Sidelined Butz still gave her all to team

Now this is a true love for the game.

Jessica Butz blew out her knee in the second inning of the first softball game of the season for South Carroll and never played another inning all year.

In fact, her high school career was over.

But, the senior did not go off alone, sulk and feel sorry for herself.

Butz did the opposite.

She threw herself entirely into the day-to-day operations of the team, keeping score, helping coach Debbie Eaton in any way she could, and never missing a game.

What made this dedication to the team even more impressive is the fact that the Cavaliers (1-17) only won one game.

In an age of egotistical athletes and front-runners, Butz is as refreshing as a cool breeze in July.

The injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, occurred when Butz twisted her knee while making a play in the outfield. She is undergoing rehabilitation after having surgery midway through the season.

The highlights of a lackluster season for South Carroll were the pitching of sophomore Erica Horst (30 strikeouts, 24 walks, 4.00 ERA) and the hitting of sophomore third baseman Michele Mitchell (.321) and junior shortstop Amy Stephenson (.316).

Eaton already is looking forward to next season when five sophomores off this year's team and Stephenson return. The other three sophomores are Christa Farrar, Amanda Grace and Jamie Ibbott.

In all, it was somewhat of a disappointing season for high school softball in the county.

Westminster was expected to battle North Carroll for the championship but the Owls faded badly in the second half of the season to finish 1-5 in the county and 5-13 overall.

Westminster's No. 1 pitcher, Heather Gonzales, quit the team midway through the season and the middle of the batting order stopped producing.

That all followed a decision by standout second baseman Lauren Kadlubowski to play AAU basketball instead of softball.

Even though North Carroll shared the county title with surprising Liberty (both 5-1) and made the 2A regional playoffs with a 12-5 overall record, the Panthers did not have the kind of season second-year coach Rich Harvey expected.

With senior Kandi Lippy having another super year on the mound (12-5 record, 1.04 ERA, 110 strikeouts, 30 walks), North Carroll could have won at least four more games with some timely hitting, better defense and a little luck.

The Panthers lost four games by one run, including a 5-4 setback to Liberty in which they made two errors in the last of the seventh inning with two outs to squander a 4-3 lead.

That loss enabled Liberty to gain a share of the county title.

Lippy pitched every inning, hit .450 and had two home runs. Junior second baseman Kathleen Tunney and sophomore catcher Becky Bosley each hit .400 and senior center fielder Laura Watson hit .350.

Francis Scott Key didn't exactly bowl anybody over in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League, finishing 8-10 for the third straight season.

"But we should be better next year since 11 of our 14 players were juniors," said coach Joe Linthicum.

Senior third baseman Missy Muller led the Eagles with a .340 batting average and junior catcher Christy Feister hit .325.

Junior Ericka Rutzebeck pitched every inning and is expected to be much improved next season if she can throw strikes more often.

Liberty?

The Lions went from 1-17 to 8-10 and took a share of the county title.

Junior pitcher Charlene Rice, who sat out last year with a knee injury, pitched all but two innings, struck out 128 and walked only 11.

Rice was virtually the whole show for the light-hitting Lions.

The leading Liberty hitter was junior catcher Kim Robinson (.275). Sophomores Bridget Becker and Liz Armstrong had good on-base percentages. Sophomore center fielder Candice Young had a good season defensively.

Harmer-Hudson put on show

The South Carroll mixed doubles tennis team of Kelly Harmer and Brad Hudson put on a good show Saturday to win the Carroll County championship in three sets over Liberty's Jason McDermott and Missy Speck at South Carroll.

After losing the first set, 6-4, Harmer and Hudson came back to win the second set by a 7-2 score in the tiebreaker and then took the third set, 6-2.

In the boys doubles final, North Carroll's Brian Mayle and Derek Easter turned back Kai Vorhoelter and Pete Green of Francis Scott Key, 6-1, 6-2.