It would have been an exciting football game, but it wasn’t football.
West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) outlasted city foe Vance, 47-44, in a softball marathon for the ages. The incredible four-hour, 10-minute contest, which ended under the lights at Vance, was just three runs short of tying the national record (94 runs) set during a 1983 Massachusetts game in which East Machias Washington Academy massacred Lubec, 88-6.
Incredibly, the second-highest scoring game in history lasted just the normal seven innings. And there were only 28 total hits. However, here is why it lasted so long – 36 walks and 27 errors.
Khala Singleton, Vance
Courtesy photo
"It’s amazing that any softball teams could score that many runs," West Charlotte coach Norbert Reid said. "I figured there might be a chance for a state record, but I had no idea it was that close to a national record."
Reid’s pre-game thought was that one of the two teams might win by the 10- or 15-run rule "because we both were at the bottom of the conference and don’t have strong pitching."
Sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter Diamond Brown was one of the Lions’ heroes, drawing five walks and scoring six runs. She also made a huge defensive play by back-pedaling to catch a pop fly, then doubling a runner off first in the final inning. A grounder to third mercifully ended the game.
Another sophomore, Brittany Frizzelle, also drew praise from Reid because she made her debut as a pitcher in the second inning, throwing all but the first and third innings, and got the victory. Senior second baseman Christin Cooper collected a double and two singles, scored six times and drove in four runs.
"As much running as we did, both teams were pretty exhausted," Reid said. "But with the adrenaline flowing, they weren’t dragging. Nobody (on the Vance team) was holding their heads down."
Senior second baseman Khala Singleton paced the Vance Cougars with two home runs and a triple, driving in nine runs. Sophomore pitcher Shadaiza Holloway added two doubles and a triple.
Vance coach Jessica Butler said that entering the game, "I knew we would be evenly matched, but I was optimistic that we would have the advantage. I probably did more subbing and moving around than ever before."
She added that losing such an unusual game "was amazing and deflating at the same time. The next time we play them (May 7) will be more intense."
* Two freshmen fired goose eggs for 15 innings, but relief pitchers got the decisions when Keystone (La Grange, Ohio) nipped Black River (Sullivan, Ohio), 3-1, in 17 innings. Caitlyn Minney struck out 34 and gave up just two hits in 15 innings for Keystone, while Dagmar Smith fanned 13 over the same span for Black River.
* Talk about comebacks – Trailing 25-6 after 1 1/2 innings, Rich South (Richton Park, Ill.) came roaring back to nip Rich Central (Olympia Fields, Ill.), 30-29. Adding a bizarre twist to the game, Rich Central scored 11 runs in the top of the seventh to take a 40-30 lead. South had scored a couple runs in the bottom of the inning before darkness forced umpires to call the game, which erased all seventh-inning scoring.
* Freshman Rose Perry struck out 19 as Madison-Grant (Fairmount, Ind.) nipped Wes-Del, 3-2. She also had 15 strikeouts during a two-hit, 3-0 victory over Eastern.
* Chambersburg (Pa.) senior Emily Estep has won her first six games with a microscopic 0.43 ERA. She struck out 18 Cumberland Valley hitters during a recent outing.
* Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) beat Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 4-1, to snap a 17-game winning streak behind Amy Letourneau’s four-hitter and Jessie Daulton’s three-run homer. Mater Dei had just taken over California’s No. 1 ranking after blanking then No. 1 Corona Santiago, 4-0.
* Allaura Lincoln pitched her 13th shutout and scattered eight hits as Greenbrier Christian (Chesapeake, Va.) nipped Kellam (Virginia Beach, Va.), 1-0, in 17 innings.
* Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.) routed Green Run, 23-1, to give Dennis Nixon his 400th coaching victory.
Texas lassoes Joseph
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the University of Texas has landed one of the nation’s few remaining blue-chippers with the commitment of Cory Joseph. The 6-foot-3 standout guard averaged 18.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.5 steals as a senior for Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and was a second-team MaxPreps All-American.
* According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Florida State has a commitment from 6-3 junior guard Terry Whisnant, who averaged 28 points and drilled 51 percent of his 3-point shots this year for Cherryville (N.C.).
* The News and Observer also reports that 6-10 junior star Quincy Miller is transferring from Quality Education (Winston-Salem, N.C.) to Westchester Country Day (High Point, N.C.), which is building a powerhouse program. This year he averaged 25.5 points, 12 rebounds and five assists while drawing major interest from the likes of Duke and Kentucky.
* According to the Dallas Morning News, Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas) star Zach Peters has made a commitment to the University of Kansas. The 6-10 sophomore averaged 15.3 points and nine rebounds this year.
* Alabama’s No. 1 senior, 6-6 Josh Langford of Huntsville Lee, has signed with Auburn University, the Birmingham News reported.
* The Argus Leader reports that 6-9 Cody Larson has committed to the University of Florida. The Roosevelt (Sioux Falls, S.D.) star, who was released from his University of Iowa signing, averaged 19.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a senior.
