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Rain delays softball games

Alex, St. Stephens hope to get on field today

By Allen Haynes | Hickory Daily Record

Published: May 29, 2009

St. Stephens High outfielder Skye Robin was looking into the sky on Thursday afternoon and hoping for a view different than the one of the previous two days.

No dice.

The Indians' third round state 3A softball playoff game against Asheville Roberson, first scheduled to be played on Tuesday at St. Stephens, was washed out by rain again Thursday.

Weather permitting, the Rams (26-2) will be at St. Stephens (24-3) today at 5 p.m. as the teams battle to get into the fourth round against idle North Iredell (15-7), which advanced by winning on Tuesday.

The other Unifour team still alive in softball, Alexander Central (26-1), also had its game rained out again on Thursday and reset it for today at 5 p.m. in Taylorsville.

The Cougars are tied at 1 with Butler (20-5) in the top of the fifth inning of a third round 4A game that got started on Tuesday.

At St. Stephens, the bottom fell out about 15 minutes before the game was slated to begin.

"We were really pumped and ready to play the game," said Robin. "All of us were in the dugout just praying that it would stop, but you can't help Mother Nature, it just happens."

The Indians have spent part of the week practicing inside. And waiting.

"We're just ready to play," said Robin. "We're ready to move on to the next round.

"The team has really come together, not just as a team but more like a family to get as much practice as we can in at the batting cage and in the gym."

Because the fourth round was to be completed by today, St. Stephens head coach Jan Davis and Rams head coach Laura Beatty are asking the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) to allow today's winner to face North Iredell on Monday.

The double-elimination Final Fours are next Friday and Saturday at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh. The final two teams in the West and the last two in the East reach those tournaments.

"This has been an interesting week for us," said Davis. "We came in on Monday, which was Memorial Day, and was able to get into the batting cage and get some hitting practice in preparation for Tuesday's game.

"With the rain postponing Tuesday's game, we still managed to get to the cage again and get in some batting practice. On Wednesday, the rain forced us to move inside for practice."

With all the frustration the rain is causing, Davis says the Indians' attitudes have been good.

"I can tell they are frustrated and ready to play, but their attitude is great," she said of her players. "They're just ready to get on the field and get to playing, no matter what the outcome."

Record Sports Editor Chris Hobbs contributed to this article.