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P/CLOUDY Temp: 63 °F Wind: NNW at 14 mph Saturday, June 21, 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 May 29, 2003 Sister act helps Molalla oust Phoenix By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune TALENT — Molalla had the numbers stacked against Phoenix in a Class 3A second-round state-playoff softball game Wednesday at Hagler-James Park. The fourth-ranked Pirates might have thought they were suffering from a case of blurred vision when the Indians took the field with senior sets of triplets and twins on the diamond. Throughout the game, one of the Roley triplets or Becker twins was contributing in some way. And if the multiple sibling lineup didn’t confuse Phoenix enough, pitcher Katie Ballini did her part in keeping the Pirate hitters uncomfortable by consistently finding the corners of the strike zone. Advertisement The end result was Molalla moving on in the state playoffs with a 3-1 victory against the back-to-back Skyline Conference champions. The Indians (17-10), the Capital Conference runner-up, will play at Scappoose, a 4-3 winner over Yamhill-Carlton, in the quarterfinals Friday. Meanwhile, the Pirates’ 21-5 campaign ends on a sour note. "Basically, just like you would expect, our whole team took the loss tough," Phoenix second-year coach Bill Shearin said. "I thought we were more prepared for this game than any other this season. But the ball takes funny bounces in playoff games." Ballini struck out nine, walked two and seemed in command throughout the game by throwing low strikes early in the count. Ironically, the short, stocky senior used an approach contrary to her normal pitching style. "I actually throw a lot of rise balls because I’m so short," said Ballini, who was bothered by a jammed pinkie finger on her pitching hand. "I tried to get ahead and make them chase it. My natural philosophy is to strike ‘em out and don’t give them a chance." Molalla coach Rocky Bauer had special praise for catcher Brittany Roley. "Our catcher was one of the big differences in the game," said Bauer. "Brittany Roley took away their running game and called smart pitches." Brittany Roley gunned down Phoenix runners trying to steal in the third and fourth innings with one out or fewer each time. On both occasions, her sister, shortstop Bridget Roley, applied the tag. "Brittany and Katie adjusted to the strike zone real well," added Bauer. "They kept the ball in the umpire’s strike zone without having to put the ball in the middle of the plate." Shearin acknowledged the Molalla battery had a big impact in the outcome. "(Ballini) worked the umpire’s zone to get ahead in the count," he said. "She lived low and suckered us high. The first three innings we couldn’t lay off the high ball. "We took some calculated risks that didn’t pay off. (Brittany Roley) did take us out of some innings." Even though five of the first six Pirates’ outs came on swinging third strikes, Phoenix scratched out a run in the bottom of the first. Left-hander Jennifer Dunlap opened the Phoenix first with a soft line-drive single over third base. Dunlap moved to second on a wild pitch, then made a base-running error by getting hung up between second and third on a pickoff attempt. Dunlap escaped when center fielder Nina Hillhouse tried to chase down Dunlap, but the senior shortstop beat the tag with a head-first dive into third. Kelsey Russell made the Indians pay by lining a two-out, 3-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single that gave Phoenix the initial lead. Then Phoenix experienced its one bad inning, which allowed Molalla to score two unearned runs. Bridget Roley and Jillian Becker rapped one-out singles in the second off Phoenix pitcher Tiffany Ross. Megan Bennett followed with a walk but was picked off at first. Ross looked to get out of the jam by striking out third baseman Brandee Roley, but Pirates catcher Shannon Reed could not handle the swinging strike. Reed appeared to have a play at home on Bridget Roley coming down the line from third but instead threw to first too late to get Brandee Roley. The next batter, Ballini, missed a squeeze bunt attempt, and Reed made a throwing error trying to cut down Brandee Roley going to second. The error allowed Becker to score from third when the ball went into center field. Molalla added an insurance run in the seventh on Bennett’s two-out triple, scoring Bridget Roley, who had singled with one out. Ross (20-5) surrendered five hits and struck out four for the Pirates. After the second inning, the tall, strong senior pitcher allowed only one base runner until Bridget Roley singled with one out in the seventh. "Tiffany pitched well enough for us to win," lamented Shearin. "It was our bats and some untimely errors that contributed to our undoing. "Maybe the family factor got us." Molalla.....................................020 000 1 — 3 5 1 Phoenix....................................100 000 0 — 1 5 2 Ballini and Bra. Roley; Ross and Reed. W — Ballini (17-10). L — Ross (20-5). 3B — M: Bennett. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search 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 | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times