SALEM, Va. -- Leanna Prather got her "pay back" in a big way during Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference softball championship game.

After Randolph College's Tianna Strassner (Hollywood, Fla./American Heritage) ran in front of Prather to get to second on what should have been a routine out, the Wildcats had a threat going with two runners on. 

That threat turned from extended to snuffed on the next play however, as Brittany Willingham (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) drilled a line drive marked for extra bases.  But, Prather (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) snagged the ball for the out and then got the ball to second base for the tag out on Strassner who could not get back to the bag in time.

"I enjoyed that," said Prather.  "I thought she interferred with my ability to get to the ball, but the ump said that since she didn't touch me or get hit by the ball, there wasn't any call to make on the play.  So, it was nice that I got the chance to make the out on her on the line drive."

It was the play that eradicated whatever life was life in the Wildcats, as Virginia Wesleyan went on to post a 7-0 victory to claim the 2011 ODAC championship.  It is the sixth ODAC title overall for the VWC program, but the first since 1998.  Ironically, VWC won the league title that year with a 7-0 score, over Roanoke College. 

While the ODAC title is a big prize for the VWC softball program, the bonus prize is the league's automatic berth in the NCAA's Division III championship tournament, which begins with regional competition on Thursday, May 12.  It will mark Virginia Wesleyan's third appearance in the big time event, and the first since 1989.  The Marlins also competed in the 1986 tournament.

For now however, the Marlins, who improved to 29-9, will enjoy their championship effort, which resulted in only the fifth shutout victory in ODAC tournament title games.  VWC took lead in the second inning when rookie Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) was hit by pitch with bases loaded.  Junior Brianna Bertovich (Richmond, Va./Monacan) started the inning being hit by a pitch, junior Jaclyn Quinn (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) moved her with a single on a bunt, and rookie Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen, Va./J.R. Tucker) waited out the pitcher for a bases-loaded walk.

Virginia Wesleyan started to pull away with a three-run fourth inning, which started with a single into left from Chelsea Henline (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge).  She stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Randolph error.  That starting the undoing of the Wildcats, who had problems fielding VWC bunts.  Higginbotham, who walked, scored on an error on a bunt by Shannon, and Shannon scored when Brenae Pettit (Onancock, Va./Nandua) hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Randolph dropped 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth and Virginia Wesleyan put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the inning.  Rookie Season Dailey (Norfolk, Va./Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox)opened the VWC side with a single, moved the second on a Bertovich bunt, took third on an error, and scored on an error.  Henline reached base several plays later on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch.  Higginbotham was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch. 

Randolph came back in the top of the sixth with a single from Samantha Thacker (Madison Heights, Va./Holy Cross) and an error that put Stassner on base.  Prather's play followed to knock the last wind out of the 'Cats.  Randolph fell 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Rookie pitcher MacKenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange)played a major role in frustrating the Wildcats.  Backed by a solid defensive effort, Creech gave up just two hits.  She walked two and struck out six.  She increased her strike out total to 154, the fifth highest in VWC history, and improved her record to 18-4.

Randolph used Kristen Hutchinson (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery), Shelbie West (Glen Allen, Va./Patrick Henry) and Logan Carter (Richmond, Va./Midlothian)  in the circle.  they combined to strike out two, walk two, and give up four hits.

2011 ODAC Tournament honors

Creech was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.  She posted a 4-0 record, pitching 30 innings and striking out 27 batters.  She gave up 19 hits and allowed 12 walks en route to posting an outstanding 0.70 earned run average in tournament play. 

Also named to the All-Tournament team were Bertovich, Dailey, Henline, and Quinn.  Bertovich led VWC hitting through the four games with a .455 batting average.  Her hits included a double.  Quinn also ripped a double and finished with a .429 tournament batting average.  She led the Marlin defense with 29 putouts.  Henline hit .333, ripping a double and triple, and Dailey hit .200, and was a big part of the defensive effort with 23 putouts. 

--AMDG--