 |
 |
| |
|
|
Thursday, May 27, 2004 By Crystal Parker Throughout the season, there have been many games where one team with a stellar pitching staff has completely dominated a softball game. Enjoying the luxury of placing any pitcher on the mound and knowing that for seven innings or more there will not be many runners crossing the plate has to make a coaching staff feel somewhat comfortable. With that much talent, the opposing team doesn't have much of a chance of getting a rally going to produce runs on the scoreboard. So what happens when both teams are successful with pitchers who can keep the batters guessing and control the outcome of a game? That's what was expected and happened in the South Jersey Group 4 championship game between Lenape and Cherokee. Only one run was scored amongst the two teams and that lone runner would be starting pitcher Allison Twarowski who gave Cherokee the winning run and the title in the first inning. Twarowski and Lenape's Jamie Moir were both spectacular for their teams as they have done all season long. During the regular season, these two teams met twice and both time each team won on their home field. Each game resulted in a very close competition being decided by a run. During the group playoffs, the Lady Indians started out their trip to the finals seeded in the eighth position. After shutting out Cherry Hill East, their confidence spilled over into their match up with the number one seeded Mustangs from Mainland. With their 9-1 upset over Mainland, the only obstacle that stood in their way was fourth seeded Shawnee. Cherokee’s challenge came in the semifinals match up against seconded seeded Toms River East. In that game, they were getting use to pulling out the narrow victories. Cherokee lead off the bottom of the first inning taking advantage of the situation presented to them. Twarowski started the inning by reaching on base when she was hit by a pitch and then advanced on a wild pitch. After a sacrifice bunt was successful, Alisha Gonzales’ fly ball to the outfield scored Twarowski. From that point on, the game belonged to the defense and the pitchers on the mound. Moir would settle down and kept the Chiefs from capitalizing on any scoring chances. Lenape would threaten during their final at bat, but Twarowski’s strikeout ended the threat and the game.
Photos by Mark Fletcher
|
| ©2004 South Jersey Sports Online Inc. |
