Monday, May 10, 1999
Sycamore, Badin No. 1 in softball
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Sycamore led from start-to-finish to win the Enquirer's final Division I softball championship with Hamilton Badin (9-7) voted No.1 in the Division II-III poll.
SOFTBALL POLLS
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DIVISION I
1. Sycamore (16) ....... 178
2. Fairfield (2) ....... 155
3. Ross ....... 147
4. Amelia ....... 73
5. Seton ....... 66
6. Mercy ....... 62
7. McAuley ....... 60
7. Hamilton ....... 60
9. Lakota East ....... 53
10. Lakota West ....... 28
Others: Edgewood 26, Northwest 21, St. Ursula 19, Ursuline 9, Mason 8. DIVISION II-IV
1. Badin (6) ....... 88
2. Roger Bacon ....... 74
3. Deer Park (2) ....... 72
3. Taylor ....... 72
5. Summit ....... 52
6. Clermont NE ....... 50
7. Reading ....... 42
8. Blanchester (2) ....... 32
9. Goshen ....... 20
10. Finneytown ....... 12
Others: Wyoming 10. |
Although No. 1 in the preseason poll, Sycamore lacked a pitcher with varsity experience. However, Beth Conner (12-2), Katie Quay (4-0) and Marnie Thomas stepped up, en abling the Aviators to clinch at least a tie for the Greater Miami Conference title en route to a 20-2 season record.
At best, Badin's first-year softball coach Debbie Harrell was shooting for a break-even season. After all, the Rams won only four regular season games during the 1998 season.
“We worked on pitching and defense,” Harrell said. “The kids came a long way and this is great honor for the program.”
Hit often and hard in 1998, senior pitcher May Chaney was the most improved player. She compiled a 7-7 record with a 2.42 earned run average while striking out 87 in 87 innings.
The girls softball championship gave Badin it second for the 1998-99 school year. The basketball team was The Enquirer's Division II-III-IV poll champion with the soccer team finishing second behind Indian Hill.
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