Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

SOFTBALL

Butler softball | Pitcher brings 160 Ks, ready Orr not

LANGSTON WERTZ JR.

lwertz@charlotteobserver.com

MATTHEWS --

Butler High softball pitcher Constance Orr has thrown 92 innings in 15 games. Her ERA sounds like a typo: 0.00.

"We've given up five runs all year, all unearned," said Butler coach Brian Cottom, whose two-time defending 4A champions begin a chase for a third straight title next week. "We've made plays for Constance when she's given up a hit."

Orr has signed with North Carolina. She follows Ashton Ward, a pitcher/shortstop who was the 2006 and 2007 Observer Player of the Year. Ward pitched for Tennessee this season. Orr has done a fabulous job replacing her.

"The first couple interviews I did this year, everybody was asking, `How are you gonna replace Ashton,' " first-year coach Brian Cottom said. "You don't. You make sure you put someone in that can handle the load, and that's what we've asked Constance to do."

Orr is 15-0 and has 160 strikeouts. She's allowed 20 hits. She's had three no-hitters, hits .373 and leads the team in RBIs (20) and home runs (three).

Junior pitcher Kelsey Spurrier, who figures to replace Orr, is 7-0, 0.00. She has 64 strikeouts, one no-hitter and has given up no earned or unearned runs.

Sophomore outfielder Taylor White (.500 batting average, 19 RBIs) and senior first baseman Jessica Bowen (.429, 17 RBIs) are also having solid seasons.

But it all starts with Orr.

"She's got power," Cottom said, "but she's got a nasty change-up. She locates well, and she's a fiery competitor. She steps on the field and if she lets up and they get a hit, her elevator goes way up and she starts mowing you down. I kind of like it when they get a hit off her early. She wakes up and says, `These people can play.' And then she gets better."