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16U Teams -
2007-2008 16U
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 11:36 |
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| Please take a look at your May 8, 2008 Daily Press Sports Section. Gabby and Kristie are featured on page D3 for their outstanding play at Woodside High School, Newport News, VA.
Here's the text of the article:
Woodside's nice tandem, Part II
By Dave Johnson
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| 247-4649
NEWPORT NEWS — When you ask if
they’ve ever heard the comparison before, Gabby Andino and Kristie
Hoeffer start laughing. As if to say, "Yeah, only about a thousand
times today." Which only shows how natural and obvious it is.
Andino and Hoeffer are rising stars on Woodside’s softball team, a
flame-throwing pitcher and an athletic shortstop. And if your
memory goes back four or five years, they can’t help but remind you
— somewhat, at least — of Micki Rodriguez and Jen Nuzzo. "Oh,
yeah," said Wolverines coach Mike Tallon, the man who would know
better than anybody.
Rodriguez, now a senior pitcher/first baseman
at Norfolk State, went 61-10 and batted .480 during her prep
career. And Nuzzo, a point guard on Old Dominion’s basketball team,
made the Daily Press All-Stars softball team three years in a row —
at three different positions. Woodside went 80-14 during their four
seasons. That included a state championship in 2001.
True, Andino and Hoeffer are only 16-year-old sophomores, and they haven’t come
close to matching what Rodriguez and Nuzzo accomplished during
their careers. But the potential, and the comparison, are clear.
"Micki and Jen were further along as far as work ethic and work
habit," Tallon said. "They were much more serious about what they
did. But the talent is very comparable."
Andino and Hoeffer have been good friends since elementary school, when they started
playing on the Yorktown Revolution together during the summer. They
live in the same neighborhood, and they are ballplayers. That’s
evident when you see them play the game.
"I like them both," Gloucester coach Red Lindsay said. "I’ve told them they’re the type
of kids we like to have at Gloucester — focused, and mentally and
physically tough. I’ve always been impressed with them, on and off
the field."
Andino, a left-hander, is 13-1 going into today’s game against Bethel. She has given up four earned runs in 93 innings — a barely existent ERA of 0.30. She has shut out 11 of her 14
opponents and struck out 152 batters. And as the Wolverines’ No. 3
hitter, she is batting .568. Twelve of her 25 hits have gone for
extra bases. Hoeffer, who made the Daily Press All-Stars last year
as a utility player, has settled in at shortstop and given Woodside
a dependable glove. As the Wolverines’ leadoff batter, she is
hitting . 520 and has scored 24 runs. "These two have the potential
to be the best hitters I’ve seen in this district, and there have
been some great hitters in this district," Tallon said. "Bethel’s
had some great ones, like Maggie Wolfe. But these two are right in
that category."
But it’s Andino’s pitching that has the Wolverines on the verge of the Peninsula District regular-season championship. She didn’t give up her first run, earned or unearned, until the
eighth game of the season. It came at Gloucester, in the 45th
inning she pitched. The amazing thing is, Andino didn’t start
pitching until two years ago. She was used as a closer last season,
when she split four decisions. "Yeah, it’s only been two years,"
Andino said. "But I always wanted to be a pitcher before that."
Hoeffer isn’t surprised by what Andino has been able to do. "Even
when she wasn’t as good, she still was able to hit all her spots,"
she said. "And this year, everyone knew she’d be good. She’s doing
great." Hoeffer showed her potential as a freshman by hitting .499
while starting at least four games at all four infield spots. She’s
been even better as a sophomore. She bats leadoff and plays the
all-important position of shortstop. Not much gets past her.
Hoeffer has been the offense’s table-setter, but she also drives in
runs. In Woodside’s 1-0 win over Warwick on April 16, it was
Hoeffer’s RBI double that scored Lauren Sepulveda with the only
run. With her power and ability to hit to either field, Hoeffer
would appear to be an ideal No. 2 hitter. But leadoff has been her
home. "I like leadoff," said Hoeffer, who bats from the left side.
"I get to see the first pitch and set off the momentum and pass it
down the lineup."
Together, they are getting it done. Last edited
by Sonny Dearth : Today at 12:18 AM. Copyright DailyPress.com
Gabby and Kristie - Keep up the great work. Everyone in the Revolution is proud of you!
Rev it up! |
