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Darci Byrne happy to finally be pitching for a winner Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Blue Aces pitcher Darci Byrne has helped the U16 team advance to next week's national tournament in McAllen, Texas. By DON HUNT Imagine pitching for a team that scores less than two runs a game and sports a .135 batting average. And goes 50 straight scoreless innings. That was the predicament Darci Byrne found herself in last spring while taking the mound for South Medford High. No matter how well she pitched, it was rarely good enough to win. "I was so stressed out I felt like I was 50 years old," says Byrne, whose team managed only one win in the Southern Oregon Conference. "It was very frustrating." In a few short weeks, frustration has turned to exultation for Byrne. She's now the No. 1 pitcher on South Medford's 16-and-under summer team, the Blue Aces, who finished third at the western regional tournament in Kalispell, Mont., last weekend and earned a trip to the national tournament July 30-Aug. 5 in McAllen, Texas. The Blue Aces are one of four youth softball teams in the Rogue Valley that have qualified for national events. The North Medford U14 squad is headed to Broken Arrow, Okla., July 30-Aug. 5, and at the U12 level, North Medford and the Rogue Valley Rebels are headed to Mount Vernon, Wash., Aug. 6-12. Over the past five weeks, the Blue Aces have posted a 22-7 record that has included a 15-game winning streak. They've won tournaments in Salem and Waldport and placed third at the state tournament in McMinnville before their impressive showing at regionals. What makes the Blue Aces' accomplishments all the more impressive is that 11 of the 13 players on their roster are young enough to play in the 14-and-under division. Most will be freshmen in the fall, and they're being looked upon as the building blocks of a softball renaissance at South Medford High. "There's a lot of talent in this group, and they've been playing together a long time," says Blue Aces coach Doc Chaplan, who has coached most of the girls for the past six or seven years. "They know the fundamentals and they know how to win. "I wouldn't be surprised if four or five of these girls don't break into the starting lineup for South (next spring as freshmen)." Byrne and outfielder Erin Mendenhall are the two 16-year-olds on the team, and each showcased her maturity at the regional tournament. Byrne's best game came during a 4-3, 13-inning victory over the defending national champion Boise (Idaho) Blast. She struck out 16 and drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 13th. "That one really felt good because they were a real cocky team," says Byrne, who posted a 4-1 record at the regional tournament and pitched a burdensome 42 innings over the final two days. "Their coaches were cussing and their fans were pretty bad, too. "We took the wind out of their sails." Byrne has become more effective this summer after learning how to throw a riseball to complement her fastball, dropball and changeup. She learned the riseball from Central Point pitching guru Lloyd Campbell, who has worked with her since October. "He knows a lot about pitching and a lot about how to prepare yourself mentally for a game," Byrne says. "He's taught me how to keep a poker face out there, even when things aren't going well." Mendenhall, meanwhile, batted over .500 at the regional tournament and had five doubles. One of the Blue Aces' greatest strengths is an airtight infield that seems to suck in every ground ball. First baseman Jennifer Mendenhall, second baseman Jonni Byrne, shortstop Katie Caufman and third baseman Jackie Chaplan have all been solid throughout the summer. Then there's catcher Alex Jordahl, who has been known to slam into wire fences and wooden dugouts in her pursuit of pop-ups. "She's probably the most hard-nosed player I've coached," Chaplan says. "She's tough as nails." An anonymous donor paid for a tour bus to transport the girls to Kalispell, a 20-hour journey each direction. Coach Chaplan is hoping other sponsors come through for their trip to McAllen, Texas, a town just a few miles from the Mexican border in the southeast part of the state. "We're hoping to fly back there," Blanchard says, "if we can come up with the funding." Here's a glance at the other three teams headed to national tournaments: NORTH MEDFORD U14 - Pitcher Kendra Strahm leads the Black Tornado squad that finished fourth at a regional tournament in Portland last weekend. Strahm fired a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory over Roseburg last weekend and also notched the Tornado's other two wins at the regional event. Coached by Russ Gould, the North Medford group has posted a 41-12 record this summer. NORTH MEDFORD U12 - Many of the girls on this team are playing at the ASA level for the first time and struggled early, but the team came on strong in July. Coach Greg Sikes picked up South Medford pitcher McKenzie Botilho for the regional tournament, and she responded with three victories. Shortstop Crystal Young, second baseman Amanda Volgarino, third baseman Erin West and first baseman Tara Sikes are the team's leading hitters. ROGUE VALLEY REBELS U12 - This team was the dream of the late J.D. Shinkle, who sought to mold players from the Crater, North Medford and South Medford school districts. Shinkle died in March, before the Rebels played a game, but they've gone on to win 34 of 39 games and win the U12 state championship. Pitcher Jill Jeter has the talent to keep the Rebels in almost any game. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.