KELLY SOFTBALL HOPING TIME RIGHT FOR 1ST STATE TITLE

As Kelly High's string of district softball championships continues to expand as faithfully as the national debt, Rhonda Evans indubitably knows what people want.

How does she know? They tell her.

"Everybody keeps telling us `it's time; it's time for that state championship,'" said Evans, Kelly's coach.

While post-season play is nothing new for Kelly, a state championship would be.

Kelly was won 12 successive district titles and will make its fourth Class 2A state tournament appearance this weekend. Kelly (16-4) will play Putnam County (22-2-1) at noon on Friday at Rainbow Complex in Columbia.

After nabbing third in 1991 and fourth a year later, the Lady Hawks enjoyed their best season ever last year. Kelly lost to Westran 5-4 in eight innings in the title game.

"We're ready to go back," said shortstop Jennifer McNiell. "Last year . . . we settled for second, but hopefully it will be a different story this time."

"We are VERY excited," first baseman Tiffany Glastetter said. "If we could have gone Monday, we would have."

The Lady Hawks will depart for Columbia today at noon.

While Kelly edged Clopton 2-0 in its sectional game, Putnam County is entering the tournament on the heels of a 15-0 bombing of St. Pius X of Kansas City.

The other 2A teams in the semifinals, Marion C. Early of Morrisville (23-6) and Westran (21-2), will play at 11 a.m. on Friday.

This year's tournament will appear much like last year's for Kelly: the Lady Hawks return seven starters and the four teams from last year's tournament are returning.

"We're definitely not strangers to each other," Evans said.

Kelly is the only team in the tournament with a different pitcher from last year. All-stater Molly McKinney graduated, and senior Kim Riley (11-3) will man the mound. Riley has permitted 90 hits in 94 1/3 innings, has a 2.30 ERA and has struck out 59 while only walking nine.

"I'll have pressure on me and I'll be nervous, but we've got a good defense and hitting team," said Riley.

"I kind of think it's going to be to an advantage (having a different pitcher)," said Evans. "We know what to expect from their pitchers, and I hope they have no idea what we're bringing."

While in the past Kelly has featured taut pitching and defense, the Lady Hawks have a new weapon this year: a very potent offense, with six Lady Hawks hitting over .300.

"This year our hitting is a whole lot better than last year. We were not very good hitters last year," McNiell said.

Third baseman Pam Essner leads the team with a .485 batting average and 15 stolen bases. Riley (.417) leads the squad with 20 RBIs and Natalie Robert (.353) is tied for second with 18 RBIs. Ashley Beggs is hitting .385, Tiffany Glastetter .364 and Marissa Essner .333.

If Kelly wins Friday, it will play at 4 p.m. on Saturday; if it loses, it will play for third at 11 a.m.