THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605180090
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLKIN LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
LAST YEAR'S playoffs, the phrase ``A goal is a dream with a deadline'' was above the Nansemond River softball team's bench during each game.
And when the Warriors lost in the Group AA state championship game to Richlands, coach Jerry Varacallo told them they barely missed the deadline.
Nansemond River's new deadline is June 8 - the scheduled day for this year's state championship game. The Warriors (15-5 overall, 11-3 Bay Rivers) begin postseason play Monday in the Bay Rivers District tournament. Second-seeded Nansemond River hosts No. 3 York at 4:30 p.m., while No. 1 Poquoson, undefeated this season, plays at home against either Bruton. Poquoson already has one berth in the Region I tournament, with the second bid going to the tournament's top finisher besides the Islanders.
Nansemond River has six returning starters from last year's team, which finished second in the district and region tournaments to York, before knocking off the Falcons in a state semifinal. Varacallo said the state championship appearance brought positives and negatives to Nansemond River.
``It had its benefits in that we got the experience of being there,'' Varacallo said. ``But we've also become a little complacent at times.''
Hitting hasn't been a problem for the Warriors. Five players - Kari Harrell, LaToya Crocker, Heather Behrends, Kim Tribble and Kelly McCrickard - are batting over .400. Katie Sklar, Alexis Hough and Jennifer Shannon are hitting above .300.
Fielding errors are what have cost Nansemond River.
``Our fielding percentage is .919 as a team,'' Varacallo said. ``That's not very good. I thought it would be our strength, but it's been our detriment.''
Early in the season against York, the Warriors committed seven errors and gave up nine unearned runs in an 11-9 loss. Last week, Nansemond River had four errors in an 8-2 loss to Poquoson.
``(Our fielding) has to get better,'' said third baseman Heather Behrends, whose team's only other district loss came when Poquoson's Leslie Inge pitched a one-hitter. ``The errors all come in one inning. We just can't have that one inning.''
Varacallo said senior Chrissy Mims (7-5, 2.21 ERA) is the probable starter to open the tournament. Jennifer Shannon (7-0, 0.72 ERA) could also pitch.
The Bay Rivers baseball tournament starts Tuesday. Top-seed Nansemond River hosts No. 4 York at 6 p.m., while No. 3 Poquoson travels to fourth-seeded Southampton at 4 p.m.
The Warriors have a berth in the regional, but coach Phil Braswell said his team won't look past the Bay Rivers tournament.
``It's district, regional and then state so you're setting up your rotation and starting to get going,'' he said. ``(Having a berth in the regional) allows you to go into the tournament without a lot of pressure. It just makes it easier to play.''
Braswell said Grayson Craun is the probable starting pitcher against York. Craun is 6-1 with an ERA just over 1.00. The senior has a no-hitter this season and struck out 11 while allowing just two hits against York several weeks ago. Craun (.308 batting average) is also tied with John Drames (.317) for the team lead in RBIs (20). Shortstop J.C. Caperton (.424) leads the team in batting and last week set the school record for career hits with 82.
Southampton (12-7, 9-5) will be going for its second straight regional appearance. The Indians have to win the Bay Rivers tournament, or finish second to Nansemond River to advance to the Region I playoffs.
Coach Randy Jessee said William Jones (7-2, ERA just over 1.00) is the probable starter for the Indians, who were knocked out of the region playoffs last season by Nansemond River.
``We're not going to look past Poquoson,'' said Jessee, whose team split two games with the Islanders this season. ``They're very good fundamentally. We'll have to get good pitching and hit the ball better than we did the first time (a 3-2 loss).''
Five Southampton players - Durane Parker, William Brown, Brad Davis, Larry Woodley and Jones - are hitting over .300. Parker (.516) leads the team in average, while Woodley (.378) has a team-high 31 stolen bases. Brown (.454) has 31 RBIs. by CNB