Document text
Barry hopes to continue North�s dominance Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell With veteran players like all-star pitcher Steph Coe, left, back in the lineup, new North Medford coach Sara Barry will be in good hands this spring. By Greg Stiles 2001 SOC Softball Projected Order of Finish 1. NORTH MEDFORD: SOC player of the year Steph Coe leads a talented senior class as the Black Tornado seeks its seventh straight conference crown. 2. ROSEBURG: Is this the year Roseburg breaks through for its first SOC crown since 1986-87? The Tribe returns seven regulars from a team that tied for second-place last year. 3. CRATER: Second-team all-state shortstop Kara Ray has signed a letter of intent with Portland State. As usual, the Comets will contend for a playoff spot, although they lose standout catcher Lindsey Ridge, who moved to Washington. 4. GRANTS PASS: The Cavers made it to the state playoffs once before Clay Rounsaville took over two years ago. They�re shooting for their third straight appearance. 5. ASHLAND : The young Grizzlies will depend on defense and pitching to keep them in games. They have to make up for the lack of power by executing other facets of offense. 6. SOUTH MEDFORD: The Panthers can hit with the best of them, but they�re not a particularly strong defensive team. Will need a stellar effort from sophomore pitch Darci Byrne to make playoffs. 7. KLAMATH UNION � The Pelicans weren�t a good hitting team in 2000, but they should be better with the return of Grace Fagan from a wrist injury. 8. EAGLE POINT � If the Eagles can plug the defensive holes and raise their batting average a few points, they should avoid another 0-14 conference campaign. The page has turned. The architect of North Medford�s Southern Oregon Conference softball dynasty has turned in his last line-up card. So as Larry Binney leaves the field, Sara Barry � who learned much of what she knows about the game from the former national coach of the year � becomes the Black Tornado�s third coach in 22 years. "When you�re taking over a coaching position, you always want to make the program better," Barry says. "When you�re taking over one of the best programs in the state, that�s a hard task. Still, I think there�s room for improvement and that�s what we are working towards." In many ways the change is seamless. Barry piloted Oregon City in 1998 and 1999, advancing to the Class 4A playoffs the second season, before joining the Tornado staff last year. Her dad, Rod Rumrey, remains the first base coach. Pitching coach Duke Anderson remains. And former North teammate and Oregon City assistant Casey Mayben is on hand. Perhaps more important to North�s continued success will be the six returning starters � including all-star pitcher Steph Coe. "Because Larry coached me, and my dad being back, there�s not a whole lot of things the girls have had to adjust to as far as philosophy," Barry says. "Things are going to be different, but it�s going to be a pretty easy adjustment for everybody." Besides Coe, there are veterans at every station: Seniors Amy Allen at third base, Jill Carrigan at shortstop, Tai Kinney at second base and Haley Varley at first base. Junior Britney Hillyer returns behind the plate. "I wanted the girls to give me an idea of their expectations for the season and where they want to go with it," Barry says. "They have pretty high goals and we�re going to push them towards those goals." Chances are those goals coincide with the SOC coaches� poll which gives North a narrow edge over Roseburg to win its seventh straight conference crown. "Common sense tells me Roseburg, but experience says North Medford," veteran Crater coach Mike Meunier says. "Roseburg was a no-brainer to pick, until I saw Coe (in the jamboree). I thought she looked awesome. It looked like she�s improved over last year and that�s pretty tough to do." The question mark for the Tornado is its outfield, where new faces will roam in every direction. "That�s going to be the real test for us," Barry admits. Roseburg has seven returning regulars from its second-place team of a year ago. Shortstop Erin Goodell hit .545 and drove in 16 runs in 14 conference games. Pitcher Molly Liston was 6-1 with an 0.89 earned-run average in 47 innings. She struck out 35. Liston will continue to play center field when not pitching. She hit .409 and drove in 10 runs. "The key for us is whether we hit the ball," coach Craig Munion says. "Last year, we had to manufacture a lot of runs. Hopefully we won�t have to do that this year." Crater has lost some key talent from last year�s team that finished two games behind North Medford. But coach Mike Meunier decided to go one more year and second-team all-state senior