Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010103
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Twenty victories later, it appears those goals may have been modest. The undefeated Buffaloes have met three of them, and they're a victory away from advancing to the state playoffs.
"I knew after our first two scrimmages ... that we could have something special here," said Floyd coach Wes Starkey. But "it never entered my mind that we would be unbeaten at this point in the season."
Floyd has proved to be an offensive juggernaut, hitting a robust .440 as a team. Eleven players are hitting .400 or better, the team has scored a school record of 302 runs (15.9 runs per game) and the 20 victories are a school record as well.
There's depth on the pitching mound, too. Leading the Floyd contingent of pitchers is J.J. Sowers who is 7-0 this season with three saves and an earned run average of 4.67. Sowers has pitched 45 innings going into regional action. At the plate, the junior is hitting .400 (20-for-50) with 21 runs batted in.
"If I am having trouble on the mound I just step back, take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down," Sowers said. "Then I just see what happens."
What has happened, obviously, has worked out well for the Buffaloes. The stickiest situation to date was the team's second encounter with James River. The Buffaloes took a 10-9 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but James River was able to load the bases with only one out. With their perfect record teetering on the brink, Floyd was able to induce a double play and preserve the victory.
"I figured we had lost the game," said shortstop Sonya Hilton, who has not committed an error and is hitting a Timesland best .659. "It meant so much, and it gave us so much confidence to beat them twice."
Laura Pratt has been an integral part of the Floyd offensive machine as well, hitting .490 with five home runs and 30 RBI. Senior Leigh Ann Pursifull, who will play basketball at Winthrop in the fall, has provided valuable leadership in her first year of fast pitch softball. She is hitting .565 and has drawn 16 bases on balls.
The Buffaloes credit their success to the tightly knit atmosphere that surrounds the team.
"We are all friends and have known each other all our lives," Hilton said of the team, which features 10 sophomores. "You know you can trust them, and depend on them not to make many mistakes."
Despite the team's lack of success in regional softball play, many of Floyd's players have seen post-season success. Five team members played on the undefeated 1994 Group A state basketball team.
Through this season, the Buffaloes have maintained level heads about what they have accomplished to date and what they can potentially accomplish.
"It would be disappointing not to advance to the state tournament," Starkey said. "But it wouldn't take away from what this team has accomplished."
"I didn't think we would be undefeated at this point," Sowers said. "But if we play as good as I think we can we can beat anybody."
by CNB