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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scotty Sports Corner: SMS Makes Mid-Season Push

By Kelly Proctor '02
Special Correspondent

Tappahannock (April 22, 2002)- St. Margaret's School athletes are thinking strategically and buckling down to continue the rest of their seasons with "can-do" attitudes. With only a month and a half left of school, seniors want to make the most of their remaining high school games.

  Photo left: St. Margaret's School senior Shannon Davis of Tappahannock was safe after stealing home base on an error by St. Anne's-Belfield. Her triple brought two other softball players across the plate in the April 16 win.

Softball: Broiling temperatures made the competition even hotter when the Scotty softball team played Essex High School on April 17. Although Essex was winning 5-0 by the middle of the game, SMS turned up the heat with four quick runs in the fifth inning. Essex, however, emerged victorious, besting the Scotties 4-12.

"An Essex pitching change in the fifth inning shut us down," said Head Coach Sue Saunders. "We are trying to improve on defensive skills, and there may be a change in the lineup."

The situation was reversed on April 16 when St. Margaret's faced St. Anne's-Belfield in Tappahannock. With a combination of smooth batting skills at the plate and deft catches in the outfield, SMS sent STAB home packing in just five innings, 15-4. Seniors Shannon Davis of Tappahannock and Tiff Greer sent SMS runners home on triples. Saunders also praised the strong performance of junior Julie Srebro; she pitched soundly for SMS and went 3 for 4 at bat.

Crew: On Saturday, April 13, St. Margaret's crew team drove to Mathews, home of one of the best rowing teams in the nation. Although the rowers were unsure of what to expect, by the end of the regatta all three SMS boats had placed in the top three in each event.

The novice four won its third race of the season, pulling far ahead of other contenders. In the winning boat were coxswain Patti Webb, Annie Arnest of Kinsale, Catherine Farland, Neillee Katona of Dunnsville and Palmer Ware of Dunnsville.

"The win was most impressive because of the fact that Palmer Ware and Annie Arnest had just finished a grueling race down to the last stroke in the Varsity four," said Coach Skye Elliott.

The varsity boat finished second after being overtaken by rival Norfolk Collegiate in the last 200 meters. The boat, consisting of coxswain Patti Webb, Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross, Kelly Proctor of Urbanna, Annie Arnest of Kinsale and Palmer Ware of Dunnsville, was suffering from a last-minute seat switch due to the untimely illness of one of its key rowers, Cariad Shepherd.

Lacrosse: An April 16 contest with St. Catherine's in Richmond was also a battle against the sweltering 90-degree temperature for the St. Margaret's lacrosse team. When defensive leader Cassy Cormack was sidelined by the heat, the Scotties fought to maintain their hold. They eventually let go, losing 12-7.

"When we got back on the ball, it was the end of the game," said Head Coach Cupper Dickinson.

Highlights included goals by junior Catherine Johnston and senior Kat Price, with an assist from senior Lauren Knapp. Sophomore Emily Chang started for the first time in a defensive position, and played with heart.

The story was similar on April 12, when St. Margaret's lacrosse team faced Virginia Episcopal School of Lynchburg at home. The Scotties' fierce play at the beginning of the match dwindled, and VES overtook them to clench the game, 11-2. Senior Katie Herrick had an outstanding game, scoring both SMS goals. Dickinson also praised the strong performance of defensive junior Cormack.

Tennis: VES also proved itself to be a tough contender on the tennis courts, when St. Margaret's played the Bishops at home April 12. The Lynchburg school had moved down a division from last year. Though they volleyed and served with style, the Scotties lost, 1-8. St. Margaret's only winning match was a result of the deft doubles play by seniors Kristina Bethea and Danielle Magid.

Undeterred, Coach Katie Spiegler said: "Our goal is to stay focused. We play one match at a time. We aim to practice hard and apply the skills we learn in practice."

The shoe was on the other foot April 10, when St. Margaret's played Christchurch School in Tappahannock to a 7-2 decision. Almost all Scotty players beat their opponents by more than six points: junior Co-Captain Maggie Kite won her match, 8-0; Magid won, 8-1; Bethea won, 8-0; and sophomore Rosalyn Morrison won, 8-2.

The Scotties found their closest contest yet against the Steward School in Richmond on April 4, as the evenly paired teams battled to a 4-5 decision. Spiegler cited the tough play of Kite in a competitive singles match. She emerged victorious, besting her rival 8-5.

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