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AAC CHAMPIONS

UVA-WISE 1, MILLIGAN 0
UVA-WISE 1, MILLIGAN 0

Showers Doubles Cavs to Conference Title
April 29, 2004

WISE, VA- Krystal Showers (Chester/L.C. Bird High) smacked a one-out, walk-off double to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday to clinch the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season title for UVa-Wise in a dramatic 1-0 victory over Milligan (Tenn.) College in game one of a doubleheader at Hilltop Park.

Showers' two-bagger scored pinch runner Meagan Jones (Gate City/Gate City High) from first base and put the Cavaliers two games ahead of second-place Milligan with only a game remaining to play in the regular season.

In that finale, Showers again provided the game-winner with a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning to give UVa-Wise a 1-0 win in the nightcap.

"Krystal stepped up and got the big hit," UVa-Wise interim head coach Jimmy Mitchell said after game one. "I knew we would need some breaks to win this game, and we got the breaks today."

The twin bill sweep improved UVa-Wise to 36-6 overall and 25-3 in the AAC, both new school records for season wins. The regular season title is the team's second in three years.

The Cavaliers last won the AAC regular season crown in 2002 when they clinched with wins over Montreat College, also on the last day of the regular season.

Senior April Damron (Jenkins, Ky./Jenkins High) pitched a spectacular game for the Cavaliers in her final appearance at Hilltop Park. Damron, who was voted Wednesday by conference coaches the AAC's Pitcher of the Week, threw seven shutout innings, scattering three hits while striking out eight Milligan batters.

Damron, the all-time career wins leader at UVa-Wise, improved her record to 15-3 for the season.

"April pitched a great game," Mitchell said. "I think she may have pitched the best game of her career here today. It all goes down to the pitchers, and both teams' pitchers had great games."

Milligan's Brandi Waddle held up her end of the much-anticipated pitchers' duel. She, too, allowed only three hits and struck out eight. Waddle walked only two, while Damron surrendered three free passes.

"We knew coming in that the game was going to be a battle of the pitchers," Damron said after the opener. "Brandi did an awesome job out there."

Milligan's best chance for scoring against the Cavaliers came in the fifth as the Buffs loaded the bases when Damron walked Courtney Ruth. Damron, however, kept her cool and struck out Shelby Banion looking at a 1-ball and 2-strikes pitch.

After the fifth inning threat, Damron sat down six of the next seven Milligan batters to end the game. Rebecca Giley walked with two out in the seventh.

In addition to the game-winner by Showers, only AAC Player of the Week Jennifer Law (Scottsville/Fluvanna High) and junior Melissa Barnes (Stafford/Brooke Point High) collected hits for UVa-Wise.

In game two, the Cavaliers' Nichole Poore (Meadowview/Patrick Henry High) improved to 12-1 in the circle with the win. The junior hurler, pitching on only a day of rest after shutting out Bluefield College Wednesday, tossed a two-hitter and struck out four.

Milligan's Traci Harrison suffered the game two loss despite allowing only six UVa-Wise hits.

The Cavaliers and Milligan more than likely will meet again before the upcoming postseason wraps up. Both teams begin competition Wednesday in the AAC Tournament at White Top Creek Park in Bristol, Tenn. Also, by finishing as the top two teams in the regular season, both have qualified for the Region XII Tournament May 12-14 in Athens, Tenn.

UVa-Wise clinched the Region XII berth, its fourth in as many years, Wednesday with 8-0 and 10-0 wins on the road at Bluefield College.

Cavs Notes: Damron's 15 wins is one short of a UVa-Wise season record. Stephanie Brumfield won 16 for the Cavaliers in 2001. …Thursday's games were the last on the home field for UVa-Wise seniors Damron, Law and Heather Gentry (Tazewell/Tazewell High). …Wednesday also marked the end of Hilltop Park, the Cavaliers' home since 1997. Beginning with the 2005 season, the Cavaliers will compete in a new ballpark located behind Greear Gymnasium on the UVa-Wise campus. …The Cavaliers were 13-1 at Hilltop Park this season, only losing a 12-4 non-conference game to Lincoln Memorial University there on April 8. …Barnes finished the regular season leading the AAC with five triples. …UVa-Wise's Senior Day doubleheader sweep against Union College is scheduled to be rebroadcast at 7 p.m., May 6, on UVa-Wise TV Channel 55.