Published: 12:30 AM, Sat Apr 24, 2010
Cape Fear's Jones sets state mark for homers
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
Cape Fear's Leah Jones etched her name in the N.C. High School Athletic Association record book Friday at Seventy-First, hitting her 13th home run of the season. Cape Fear won the game 8-0 behind the four-hit shutout pitching of Lindsey Vicary.
The homer gives Jones a state record for most fast-pitch softball home runs in a single season. The previous record was 12 held by Ashley Jones of East Davidson and set in 2004. There are unofficial reports that some players in the Western part of the state are pursuing Jones this season, but no other official results have been reported to the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Jones' record homer came in the fifth inning at Seventy-First on Friday after she had walked in her first two at bats.
"It was an outside pitch,'' Cape Fear co-coach Jeff McPhail said. "She took it over the centerfielder's head.''
McPhail estimated the fence at Seventy-First was about 200 feet, and that Jones' homer cleared it another 10 or 15 feet.
Jones said she was not frustrated by the early walks. "If our pitchers were in the same situation, they'd do the same thing,'' Jones said. "If that's what they want to do, it's okay. I'm not a bad sport about it. I try not to be.''
Jones knew Seventy-First's pitcher, Morgan Singer, was trying to keep the ball outside in the fifth inning and not give Jones anything good to hit. "It's a lot harder to throw a ball than a strike,'' Jones said. "I was hoping she'd miss and throw it anywhere close. It was about eight inches off the plate and eight inches too high for a strike.''
When she made contact and knew the ball was going out, Jones said she just threw up her hands in joy.
"I am so happy,'' she said. "This is a miracle for me. This is something God's given me.
"I prayed He would swing through me if anything came near the plate.''
With the win, Cape Fear maintained its grip on first place in the Mid-South 4-A Conference. The Colts are 9-0 in the league and 13-2 overall.
They only have three conference games left to play and hold a one-game lead over second-place Jack Britt.
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.