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WELCOME — West Rowan’s girls softball team travels to North Davidson for the first round of the state 3A playoffs Friday night. In softball circles, that’s the equivalent of facing the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
The teams have different histories. West (17-5), No. 3 seed out of the South Piedmont Conference, will be involved in the first fast-pitch playoff game in school history. North Davidson (20-6), which won the Tri-County Conference regular-season title, will be participating in the state playoffs (either 3A or 4A) for the 21st year in a row.
North was a softball power back in the slow-pitch days and didn’t miss a beat when it adopted the fast-pitch game. The constant for the Black Knights has been coach Mike Lambros, who’s headed one of the state’s model programs since 1980. He missed the playoffs his first year, didn’t like the sting of it, and hasn’t been left out of the postseason party since. Lambros’ best years were 1992 and 1999. The Knights finished as state runners-up in those seasons.
“We’ve been blessed with great kids and that’s all there is to it,” Lambros said. “This is a community that supports softball. A lot of kids play in leagues here. We’ve got some seniors who’ve been playing softball since they were T-ball age. We call them our grad students.”
Girls softball is almost as big as barbecue along that stretch of Highway 52 that winds between Lexington and Winston-Salem. About midway in that stretch is that famous sign that says “Welcome to Welcome.” A few hundred yards north of that sign is Davidson County’s version of Knights Castle.
Lambros says at least a couple of hundred turn out for each Knight joust and that number can swell depending on the caliber of opponent. “Depending on what’s going on and who else is playing around here, we can have a really big crowd,” he said.
“Big” ain’t the word for it.
Lambros claims that 3,200 souls looked on when North tangled with rival Alexander Central in the state semis in ’92. That’s right — 3,2000 . And there were no free fireworks.
It’s safe to say there won’t be 3,200 on hand Friday, but it should still be an electrifying atmosphere.
That’s a tough environment for West’s girls — most of whom are freshmen — to charge into and play calmly, but Lambros, who’s scouted Falcon games against Central Cabarrus, Northwest Cabarrus and A.L. Brown, says the Falcons have unusual talent.
“Chronologically speaking, West is very young,” said Lambros. “But in softball age, they’re well-educated. Those girls have played a whole lot of ball. They have speed and that’s the name of the game in fast-pitch. If you blink, they can take advantage and hurt you.”
North Davidson’s seniors and juniors play the game just like the Falcon kids. They bunt, put pressure on opponents with what Lambros likes to call “Florida State speed” and hold opponents down with stout pitching and defense.
Lambros says his team doesn’t boast a star on the magnitude of Central Cabarrus’ Crystal Cox — who’s team does? — but he’s got some good ones. A couple of Knight pitchers have thrown no-hitters, although Janelle Damato, usually gets the call in big games. Shortstop Layne Simpson is the team leader and basketball star Michelle Brittain is outstanding with the bat and glove.
“Michelle plays softball the same way she does basketball,” said Lambros. “All out and wide open.”
Coach Vanessa Noe’s Falcons doesn’t have a superstar, either. Just a lot of good players. Outfielder Emily Wallace (.357) and pitcher/shortstop Lyndsey Gay (.293) provide speed. Catcher Ashley Dowdy (nine doubles, 19 RBIs) and Hillary Hampton (.327, 15 RBIs) provide the biggest bats. On the mound, junior lefty Alicia Wilson (10-4, 69 Ks) and freshman right-hander Gay (7-1, 44 Ks) give Noe two options.
Lambros knows all those names and numbers and is well aware that West has lost only to unbeaten SPC champ Central (three times) and to runner-up Northwest (twice). Lambros also knows the Falcons handed Davie County their only setback of the season. And the 4A War Eagles are a team that stung Lambros’ squad twice in thrillers.
But West fans shouldn’t read too much into Lambros’ team losing six times, because the Knights have played a who’s-who schedule. The Knights have taken on South Carolina state champions, N.C. 2A champ Black Mountain Owen and have even faced Central Cabarrus in an early-season tournament in Taylorsville. Central won that battle 1-0 in extra innings, after the game went to an international tiebreaker (placing a runner at second to start each frame).
“Top to bottom, our league’s not the South Piedmont,” said Lambros. “So we go out and schedule teams that will prepare us for the playoffs. We hope we’ve done enough to be ready for a visit from those young ladies from Mount Ulla.”
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NOTES:Both teams lost their most recent game in conference tournament finals. West lost 8-1 to Central, while North was upset 8-3 by West Stokes.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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