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Complete Forecast for  Jul 24 2008

By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor

Most coaches say you have to be strong up the middle to win in baseball or softball.

That’s true, but you can’t forget the left side.

There’s the Yankees’ Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Or the Mets’ Jose Reyes and David Wright. Or the Tigers’ Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera.

And the UT Tyler Patriots have their own version of a solid left side — shortstop Amanda Busby and third baseman Sara DeStefano.

Their defense has been a key in the Patriots achieving an NCAA regional softball berth. Busby and DeStefano will be key once again this weekend when UT Tyler attempts to earn a berth in the Division III World Series.

“The success of our team has been partly due to our fielding,” said UT Tyler coach Mike Reed, whose team ranked No. 1 in the American Southwest Conference and in the top 10 in the country in fielding percentage. “Both Amanda and Sara have made plays that the average person may take for granted.

“There’s no doubt they have been a big support for our freshman pitchers.”

Both Busby and DeStefano are just happy to help out their teammates.

For Busby, a sophomore from Elysian Fields, being in the championship limelight is nothing new.

She played on EF’s 2005 state championship squad. The Lady Jackets were runners-up in 2006.

Busby, who also is one of the leading hitters on the Patriots with a .405 average, decided to transfer to UT Tyler after a year at Western Texas College.

“I just liked the people, the coaches, the facilities and the nice atmosphere,” said Busby, who has 33 RBIs, along with 12 doubles and three home runs. “It felt like home.”

Since arriving, the shortstop position has been her home, and she has committed only six errors in 138 chances. That’s a position you have to have great range.

Twice last week in the ASC Tournament, the Patriots rallied in the final inning to claim victory. Busby feels that has energized her team.

“That shows this team never gives up,” the sophomore kinesiology major said. “That gave us confidence that we are never out of a game.”

To Busby’s right is DeStefano, a freshman from Franklin. She gets it done on the field and at the plate. The third baseman has just four errors in 153 chances. That’s the hot corner where smashes are commonplace. She sports a batting average of .362 with eight homers, 11 doubles and 40 RBIs.

“In high school I played shortstop, but I’ve always wanted to play third base,” DeStefano said. “At third, the reaction time is less — you can’t blink.”

DeStefano is proud to be a part of the postseason in her first year.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to be the first team to be in the playoffs,” said the 4.0 student who is majoring in business management. “It’s an awesome feeling.”

Reed said the duo’s defense has been instrumental in the Patriots working out of jams when the bases are loaded or when a ball through the infield could have changed the outcome of the game.

Those key plays have helped the team to a 40-7 mark and a chance to advance to the Softball World Series.

Notes:

Tickets are available for $8 per day and good for all games that day. Children under 3 may be admitted free if they will not be using a seat. No passes will be accepted. … Fans should park in Lot 10 and Lot 14. Buses should park in Lot 10. … The winner of the Tyler Regional advances to the Division III World Series May 16-20 in Salem, Va.

———

NCAA Division III

Softball Championships

Tyler Regional

UT Tyler Ballpark

May 8-12

Teams

No. 1 Seed —

Louisiana College (39-5), Pineville, La.

No. 2 Seed —

The University of Texas at Tyler (40-7), Tyler, Texas

No. 3 Seed —

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (32-9), Belton, Texas

No. 4 Seed —

Linfield College (36-4), McMinnville, Ore.

No. 5 Seed —

University of Redlands (34-10), Redlands, Calif.

No. 6 Seed —

Chapman University (27-9), Orange, Calif.

No. 7 Seed —

University of La Verne (27-17), La Verne, Calif.

Tournament Schedule

Thursday’s Games

Game 1:

Redlands vs. Linfield, 10 a.m.

Game 2:

Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Chapman, noon

Game 3:

La Verne vs. UT Tyler, 2 p.m.

Game 4:

Louisiana College vs. Game 1 winner, 4 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 5:

Game 1 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 10 a.m.

Game 6:

Game 2 loser vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 7:

Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 2 p.m.

Game 8:

Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Game 9:

Game 4 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 10 a.m.

Game 10:

Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 loser, noon

Game 11:

Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 2 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 12:

Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, noon

Game 13:

Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 2 p.m., if necessary (if Game 12 loser is first loss)