THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406030271 SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: Medium
Both garnered four first-team players on the 12-girl team, which was selected by league coaches. Salem coach Larry Bowman was named coach of the year while Bayside pitcher Amy Hooks was named player of the year.
{REST} The teams finished tied for first in South Hampton Roads in The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star poll. Salem won the Beach District title by beating Bayside in a special playoff game after the teams tied for first. Salem also won the Beach District tournament.
But neither Beach representative advanced to the state tournament, losing to Southeastern District members Western Branch and Great Bridge in the Eastern Region semifinals.
Hooks, a junior, is joined on the mound by freshman Bronwyn Blair of Salem. Catching for the two pitchers is Chassity Chronick of Green Run. The senior is a pretty good pitcher herself.
At first base is Salem senior Karen Lawkowski. Joining her in the infield is Green Run senior Dawn Olmstead at second and Bayside sophomores Dawn Bell at shortstop and Dee Shults at third.
In the outfield are First Colonial senior Mandie Moore, Princess Anne senior Holly Henline and Salem senior Mandy Pannone.
Bayside senior Erin Stubbe is the utility player and Salem senior Kelly Bradley is the designated hitter for the third time in her four-year career.
Bowman was voted by his peers as the coach of the year after taking his squad to the district championship and the region semifinals, where both his Sun Devils and Conrad Parker's Bayside Marlins were upended by Southeastern District teams.
``In March, I really thought we were just going to be a middle of the pack kind of team,'' Bowman said. ``It was hard coming off (coaching the Sun Devils to the state girls basketball title) and I wasn't working as hard as I should have.
``When I realized how good we could be, I worked harder and I think that made the girls work harder.''
Hooks had another outstanding season, compiling an 18-4 record with an 0.69 ERA. She had 100 strikeouts and walked only 21 batters in 121 innings. Hooks was also brilliant at the plate as the Marlins leadoff hitter. She led the starters with a .420 average and had an on-base percentage well over .600. Hooks also had 21 stolen bases and 18 runs batted in.
Blair was equally impressive in her first varsity season, finishing 17-4 with a 1.90 ERA. She hit .345 with 23 RBI and 21 runs scored.
Chronick finished with a .424 average at the plate and 30 RBI. She only struck out once. Behind the plate, she gunned down 14 base-stealers in 18 attempts and picked off three runners at third on three attempts.
As Salem's team captain, Laskowski led the Sun Devils in walks with 22. She scored 25 runs and had a .327 batting average.
Olmstead finished with a .349 average and had 16 stolen bases - bringing her three-year career total to 102.
Bell finished the season with a .356 average and had 24 RBI and two home runs. Teammate Shults had a .375 average and 18 RBI.
Moore is the team's leading hitter, tailing off at the end of the season to bring her average down to .500. She had seven home runs and five doubles.
Henline hit .438 and led the team in RBI with 22 and in extra base hits with 12.
Pannone hit .324 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Bradley hit .346 with five homes runs and led the team with 26 RBI. Stubbe hit .388 with 25 RBI.
by CNB