Friday, April 27, 2001
Amelia softball team has winning edge
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The formula for success Mike Rapp has used the past 22 plus years coaching the Amelia softball team is simple.
Catcher Jessie Frye and pitcher Amber Carpenter.
(Mike Simons photo)
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“We stress playing good defense and giving up two or less walks a game,” said Rapp, whose career record at Amelia is 331-135.
“There's no way you can beat a good team when you're giving up walks or making errors. When a batter is walked, they will bunt them around and then somehow score.”
Although the Barons lost seven starters to graduation from last year's 17-7 team, they have again surfaced as one of the Cincinnati-area's best.The Barons are 11-1 and ranked No. 3 in the Enquirer's Division I poll.
Two of the major contributors are pitcher Amber Carpenter and catcher Jessie Frye, the only seniors on the 11-player roster.
A backup pitcher behind Krista Forbes last season, Carpenter started 10-1, losing only 2-0 to Harrison on April 9.
“Amber turned it around after the loss,” Rapp said. “She was behind the batters the entire game and walked three or four. tShe learned that you can't effectively pitch when behind.”
Carpenter, who will attend Xavier next year on an academic scholarship, isn't an overpowering thrower. She has excellent control of her pitches, averaging just one walk a game.
“There's one thing that Amber doesn't like to do and that's a throw the ball down the middle,” Rapp said. “As a junior, she only pitched four games for the varsity and was nervous to start. She's now throwing with confidence.”
Carpenter prefers keeping it simple. She uses only a change-up and fastball, relying more on control and the ability to hit the corners.
“I can throw every ball a strike,” Carpenter said. “I prefer keeping the ball on the outside, but I can put it anywhere I want. I don't have a curve, drop or riser because I don't need these pitches.”
Another factor in Carpenter's success is Frye, the Barons catcher and a long-time friend.
“Jessie's the whole reason I'm out there pitching,” Carpenter said. “We've been best friends so long that she knows what to say and what pitches to call. I would be gone without her.”
After defeating Anderson 1-0 on Monday, Carpenter has pitched 81 innings, allowing six earned runs while striking out 60.
“We're not hitting the ball right now and without Amber we would be in trouble,” Rapp said.
Amelia led the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Buckeye Division by one game with four to play.
“Naturally we want to win the league championship,” Carpenter said. “But we've also started to think about going to state.”
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Amelia softball team has winning edge
