2).
by CNB