Strong pitching key to Lookouts' success

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

TAMPA -- Although college scholarships for three players and a major injury to a top pitcher weakened them, the Lookouts still have a formidable squad and have qualified for the National Softball Association National Championships later this month. Even in the highly competitive 18-and-under division, the team has built a 12-5 record. In a recent tournament, the Outlooks went undefeated and placed second.

"The rains came in during the first game of a doubleheader finals, and the winner was determined with a flip of the coin," coach Jay Isler said. "It is tough placing second in a tournament without being beaten."

Tampa Bay Tech's Chrystal Ihm, one of the top high school pitchers in Hillsborough County last season, has played for the Lookouts for the past three years.

But she has not played this season because of a broken instep that went undetected until May and recuperating from surgery will keep her out until late this month. Isler said he hopes Ihm will be back in time for the NSA nationals.

Three other players signed scholarships in the spring and are spending the summer preparing to move. But the team is deep enough to stay competitive despite the losses.

Tabatha Dease and Jennifer Tustison combine to form a strong rotation.

Dease was dominating at Plant last season and one of the reasons the Panthers made it all the way to the Class 4A state final. She is 4-2 this season.

Tustison played for the Lady Knights travel team for several seasons and started at King before graduating in 1999.

Last year, she was in the rotation at St. Petersburg Junior College and also a top hitter with a .411 batting average.

She is 6-2 this season and leads the team in hitting with a .405 batting average.

Tiffany Clark, Sickles' sure-handed shortstop last year, also plays there for the Lookouts. Clark hit near .400 all season in high school and continues to hammer the ball for her travel club.

Clark is second on the Lookouts with a .385 average.

Dorray Isler plays first and is third in batting average.

Isler is the long-ball hitter for the team and is batting .365. In three tournaments this summer, she has four doubles.

Stephanie Adams, another starter for TBT last season, plays third and is hitting .344.

"With Dorray and Stephanie at the corners, we have a pair of reliable gloves to make our defense tight all the time," coach Isler said.

Starting catcher Jennifer Vinning will play her senior season at King next spring. She is hitting .333, has a quick, accurate throw to second and is tough at stopping runners charging home plate.

Jena Montgomery, another TBT player, plays second base and helps in the outfield when needed.

Jenna Dempsey, a Hillsborough graduate last May, also plays in the outfield.

Elise Levitt, a Sickles junior, and Brittany Kenny, a TBT sophomore, share outfielder responsibilities.

Tara Walters, a junior at Zephyrhills, completes the Lookouts roster. She is the backup catcher and also plays in the outfield.

Like most teams in the travel-ball circuit, the Lookouts rely on a strong rotation and a tight defense to win most of their games. Their hitting is coming together but needs work.

Isler hopes to improve the defense and hitting by July 23, when the team is scheduled to play its first game in the NSA World Series in Columbus, Ohio.

"We win most games we play when we score two or three runs because of our strong defense and pitching," Isler said.

"We are working on the hitting, and it is coming around. I feel we will do well in the NSA tournament."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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