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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: S at 3 mph Thursday, May 22, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 10, 2003 The Southern Oregon University softball team watches from the dugout as Angie Chaplin, right, bats against Simon Fraser during the NAIA Region 1 championship game Friday in Portland. The second-ranked Clan defeated the Raiders, 6-0. AP Simon says, no hits On the strength of its ace pitcher, the No. 2-ranked Clan ends Southern Oregon’s hopes of making it to the national tournament By JOE ZAVALA for the Mail Tribune PORTLAND — With fastball after screaming fastball, Auburn Sigurdson slowly but surely chipped away at Southern Oregon University’s dream until there was nothing left but a 90 mph nightmare. Simon Fraser’s hard-throwing senior threw a no-hitter Friday, leading the No. 2-ranked Clan to a 6-0 Region I softball championship win over the 16th-ranked Raiders at Delta Park. Advertisement The Raiders, who also fell 8-0 to SFU in Thursday’s second round, needed two straight wins over the Clan in the double-elimination tourney to meet their goal of qualifying for nationals, but Sigurdson’s heat and Simon Fraser’s advantageous offense proved too much to overcome. "Very good pitcher, but we made a lot of contact today, and that’s a step in the right direction compared to where we were against these guys two months ago," SOU head coach James Gravelle said, referring to Simon Fraser’s 8-0 and 6-0 wins over the Raiders March 30 in Ashland. "They’re not unbeatable. It’s a thing that if we can just be consistent at the plate and in the field, it’s going to be a close game. I truly believe so." The Raiders (29-11) advanced to the championship round by way of a gritty, 1-0 triumph over Eastern Oregon earlier in the day. Raider senior third baseman Angie Chaplin returned from what appeared to be a serious elbow injury to hit the game-winning home run in the fourth. But, just like their first day at regionals, the Raiders couldn’t follow that up with a win over the top seed. Sigurdson walked five and struck out 11, outdueling Raider senior ace Brandi Brown. She deftly escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the second by striking out Shauna Wade and Kendra Kohler, bringing to a crashing halt what proved to be SOU’s best chance to score. Brown (26-9), who started all four tournament games for the Raiders, allowed six hits and six earned runs while walking three and striking out four. The loss ended the most successful season the Raiders have had since restarting the program three years ago. They clinched the first Cascade Conference championship in team history last Saturday and were hoping for a berth to nationals via either a regional championship or an at-large berth. Friday’s loss ended that quest. Still, the Raiders said they’re pleased with the season as a whole. "We did really well defensively," said Chaplin, who plans to return next season as an assistant coach. "Next year, I hope the team can, when we go up against them, be used to the speed because all of their pitchers are pretty fast. We just need to get used to that, just get the bat on the ball." Simon Fraser (32-3) got on the board early, scoring in the bottom of the first on a fluke play. Shannon Rossiter ripped a shot down the third-base line that appeared destined for foul territory, but Chaplin took a stab at it and could only deflect the ball to the fence. Cari Irwin came around to score from second before the Raiders could corral the ball, providing SFU all the offense it would need. The score stayed the same until the fifth, when an RBI single by Rachel Schill and a three-run home run by Rossiter gave the Clan a 5-0 lead. Brown’s throwing error to first helped spark Simon Fraser’s knockout blow, and Rossiter capped it by launching Brown’s 2-0 pitch 250 feet to straightaway center. "Besides that one inning we had (the fifth), it was overall a good game," Brown said. "There were a couple errors, mine being one of them, but that’s part of the game." Simon Fraser added another run on Danica Payette’s RBI single in the seventh, but by then the outcome was only a formality. Just before Brown threw her first pitch of the seventh, SOU’s three seniors — Chaplin, Brown and shortstop Latisha Inget — exchanged handshakes and hugs on the field, solemnly kicking off their final defensive stand. The three helped Gravelle get the program started at the club level five years ago and have been crucial to the Raiders’ success ever since. "I have gotten a family out of it and a lot of good times, some great memories and it’s been great being able to play softball at this level," Inget said, after posing with the rest of the team alongside the second-place trophy. "It’s very, very, very sad. I’m going to miss everybody." "It’s kind of been a home away from home, sort of," Brown added. "I’ve kind of made a family down there, with the softball team being part of it. It’s nice to be part of something and build something. � We’ve been through a lot of stuff together." Chaplin agreed. "I’ve grown so much as a softball player and as a person," she said. "I’ve made the best friends I’ll ever have here. A lot of people say high school is the time of your life, but these five years playing with James (Gravelle) and playing with Brandi and (Inget) for so long, it was great. It was a lot of fun." SOU didn’t fare much better offensively against Eastern Oregon pitcher Jayne-Leigh Thomas in the semis but survived thanks to Chaplin’s shot and a gutsy performance by Brown. Brown allowed just two hits, while walking five and striking out five to earn her final win as a Raider. Chaplin, who was hit by a pitch on the elbow Thursday, surprised everyone by not just coming back, but hammering a 225-foot homer to left. The blast came on a 3-2 pitch, allowing the slugger to increase the school’s single-season individual home run record to eight. When the season finally came to an end, Gravelle said the seniors will always have a special place in his heart. "It’s real tough for me to send these three seniors out with a loss," he said. "They’re winners and all three will be successful in life — I truly believe so." Joe Zavala is sports editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? 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