Published: July 09, 2008 01:17 am            

Silver Creek is champions again

HYR can't stop Creek's repeat bid

CHARLESTOWN — Defending state champion Silver Creek’s 11-12 All-Star softball team became the first District V champion of the year with a 4-1 win over Highlander Youth Recreation on Tuesday at Charlestown Little League Park.

Silver Creek advanced to the state championship tournament, which will be played from July 17-21 in Elkhart.

Just like in its win against Clarksville on Monday, Silver Creek jumped out to a first-inning advantage.

Shayla Cravens led off with a walk and scored the initial run when Jessica Parrish hit into a fielder’s choice. Creek led the entire way and never looked back.

“Just like the other night, being aggressive and getting on the board early set the tone once again,” Silver Creek coach Paul Cravens said.

Later in the inning, Bailey Foley hit a one-out double that scored Tori Martin and Parrish, giving Creek a 3-1 advantage after just one-half inning. Foley’s double wound up being the difference in the game.

“(Foley) delivered the past two or three games, putting us on the board early. Definitely big,” Coach Cravens said. “She’s really matured in the past few games as far as the way she’s batted. She started out a little over-anxious, but to see her in the past few games deliver the way she has, she’s really starting to come into her own and be a valuable part of this team.”

Foley’s heroics were all Shayla Cravens needed on the mound.

Cravens surrendered just one hit and one run — both by Rachel Denison in the fifth inning. She struck out eight HYR batters, including Ruthanna Fritzinger — arguably HYR’s top hitter in the tournament — for the final out of the game.

“You have to give their lineup a lot of credit,” Coach Cravens said of HYR. “They’re tough and they’re good bunters, especially their top five hitters. The last game we played, they powered the ball in the outfield.

“Shayla’s got the whole package. No disrespect to their team, but we weren’t worried about who was coming up to bat. We felt like they had to worry about our pitching.”

Cravens’ performance was particularly impressive considering HYR had little trouble plating runs in a 10-6 victory over Silver Creek in the pool-play round.

“The last game, the way we got beat the way we did, we knew from then on we have to take it one game at a time,” Paul Cravens said.

Coach Cravens credits the four returning players from last year’s state championship team for getting his team in the right frame of mind to win the District title again.

“We had good leadership with this team with four returning starters,” he said. “Brooke Barnett was big with her defense. Charly Wolford behind the plate with her catching, and Shayla and Jessica Parrish. They were all instrumental as far as leadership and what they brought to the table with their skills.”

        

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