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Varley to represent Tornado in star series By GREG STILES Haley Varley will spend Saturday evening at the ballpark where she hoped to end her high school softball career. The circumstances, however, will differ. The North Medford first baseman is one of seven Southern Oregon Conference players slated to play in the State-Metro Softball Series at Erv Lind Stadium in Portland. The prep Class 4A, 3A and 2A/1A state softball championships are scheduled earlier in the day at Erv Lind, followed by a 6:30 p.m. State-Metro doubleheader. A second twin bill is scheduled at 10 o'clock Sunday. "I wish we were in the final game, but this will be a good way to end my senior year," Varley says. "I think we could've made it, but we didn't play our best game at the end of the year." Varley will be joined by Crater infielders Kara Ray and Diane Steele, Grants Pass out fielder Seanna Doyel and Roseburg infielders Michele Hegele and Erin Goodell and outfielder Molly Liston. "I'm excited to play with the other girls; it will be high-caliber ball," says Varley, who once went to the national Amateur Softball Association 12-year-old tournament with Ray, Goodell and Liston. Varley hit .415 in SOC play and had a .555 on-base percentage. She didn't strike out or commit an error in 14 conference outings. She plans to continue her career at Southern Oregon next fall, the first North Medford player to join the rekindled Raider program. "I didn't think about it very much before this year," Varley says. "I got lucky (that Southern Oregon began fielding a team again this spring). I wanted to stay close to my parents and stay in the valley." Former North Medford coach Larry Binney will join North Eugene's Mike Jodoin and Redmond's Mike Gedrose in directing the state team. Admission is free. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.