The best of friends

By Ted Allen

Published: May 5, 2008

BEDFORD — Dealing with on- and off-the-field distractions is a part of life for any softball player, particularly seniors in the midst of their final spring season.
There’s homework to do and final exams to prepare for, with graduation only a month away and college choices still up in the air for several.
For some, part-time jobs intended to help fund future college expenses can cut into practice and study time.
Then, there’s boyfriends to deal with and talk about.
This past Saturday’s senior prom dominated conversation in last week’s practices and is still fresh on the minds of the majority of Liberty High’s softball team, with eight senior starters.
Many of the Minettes also have handled personal or family-related health matters this spring and the myriad distractions have taken a toll the past two weeks.
Following a 10-0 start, Liberty has lost its last four games — all to Seminole District opponents, starting with Bedford County rivals Jefferson Forest and Staunton River.
“We’ve had a lot of outside stuff going on with the girls,” coach Sherry Story said. “I’m not making excuses for their losses, but we’ve had some personal things going on with quite a few of them, illnesses in their families, and it’s really been hard on them.”
Amid all of the distractions, it helps pitchers Jen Coleman and Brooke Davis to know they have players like shortstop Savanah Graham and second baseman Casey Bartholomew behind them, with their steady nerves and sure-handed gloves.
The senior tandem has anchored Liberty’s middle infield for the past two seasons, batting No. 1 and No. 3 in the lineup.
“Casey’s just my most consistent player, all three years,” Story said. “Savanah’s definitely come a long way. They’re pretty much best friends.”
That friendship is evident on the field.
“They have a good communication and they know each other very well as far as when they’re going to throw hard or when they’re going to flip (to the other covering second base),” Story said. “They talk well to each other. They’re a good duo.”
Graham averages a couple more chances per game at second, since Davis and Coleman throw harder than most pitchers in the Seminole and right-handed batters often swing late.
“Second base has always been our hot spot, having these faster pitchers,” Story said. “(Casey’s) been very consistent at filling that hole.”
As a sophomore, Bartholomew started beside former shortstop Montana Davenport, who now serves as Liberty’s scorekeeper.
“She’s a lot like Savanah, quick and small,” Bartholomew said. “I feel very comfortable playing with both of them.”
Bartholomew and Graham will both attend Christopher Newport University next fall, with Casey looking to continue her softball career with the Captains, seeded second in this week’s NCAA Division III regional tournament.
They won’t room together at CNU for fear that their personality similarities would lead to conflicts, but they have hit it off on the softball field and the volleyball court the past few years.
“We have a lot of coverage and we work out really well together,” said Bartholomew, who played libero, or defensive specialist, in volleyball this past fall while Graham served as setter. “We communicate well and try to be leaders. We kind of click.”
Her relationship with Graham is akin to that with older sister Kendall Bartholomew, who played soccer for Liberty High and Liberty University and will graduate from LU on Saturday.
“Kendall and I get along a lot better now that we don’t see each other that much,” Casey said.
Both sisters are able to tune out distractions and stay focused on the game at hand, be it on the volleyball court or on the softball and soccer fields.
“She’s pretty stone-faced when playing,” Casey said of Kendall. “We both get into a zone.”
Graham, one of the fastest players on the team, is a spark plug in the batting order and on the basepaths.
“If she gets on base, we’re pretty sure she’s going to score with her speed,” said Bartholomew, who has delivered some big hits, including a grand slam against Lord Botetourt.
Whereas Davenport was more of the quiet encourager, Graham sets the tone with her vocal leadership in the infield and dugout.
“When Savannah’s not on the field, you know she’s not there,” Bartholomew said. “She’s very hyper, very vocal and she gets everybody fired up and ready to play.”
After making some spectacular plays but also committing a number of errors on routine plays last year, Graham has improved her focus in fielding balls hit right to her this year, with just two errors charged to her to date.
“She’s really playing great defense,” Story said. “She’s really made some good plays this year.”
“She’s quick so she gets to everything,” Bartholomew added. “And her accuracy has improved a lot with her arm speed.”