sectional softball
Shawnee softball rebirth continues
Kittles pitches Braves to rare sectional win, 15-9 record after disappointing 9-14 season a year ago.
PHOTOS: View photos from the game
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — It was a modest goal. But after the nightmarish softball season Shawnee High School suffered through last year, it was a lofty one — get one victory in the postseason tournament.
After a 3-0 Division II Urbana Sectional victory over Dayton Carroll on Tuesday, May 13, it is now a goal reached.
Shawnee senior Megan Miller hugs coach Larry Spahr after the Braves ended a Carroll sixth-inning threat. Miller had two hits in the game. Staff photo by Bill Lackey"We set a goal at the beginning of the year to definitely win one sectional game," said first-year Shawnee coach Larry Spahr. "Now our goal is to win the sectional title."
And why not? The Braves were a disappointing 9-14 last year, but have turned things around and are now 15-9 heading into Thursday's showdown with top-seeded Indian Lake. They had just matched the Lakers swing for swing Monday, outhitting them 11-9 but losing 4-1.
"We just want another shot at them," said Spahr of Indian Lake.
To beat the Lakers, the Braves will have to hit better than they did Tuesday against Carroll. After stringing together three hits in the first inning to go up 1-0, Shawnee mustered just two more hits the rest of the game. The Braves scored their other two runs on wild pitches. Megan Miller and Sami Smiddy had two hits each, with Smiddy getting the lone RBI.
"I don't know where our bats were tonight," Spahr said. "I think we used them up last night (against Indian Lake). I think there was a lot of anxiety in the young players."
Good thing pitcher Kelby Kittles was on. The junior improved to 12-4 on the mound by scattering five Patriots hits and striking out eight to get the shutout — and the rare postseason win.
"I didn't know what to expect when I got here, but they have responded to me well," said Spahr, who was an assistant at Northeastern for six seasons before taking the Braves' helm. "Our senior leadership enforced it, and the younger players bought into it.
"I'm very proud of what they have accomplished."
So much so that the future is looking brighter.
"We're looking to build the program," said Spahr, noting only two seniors are on this year's team. "We'll miss our seniors, but we've got people who are up to that challenge."