Kara Ray (.555, 15 runs, 15 stolen bases) is back at shortstop along with junior third baseman Diane Steele (.351). Ray also compiled a 5-2 record with a 1.77 ERA. But freshman Jennifer Bittle is ticketed to carry much of the pitching load. Meunier was counting on sophomore Leanne Foster to shoulder some of the pitching load, but elbow problems have limited her duty to the outfield. Sophomore first baseman Crystal Huntley and sophomore second baseman Brandy Wolter also return. Grants Pass had made a habit of making the state playoffs, but the Cavers will have to do it with new leaders in 2001. Rashaun Lewis, Alayna Peterson, Mary Barbarian and Gabby Rathburn have all graduated. Nonetheless, Grants Pass is picked to be back in the playoff hunt. Sophomore left fielder Ashley Bellum hit .472 in league last year. Seanna Doyel, who could show up in right field, first base or pitcher, hit .283 last year. Ashland and South Medford also figure to battle for a playoff spot. Ashland lost some of its offensive punch, but has a strong sophomore class that could surprise. Junior center fielder Stephanie Hargis (.314, 11 runs scored) is the Grizzlies� top returning hitter, while sophomore Megan Beugli (1-4, 2.27 ERA) takes over the pitching duties. South Medford is led by sophomore Darci Byrne�s (3-5, 2.02 ERA) pitching and the 1-2 hitting punch of senior outfielder Lindsey McHenry (.295, 3 doubles) and junior catcher Micky Conley (.304). The Panthers should easily surpass their three conference wins of a year ago. SOC Softball Predicted 2001 Finish Coaches poll: 1. North Medford (5) 46 2. Roseburg (2) 43 3. Crater (1) 40 4. Grants Pass 31 5. Ashland 21 6. South Medford 19 7. Klamath Union 12 8. Eagle Point 11 2000 Final Standings W L Pct. GB North Medford 13 1 .929 -- Roseburg 10 4 .714 3 Crater 10 4 .714 3 Grants Pass 9 5 .643 4 Ashland 8 6 .571 5 Klamath Union 3 11 .214 10 South Medford 3 11 .214 10 Eagle Point 0 14 .000 13 Note: Roseburg defeated Crater 7-3 in a playoff game for the No. 2 berth in the state playoffs. Returning All-Stars At Projected 2001 Position FIRST TEAM � Britney Hillyer, North Medfford, jr. Catcher; Kara Ray, Crater, sr., shortstop; Molly Liston, Roseburg, sr., right-hand pitcher-center field; Ashley Bellum, Grants Pass, so., left field; Steph Coe, North Medford, sr., right-hand pitcher. SECOND TEAM � Erin Goodell, Roseburg, sr., shortstop; Jill Carrigan, North Medford, sr., shortstop; Seanna Doyel, Grants Pass, sr., right field-first base - left-hand pitcher; Kara Ray, Crater, sr., shortstop; Darci Byrne, South Medford, so., right-hand-pitcher. HONORABLE MENTION � Amy Mapes, Eagle Point, jr., catcher; MichelleHegele, Roseburg, sr., third base; Shannon Burmeister, Roseburg, jr., first base; Diane Steele, Crater, jr., third base; Sam Marrs, Grants Pass, jr., right-hand pitcher; Tashina Skeen, Klamath Union, jr., right-hand pitcher; Brin Tamblin, Grants Pass, so., shortstop. Conference Notes HUMMING IT IN THERE � ."This, by far, is the best overall pitch the league has had since I�ve been involved as far as parity," says Crater�s Mike Meunier, who began coaching at Eagle Point in1990. "There are a lot of teams with above average pitching and then there�s (North Medford�s Steph) Coe. There are a lot of good pitchers, but she�s the only one that can dominate you." TESTING THEIR WINGS � Eagle Point sophomore pitcher Jamie Williams has been sidelined with a torn ligament in her throwing hand is hoping to start pitching again after spring vacation. Meantime, freshman Randi Mapes is sharing duties Darci Brown. Coach Don Boucher hopes improved team speed will lead to the team�s first SOC win since 1999. "Last year we had more run and maybe more than hits." A total of 38 girls turned out for softball at the school. NEW COACH � Rich Beugli succeeds Kristeen Weiss as Ashland�s coach. He has worked with the summer Ashland Bandit ASA teams for the past four years. He has five returning starters, including his daughter � pitcher Megan Beugli � on hand. Jenna Graven, Angela Heine and Beugli are part of sophomore class that could wind up being one of the school�s best. BACK IN THE LINEUP � Klamath Union�s team batting average should be bolstered by the return of Grace Fagan, who broke her wrist after just 15 at-bats last year. "She�s the kid we�re counting on," says coach Rick Anderson. Tashina Skeen led the Pels with a .400 average. Nobody else hit better than .205. Past Champions 2000 � North Medford 1999 � North Medford 1998 � North Medford 1997 � North Medford 1996 � North Medford 1995 � North Medford 1994 � Mazama 1993 � Crater/ Mazama/North Medford 1992 � North Medford/South Medford 1991 � North Medford/Eagle Point Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.