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90 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 25, 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 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 20, 2005 Tornado looking to do damage in softball playoffs By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune North Medford qualified for the Class 4A state softball playoffs for the 24th consecutive season by the skin of its teeth. Now the Black Tornado is looking to do some damage in the 36-team tournament. North (15-9), the Southern Oregon Conference’s fourth-place team, will play host to Franklin at 4 p.m. today at Fagone Field in a subtournament game. The winner of today’s game travels to play Barlow on Monday in a first-round game. Admission for all state-playoff games is $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children 5-and-under are free. Advertisement The Quakers (14-7), the No. 4 team from the Portland Interscholastic League, have won five of their last seven games. The Tornado, which advanced to the quarterfinals last season, finished the SOC on a three-game winning streak, capped off with a doubleheader sweep of then league-leading Roseburg that sealed a playoff berth. "I think the girls did it themselves this time," said first-year North coach Missy Doerr. "I can’t get inside of them and give them confidence. I mean, I can tell them, but they had to do it themselves." Franklin finished one game ahead of Cleveland for the PIL’s final playoff berth. The Quakers are led by junior outfielder Gabby Zinser, a first-team all-PIL pick last year, and returning players Jennifer Speakmon, Alicia Tucker and Christina Roberti. Franklin had little trouble scoring runs, putting 10 runs or more on the board six different times. But they also came out on the wrong side of several lopsided contests. North Medford found little room for error against some of the state’s top pitching in the SOC. The Tornado overcame three one-run defeats early in conference play — two in extra innings — to resurrect its season. North’s sweep of Roseburg in the finale was its first victory over a team above .500 in league play. "We played the type of ball we needed to play against a team like Roseburg," said Doerr. "I think they won that game for themselves and for the seniors." North has some younger players who will be making their playoff debuts, but veteran leaders like seniors Deni Rowley, Kendra Strahm, Mallorie Hoover, Stephanie Haskett and Rachelle Willden should have the Tornado ready for Franklin. "Everything we’ve learned and the confidence we’ve gained over the last few games will help us," said Doerr. "We need to play top quality ball in the playoffs. "Basically, if we show up to play we’ll be fine." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . 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