THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407060100
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
For the first time, the District 6 Little League champions at the 10-year-old level will compete for a state championship.
The Wilson softball team and the Churchland baseball team won titles in the district tournaments last week.
Wilson, managed by Connie Oliver and coached by Ronnie Vance, defeated Olive Branch in the district final of the double-elimination tournament, 15-8, at Olive Branch.
Wilson advances to the state tournament at the Azalea Little League complex in Norfolk. Wilson will play Thursday, July 21.
Churchland won the baseball crown with four consecutive victories. In its opener, Churchland beat Olive Branch, 13-0, behind the one-hit pitching of Thomas McFadden.
Churchland then downed Wilson, 5-1, behind two-hit hurling of Michael LeGrande.
Churchland moved into the final with a 9-3 victory over Bennetts Creek as McFadden gained the triumph.
In the championship game, LeGrande worked three innings and Jackson Grimes pitched three as Churchland defeated Bennetts Creek Saturday on the Cavalier Manor field, 7-2.
Willie McFadden is the Churchland manager and Todd Skeeter is the coach.
Churchland now goes to the state tournament at St. Paul and will face the District 8 champion on Wednesday, July 20, in the opening round of the double-elimination meet.
The District 6 Major Little League tournament starts Saturday at the Driver field in Suffolk. Bennetts Creek is the host league.
Opening round games pit Olive Branch Blue against Charles Peete at 10 a.m., Cradock against Churchland at noon, Bennetts Creek against Cavalier Manor at 2 p.m. and Cavalier Manor against Olive Branch Gold at 4 p.m.
In District 6 Major League softball, also at the Driver complex, Bennetts Creek plays Olive Branch at 10 a.m. and Cavalier Manor meets Cradock at 2 p.m.
Wilson will play the Bennetts Creek-Olive Branch winner at 6 p.m. on Monday. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., Western Branch will oppose the Cavalier Manor-Cradock victor.
The District 6 Senior softball tournament also opens at Driver on Saturday with Olive Branch facing Churchland at noon, Cradock meeting Cavalier Manor at 4 p.m. and Bennetts Creek taking on Wilson at 6 p.m.
The Junior and Senior baseball tournaments, scheduled to be held at Wilson, started Tuesday. Both tournaments have five teams - Olive Branch, Cavalier Manor, Charles Peete, Cradock and Wilson.
PONY AND COLT teams vied in the Fourth of July Firecracker Baseball Bonanza at the Churchland High School field.
Kempsville Blue won the Pony tourney Monday with a 5-3 victory over the Suffolk Stars.
Mike Byrum of the Stars was picked as the most valuable player.
The Colt crown went to the Chesapeake Cubs, a 4-3 winner over the Kempsville Blue in the finale. Mike Cudyear of the Tidewater Blasters was chosen as MVP.
Kempsville Blue swept through the Pony tourney without a loss, defeating the Blasters, 12-4, Friday; Churchland, 6-0, Saturday; and the Stars, 5-4, Sunday.
The Stars beat Churchland, 10-0, to capture the losers bracket before falling in the championship game.
In the Colt tournament, the Cubs opened with a 5-4 win over the Virginia Future Stars on Friday. The Cubs defeated the Kempsville Red on Saturday, 10-7, and topped the Tidewater Blasters, 9-8, on Sunday.
Kempsville Blue won the losers bracket with a 4-0 victory over the Blasters Sunday after ousting Churchland, 10-3, earlier. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Sam Bell congratulates Michial LeGranda of Churchland. LeGranda
pitched the game's first three innings.
by CNB