As Sam Sees It
Things don’t get much better than they were on Tuesday, May 18.
Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the oldest pitcher in history to pitch a no-hit game. He also became only the 17th pitcher in the long history of the game to work a perfect game.
He accomplished the feat against one of the most potent offensive teams in the game, the Atlanta Braves.
Johnson’s gem came when the Diamondbacks were in dire need of something positive to turn their season around.
One game doesn’t prove a cure for all that ails a team, but it definitely changed the tone, at least for that game. By the time this column is in print, we will know how much more positive effect there was.
The BPOE Sports Awards program was also on that night. Among those honored was my grand-daughter, Juliet Sullenberger. She received the Most Valuable Softball Player award along with recognition as a member of the All 3A North Region Team and the All Arizona 3A Conference Team. She will play in the Arizona Senior All Star Softball Game on Thursday in Casa Grande. Juliet enjoyed an exceptional senior season in which she won 17 games and lost only four.
She allowed only one run in three of the four losses she suffered. In her last three games, she allowed only one unearned run and that scored on an error in an extra inning contest. Those crucial games included the 3A North Region Championship Game (a 1-0 victory over Monument Valley), a first round game of the state tournament (a 7-0 win over Globe) and the extra inning 1-0 loss to Safford. Juliet was also the leading hitter on the team among players with more than 20 trips to the plate.
The Senior All Star Game may well be the last time I get to see my grand-daughter play a softball game of any magnitude. It could be the end of a very enjoyable era.
She was a key member of the Senior Little League team that won the state championship last summer. Many of those same girls played key roles on this year’s team that came so close to a state high school title.
The Lady Bulldogs had several potentially devastating events to overcome. In most cases, they not only overcame the trouble, but became stronger for it.
Three players who appeared crucial to the team’s success were lost prior to the Bojo’s/3Cs Tournament.
One was found to not meet academic requirements just after Winslow’s second place finish in the Parker Invitational Tournament.
A second decided to withdraw from the team for personal reasons and a third was dismissed due to a serious violation of team rules of conduct.
All three had been heavily counted upon before their departures.
A fourth player was seriously injured in the 3A North Region Tournament and was not available for the state tournament. Of all of the misfortunes, this was the one that probably had an effect that was not overcome.
Ironically, Kathy Taylor, the injured player, had been a major reason the team had been able to overcome the previous losses of key personnel.
Taylor had taken over a difficult position, and done so with such skill and determination that she turned a negative into a positive.
Sarah Ragnoli was another who stepped up her game when a change of positions was dictated by the departure of a troubled player. She had been the shortstop of the Senior Little League State Championship Team and resumed those duties. That was the development that seemed to solidify the infield defense. Sarah will likely continue to be a rock for the 2005 Lady Bulldogs in her senior year.
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