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94 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, May 26, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Britt Festival Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 13, 2005 Foster helps keep SOU’s season alive By JOE ZAVALA for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Southern Oregon’s happy-go-lucky center fielder got nasty at the plate and helped extend the Raiders’ season in the process. Leann Foster smoked a two-run triple in the third inning and all-star pitcher Miranda Gillaspie took care of the rest as second-seeded SOU toughed out a 3-0 win over fourth-seeded Eastern Oregon on Thursday in the NAIA Region I softball tournament at University Field. The loser-out victory came only hours after Oregon Tech, SOU’s Cascade Conference rival and the tournament’s No. 3 seed, upset the Raiders 5-0 in the first round. SOU (37-18) bounced back nicely, however, ending Eastern’s season and advancing to today’s semifinals. The Raiders play Oregon Tech (33-16) at 11 a.m. The winner moves on to the finals, where it will have to take two games from defending Region I champion Simon Fraser (29-7) in order to claim the regional crown and earn an automatic berth to nationals. "I was really proud of the way the kids came back," said Raider head coach Larry Binney, who is stepping down at the end of the season. "They could have hung their heads and just said, ‘Well, the season’s over,’ but they battled back and we get to play (today). Everything’s sudden death now." Advertisement Gillaspie (21-7) allowed three hits and one walk against Eastern Oregon in the shutout. She struck out four and retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced. Foster came up with two out and two on after Kara Ray reached on a bunt that settled in front of home plate. "It seems like I always come up in those situations," Foster said, "and I love to be in that spot." She showed why ... eventually. Eastern Oregon pitcher Shannon Rasmussen (15-8) threw consecutive strikes to get ahead, but couldn’t finish the job. Foster worked the count full then continued to foul off would-be strikeout pitches. Finally, on the 12th pitch of the battle, SOU’s No. 3 hitter crushed a deep shot to right- center. Both base runners scored easily, giving Gillaspie all the run support she would need. "That’s my job on this team and I definitely felt the pressure," said Foster, who has a team-high 40 RBIs. "(Rasmussen) knows me and I know her so it was a true battle. It was very nerve-racking." Added Binney: "(Foster’s) a great competitor. She’s the nicest kid in the world, but inside ..." Only three more Mountaineer batters reached base over the last four innings. EOU’s Tonilynn Reardon lined out with a runner on first to end the game. SOU’s tournament opener against the Owls was a different story. Raider freshman Alicia Caudill (7-5) got the start and gave up a two-run homer to Amanda Doherty in the top of the first. Oregon Tech pitcher Laura Delplanche (19-10) took over from there. She scattered seven hits over seven innings in an efficient, if not dominant, performance. Delplanche was at her best when the pressure was on, as SOU stranded nine base runners. Three of those came in the seventh, when the Raiders loaded the bases with one out. Ray popped out and Foster grounded out to end the game. "I’ve got to give some credit to Laura Delplanche," Binney said. "She did a great job against us, kept us off balance." Binney said he will probably pitch Gillaspie in today’s morning game and didn’t rule out using her again if SOU makes it to the finals. That’s just fine by his star pitcher. "I don’t know what the plan is," Gillaspie said, "but I’ll be ready." Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s