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Sink earns MVP recognition

Posted by Allan Spencer on Jul 10 2010 at 05:00PM PDT in 2019 Tournament

Cosby's Sink earns MVP recognition

Heather Sink

Cosby's Heather Sink delivered the game-winning double in the 10th inning of the East's 3-2 victory.

By Staff ReportsArthur Utley | TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
NEWPORT NEWS -- The outcome of the Virginia High School Coaches Association East-West all-star softball game came down to standout pitcher vs. standout hitter.

West pitcher Hannah Light of Coeburn High faced Heather Sink of Cosby. Sink delivered the game-winning double in the 10th inning of the East's 3-2 victory at Christopher Newport University, site of yesterday's game that was played under gray skies in a nice breeze. The sweltering heat of the previous two days didn't materialize for the 10:30 a.m. start.

The town of Coeburn is at least 400 miles from CNU. Light's page in the souvenir program is filled with accomplishments. She is a Virginia High School League record holder for consecutive no-hitters (3) and will pitch at Mars Hill (N.C.) College.

Sink, The Times-Dispatch, Dominion District and Central Region player of the year, is an extraordinary hitter who struck out only twice during the season.

Light, the third pitcher for the West, struck out Sink in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game. Sink singled in her first two at-bats and grounded out in her third plate appearance.

The East scored two runs in the first off Kaylla Holdway of Powell Valley (even farther west than Coeburn) with the help of West errors. The West tied the score on Holdway's two-run single in the fourth and put runners on third base in the eighth and ninth innings of the scheduled nine-inning game but couldn't score.

The West went quietly in its half of the 10th. East leadoff hitter Mary Beth Sciolino of Hanover grounded out before speedy Ashley Reetz of Great Bridge beat out a bunt single then stole second with Sink at the plate.

Sink, who was Cosby's leadoff hitter for four years, hit in four different spots in the lineup yesterday. She fouled off several two-strike pitches before stroking a double off the left-field fence. Reetz scored easily with the winning run.

"I was so glad I could redeem myself. After my last at-bat (the strikeout), I knew I had to do something this time," Sink said. "She got me on a rise ball, and I thought she would throw it again. After I swing, I don't watch where the ball goes, but it felt solid."

Sink, who will attend Shenandoah University, was voted the East MVP. Holdway was the West MVP.

Hanover's Sciolino reached base on an error to open the game but was thrown out stealing. She was 0 for 2. Sink's Cosby teammate, Megan Bell-Hill, doubled, struck out and flew out. Powhatan catcher Liz Sill struck out in her plate appearance but had a strong game behind the plate (seven innings). Deep Run outfielder Kelly Foate was 0 for 1.

Midlothian catcher Rudy Edmunds made her final high school appearance but did not play. Edmunds suffered a concussion (her fifth) in the Dominion District tournament final, and Dr. Doug Cutter recommended she give up all competitive sports. She was headed to Lynchburg College to play softball but changed her college plans and will attend James Madison University.

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