* Former Indiana University assistant Roshown McLeod is the new boys basketball coach at St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.). He replaces Dan Hurley, who compiled a 223-21 record before taking the head job at Wagner College. Now maybe St. Benedict’s will play St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and McLeod’s former prep coach, Bob Hurley. Bob’s wife, Chris, should give this long-denied matchup a green light in the future.
* With the shocking closing of national power Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.) this spring, somebody is going to benefit from several talented transfers.
* Otis Hughley, who coached DeMarcus Cousins and won a Class 6A state title in 2007 at LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), is the new head coach at Blount (Eight Mile, Ala.).
* David Henley, who led Holmes (Covington, Ky.) to the 2009 state title, has taken the head coaching job at North Oldham (Goshen, Ky.). He compiled a 282-114 record in 13 years.
Miller slams 4 homers
Moore (Louisville, Ky.) junior center fielder Jalen Miller (6-2, 195) belted four home runs during a 16-10 loss at Richmond Model. That ties him for second place in national history (the record is five). Even though his team was far behind, he was intentionally walked in his last at-bat.
"That made no sense to deny him a fifth (possible home run)," co-coach Tim Gentry said. "Three that he hit out would have been out of any ball park. The fourth one was wind-aided. He hit over .400 as a freshman and sophomore, but he kind of had been struggling this year (no homers in first 16 games). He is a Division I prospect in baseball and football."
* Wiggins (Colo.) senior Rolando Celis struck out the side in one inning of relief to preserve a 4-3 victory over Akron. He then went the distance in the nightcap, a 10-2 victory, and struck out 20.
* Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) senior Kyle Porter pitched a perfect game with 18 strikeouts during a 1-0, eight-inning victory over Union Mine (El Dorado, Calif.).
* Charter School (Wilmington, Del.) junior Eric Peterson fanned 20 during a 12-1 rout of Christiana.
* Central Kitsap (Silverdale, Wash.) senior pitcher Drew Vettleson has been effective this year throwing both right- and left-handed. The 6-1 Oregon State University recruit already has one no-hitter.
* Mason (Ohio) defeated Middletown, 16-7, to give coach Ken Gray his 700th victory.
* George Kirchgassner of Lake Nona (Orlando, Fla.) and M.L. Woodruff of Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, La.) both recently notched their 600th coaching victories.
* Victory number 500 was achieved by Sal Mignano of Shoreham-Wading River (Shoreham, N.Y.) and Ryam Brantl of Thompson (N.D.).
* Achieving their 300th wins were Scott Upp of LaPorte (Ind.) and Jeff Short of Westlake (Ohio).
Schellberg sets Penn record
Delbarton (Morristown, N.J.) senior Pat Schellberg set a Penn Relays record by winning the mile in 4:08.07. The University of North Carolina recruit was named MVP for boys individual events. Earlier this year he won a championship at another prestigious event, the Millrose Games.
Coach Brian Theroux calls his star "a true student of the sport … There is an intensity to Pat’s focus on running. Pat has learned patience and strategy through the experience of repeated exposure to high-level competition."
The 116th annual meet drew record crowds for one day (54,310) and three days (117,346) to Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
* Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa) senior Katie Flood had a foot in three records at the prestigious Drake Relays. She set individual records by winning the 1,500-meter run in 4:28.30, the 3,000-meter run in 9:43.39 and by anchoring the winning 4x800 relay in 9:11.01.
U.S. wins hockey title
The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team defeated Sweden, 3-1, to win its second consecutive gold medal during the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Under-18 Championships in Minsk, Belarus.
Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) made 33 saves and received the Directorate Award as the tournament’s best goaltender. Campbell and Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) are the first American men at any level in hockey to win three IHF gold medals. Leading the Americans with 10 points each were Adam Clendening (Niagara Falls, N.Y.), Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) and Nick Shore (Denver, Colo.).
Ball State hires Shondell
One of the nation’s premier high school volleyball coaches, Steve Shondell, has been hired as women’s volleyball coach at Ball State University. During 35 years at Muncie Burris (Ind.), Shondell compiled a 1,183-95 record with 21 state and four national championships.
Stieber wins wrestling award
Monroeville (Ohio) senior Logan Stieber has won the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum. The award is based on wrestling, grades, character, citizenship and community service. Stieber posted a remarkable 184-1 high school record and was a four-time Ohio state champion. In addition, he was this season’s Ohio Wrestler of the Year and has won several national championships.
Samuelson picks Stanford
One of the nation’s top juniors, Bonnie Samuelson, has made a commitment to Stanford University, according to the Orange County Register. The 6-3 standout averaged 27.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 2.9 assists this year for Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.). She shot a sizzling 92 percent from the free-throw line. In addition, she has a superb 4.8 grade-point average.
* Luke Roth, who has a 431-223 record, has resigned as girls basketball coach at Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.).
Potpourri
* Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.) defeated city foe Millbrook, 5-4, to end a 39-match winning streak for the defending state tennis champions. Both teams now have one loss – to each other.
* Guy Montecalvo has retired as head football coach at Canon-McMillan (Canonsburg, Pa.). He posted a 225-107-2 record during 30 years at two schools.
