THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605170248
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 33 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
THE PERQUIMANS County High School baseball team wasn't the only squad in Hertford to win a conference title last week.
Perquimans' girls softball team took a 7-4 victory over Williamston to clinch the same distinction, which comes with home advantage in the 1A state playoffs.
The Lady Pirates raised their record to 12-4 and 11-0 in the conference with the win. Perquimans will open the playoffs this week and will stay in Hertford as long as it keeps winning.
The Pirates took the lead in the second inning. Williamston committed three errors in the inning, but the big blow for the Pirates was a three-run triple by Kristie Roberson.
Perquimans added two runs in the fifth when Roberson led off with a double down the right field line and scored on a triple to left-center by Amber Curles. Millicent Whitehurst also drove in a run with a single to left.
With the score 7-1 in the seventh, Williamston rapped out three hits to cut the lead to 7-4. But winning pitcher Diana Boyce got Cindie Gray to ground one for the final out.
Roberson and Curles, both hitting over .600, have been leading the offense all season.
``They're patient at the plate,'' said Perquimans coach Karen Booker. ``When they hit the ball, they're hitting a solid pitch.''
Roberson and Curles both said the key to the team's success has been team play.
``We knew we had enough talent, but we had to work together and play as a team to achieve it,'' said Roberson, a senior.
``Everybody is playing together as a team,'' Curles said. ``Everybody gets along, and everybody likes each other.''
Defense has also been a key to Perquimans' success. The team had just two errors against Williamston.
``I'm pleased with the defense,'' Booker said. ``Overall, they've been keeping us in the ball game.''
Curles said the Pirates have held three-hour practices during the season and have worked hard on defense.
``We get a lot of balls hit to us,'' she said. ``Defense wins games and championships.''
That's exactly what Perquimans is after. by CNB