CLASS 3A: Lady Elks maintain their cool

FAYETTEVILLE - There was no dogpile or similar state championship-style celebration.

Instead, Elkins took its latest title in stride.

"They are so businesslike," Coach Paula Wheeler said of Elkins, which beat Bismarck 5-1 to capture their second consecutive Class 3A state championship at Lady 'Back Yard. "Sometimes I have to remind them to have fun, and that it's OK to jump up and down."

Senior pitcher Amber Caywood, who picked up a completegame victory and the most valuable player award, said Elkins was excited to win, but also hinted that a five-player senior class already has begun to think about its impressive run.

"I guess we just don't show it as much as other teams, but we definitely were pumped up," Caywood said. "We're just really, really excited that we won it our last year. This is our last time to play together, and we've been playing together since we were about 10.

"We're all going off to different places, but it's always going to be in the back of my mind that we came out and we got it done."

Elkins (30-2) went to work early, scoring three runs in the firsttwo innings. Hannah Powers got Elkins on track in the first, reaching on an infield single, moving to third on a two-base throwing error, and later scoring on another Bismarck miscue.

Elkins benefited from another Bismarck mistake in the second, getting two runs on a two-out dropped flyball in right field.

"Errors killed us," Bismarck Coach Angela Smith said. "They probably wouldn't have scored a run if we hadn't made so many errors."

Elkins added two more runs inthe fifth without an error, though, getting a two-run double from Carly Powers.

Given the early lead, Caywood worked through the Bismarck batting order with relative ease, not allowing a base runner past second base until the Lady Lions broke through with a run in the sixth. Sarah Camras was responsible, hitting a one-out triple and scoring on Melissa Walker's groundout.

"Early leads are great for us, and having Amber in the circle, she's awesome," Wheeler said. "Once we get some runs behindus, she just takes charge."

Bismarck (21-5) had outscored its three previous state tournament opponents by a combined 13-0, but wasn't as potent against Elkins, and went down in order in the seventh.

"This is our first year in the state finals, and I think nerves got to us a little bit, too," Smith said. "Maybe next year we can get another game with them. It'll be a lot different score."

Wheeler, meanwhile, tried to soak up the moment, reflecting on a season that included regularseason and postseason conference championships, a regional title, and Saturday's victory.

"The girls have done real well holding off the pressure of, 'We're the defending state champs and everybody's out to get you,' " Wheeler said. "Now that we've done it, it's awesome. It's awesome to be able to repeat."

Caywood agreed, and the Lady Elks were thrilled to win yet another championship, even if their postgame celebration was less than raucous.

"It's been a long journey," Caywood said with a smile, "and I'm glad we could end it with a [championship] ring."

Sports, Pages 43 on 05/18/2008

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