Jeff Cunningham
05-31-2007, 10:36 PM
Griffin helps Kellam say Knight-Knight to Salem
By Jeff Cunningham | jcunningham@hrvarsity.com (j_cunningham_pbp@yahoo.com)
VIRGINIA BEACH -- Nobody could buy a hit Thursday night at Princess Anne High School.
Well, nobody other than Tamra Griffin.
Kellam's catcher went 4-for-4 and hit the game-winning single in the top of the eighth as the Knights beat Salem 2-0 to claim the Eastern Region softball title.
"I noticed the last time we played (Salem), they pitched me inside a lot," Griffin said. "I think I thought a little too much at the plate last time, so this time I just wanted to go up there and swing the bat."
Griffin had already gone 3-for-3 with three singles when she came up in the eighth with Kelli Porter on first and two out. Salem coach Jason Barefoot decided to pitch to Griffin, and during the at-bat Porter, who reached on an error, made it to thrid on a passed ball.
Griffin then singled up the middle to bring home Porter. Kelsey Bruan then scored courtesy-runner Krystle Brenneman with a double down the left-field line.
Barefoot acknowledged not walking Griffin was probably a mistake ... and in this Eastern Region tournament, mistakes have been costly.
"This game -- really, every game in this tournament -- has been a chess match," he said. "The team that makes the first mistake is the team that loses the game. Last night (in the semifinals), it was Gloucester, and tonight it was us.
"I probably should've walked Tamra. That was our one mistake."
Salem only managed three hits off Knights starter Stephanie Kemp, but did have a chance to draw first blood in the opening frame. The Sundevils (22-2-1) loaded the bases with nobody out when Kendra Knight reached on an error and Sam Kruta and Jasmine Akers hit back-to-back singles.
But Kemp struck out the side, allowing Kellam (23-3) to escape unharmed.
"That felt really good," Knights coach TJ Jones said. "I know it was early, but it was huge for us to get out of that without giving up a run. That gave us some confidence and momentum and I knew we could make something happen in this game."
"I'll take the blame for (not scoring in the first inning)," Barefoot added. "We had the opportunity and it just didn't happen for us. Kendra pitched a great game, but we didn't get it done for her."
Knight, Salem's starter, went eight innings, giving up five hits -- four to Griffin -- and struck out 16.
But it was Griffin she couldn't get past.
"She's a great hitter," Knight said of Griffin. "I knew she was hot, and I tried some different things against her, but she was unstoppable tonight."
Kellam's win gives the team a home game of sorts against the Central Region runner-up in the quarterfinals of the Group AAA state tournament on Tuesday. Salem will have to travel to face the Central champion.
But for Jones, location wasn't what mattered.
"I'm more interested in the seeding," she said. "I would rather us be a No. 2 seed than a No. 4."
"We're not worried about traveling," Knight said. "We just have to make sure we get our confidence back up before our next game."
EASTERN REGION SOFTBALL CHAMPIIONSHIP at Princess Anne High School
Kellam 2, Salem 0, 8 innings
Kellam 000 000 02 2 5 1
Salem 000 000 00 0 3 1
Standouts -- Kellam, Griffin 4-4 (4 singles, RBI), Bruan 1-4 (RBI double). Salem, Knight (8 IP, 3 H, 16 K). Records -- Kellam 23-3, Salem 22-2-1.
By Jeff Cunningham | jcunningham@hrvarsity.com (j_cunningham_pbp@yahoo.com)
VIRGINIA BEACH -- Nobody could buy a hit Thursday night at Princess Anne High School.
Well, nobody other than Tamra Griffin.
Kellam's catcher went 4-for-4 and hit the game-winning single in the top of the eighth as the Knights beat Salem 2-0 to claim the Eastern Region softball title.
"I noticed the last time we played (Salem), they pitched me inside a lot," Griffin said. "I think I thought a little too much at the plate last time, so this time I just wanted to go up there and swing the bat."
Griffin had already gone 3-for-3 with three singles when she came up in the eighth with Kelli Porter on first and two out. Salem coach Jason Barefoot decided to pitch to Griffin, and during the at-bat Porter, who reached on an error, made it to thrid on a passed ball.
Griffin then singled up the middle to bring home Porter. Kelsey Bruan then scored courtesy-runner Krystle Brenneman with a double down the left-field line.
Barefoot acknowledged not walking Griffin was probably a mistake ... and in this Eastern Region tournament, mistakes have been costly.
"This game -- really, every game in this tournament -- has been a chess match," he said. "The team that makes the first mistake is the team that loses the game. Last night (in the semifinals), it was Gloucester, and tonight it was us.
"I probably should've walked Tamra. That was our one mistake."
Salem only managed three hits off Knights starter Stephanie Kemp, but did have a chance to draw first blood in the opening frame. The Sundevils (22-2-1) loaded the bases with nobody out when Kendra Knight reached on an error and Sam Kruta and Jasmine Akers hit back-to-back singles.
But Kemp struck out the side, allowing Kellam (23-3) to escape unharmed.
"That felt really good," Knights coach TJ Jones said. "I know it was early, but it was huge for us to get out of that without giving up a run. That gave us some confidence and momentum and I knew we could make something happen in this game."
"I'll take the blame for (not scoring in the first inning)," Barefoot added. "We had the opportunity and it just didn't happen for us. Kendra pitched a great game, but we didn't get it done for her."
Knight, Salem's starter, went eight innings, giving up five hits -- four to Griffin -- and struck out 16.
But it was Griffin she couldn't get past.
"She's a great hitter," Knight said of Griffin. "I knew she was hot, and I tried some different things against her, but she was unstoppable tonight."
Kellam's win gives the team a home game of sorts against the Central Region runner-up in the quarterfinals of the Group AAA state tournament on Tuesday. Salem will have to travel to face the Central champion.
But for Jones, location wasn't what mattered.
"I'm more interested in the seeding," she said. "I would rather us be a No. 2 seed than a No. 4."
"We're not worried about traveling," Knight said. "We just have to make sure we get our confidence back up before our next game."
EASTERN REGION SOFTBALL CHAMPIIONSHIP at Princess Anne High School
Kellam 2, Salem 0, 8 innings
Kellam 000 000 02 2 5 1
Salem 000 000 00 0 3 1
Standouts -- Kellam, Griffin 4-4 (4 singles, RBI), Bruan 1-4 (RBI double). Salem, Knight (8 IP, 3 H, 16 K). Records -- Kellam 23-3, Salem 22-2-1.