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P/SUNNY Temp: 41 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, April 13, 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 March 20, 2003 Crater triumphs over Phoenix in softball tilt TALENT — A pair of softball teams that project as heavyweights in their respective conferences this spring withstood wet weather to open the season Wednesday. Visiting Crater used solid defense, the pitching of junior ace Jenni Bittle and some timely hitting to post a 4-3 victory over Phoenix and senior pitching star Tiffany Ross at Hagler-James Field. The Comets (1-0) broke a 1-all tie on a two-run double by Janelle Cristofaro in the sixth inning and added another score in the seventh for a 4-1 cushion. The Pirates (0-1), however, weren’t willing to go down easy, rallying for two runs and advancing the potential equalizer to second base before succumbing in the bottom of the seventh. "First, it was fun," said second-year Phoenix head coach Bill Shearin. "Second, it was disappointing. And third, it really gives us some drive for practice (today)." Jennifer Dunlap and Christina Saldivar slapped two hits and each scored a run for the Pirates. Dunlap’s double was Phoenix’s lone extra-base effort. Jamie Escobar drove in two runs and Kelsey Russell picked up the other RBI for the Pirates. Despite wet, muddy conditions, Crater committed just one error to Phoenix’s four. "The difference was Crater fielded the ball a little cleaner than we did," said Shearin, whose squad returns six starters and all but three members of last year’s Skyline Conference champion outfit. Bittle earned the pitching victory by allowing six hits, three walks and three earned runs in going the distance. She struck out five. Ross, who will pitch next year at Villanova University outside Philadelphia, permitted seven hits, three walks and two earned runs in a complete-game effort. She struck out two. Crystal Huntley joined Cristofaro in drilling a double for the Comets, who tied for third place in the Southern Oregon Conference last year. Crater ...................................... 001 002 1 — 4 7 1 Phoenix ................................... 100 000 2 — 3 6 4 Bittle and Thomas; Ross and Reed. W — Bittle (1-0). L — Ross (0-1). 2B — C: Huntley, Cristofaro; P: Dunlap. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M 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 Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S