WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/23/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

What was once Lynchburg's biggest employer is 90-days away from disappearing entirely.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]
And local authorities find 32 illegal aliens packed into two pick-up trucks headed for work up north.
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[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

IN sports, Virginia gets a homer in extra innings to stay alive in ACC baseball, qualifying results for the Coca-Cola 600,
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[VO-NAT]

and Frank Beamer talks to our Mike Stevens today about the latest on the Big East
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Just in time for the weekend, a break in the persistent rain. Will it make it through Memorial Day? Forecast details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Hundreds of workers in Lynchburg will lose their jobs this summer.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

An electronics plant is shutting down.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Sanmina]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-20 TC29:58]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Ten years ago, it was Lynchburg's biggest employer.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Come August, the Sanmina (san-MEE-nuh)-SCI plant will be a ghost town.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Plant officials say the sluggish world economy is responsible for the closing of the Lynchburg plant and laying off of its 330 workers.
Sanmina is what's left of the old G-E Mobile Communications factory which was later bought out by the Ericsson Corporation.
Sanmina is an electronics manufacturer serving larger communications, computer and automotive contractors.
Operations will shut down in August.
The building is owned by Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby, which plans to donate it to the Reverend Jerry Falwell for his new Thomas Road Baptist Church.
The closing will *not* affect those plans.
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[Illegal-aliens]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC1:20:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If it weren't such serious business, it might sound like the old college past-time of testing how many students can cram into a Volkswagon bug.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Earlier this month two Mexican men- -both illegal aliens- -were pulled over near Wytheville. The two pick up trucks they were driving carried a total of 32 illegal aliens.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What happened]
((TOM ECKERT/PROSECUTOR; WHAT HAPPENED WAS ON TWO DIFFERENT DATES, TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, STATE POLICE STOPPED TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE-81. ONE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR SPEEDING, BOTH PICK-UP TRUCKS. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR TINTED WINDOWS. FOUND IN THE VEHICLE- -FIRST VEHICLE WAS 17 ILLEGAL ALIENS, THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS 15 ILLEGAL ALIENS.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Eckert/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=15 illegal aliens.]
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[VO-NAT]
One group had been promised seven to 10- dollar an hour construction jobs in Arlington. The second truck was headed for a farm in Pennsylvania. Homeland Security says the Mexicans entered the country at various times and places without inspection. They had come HERE from Oklahoma.
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[Festival]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#03-12 TC1:08:04]
[GRAPHIC=Festival in the Park]

The main event for Roanoke's Festival in the Park gets underway tonight, but it won't be in the usual spot.
This week's rain forced organizers to move tonight's Doobie Brothers Concert from Victory Stadium to the Roanoke Civic Center.
[Double Boxes=Shannon and Justin/Microwave]

Justin McLeod is at the Civic Center tonight.
So have concert-goers heard the message?
[Live=Justin Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Justin1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:indoors rather than out. )
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[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND]
[SUPER-03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Stu Israel/Roanoke Festival in the Park; :09]
[SUPER=01-Robert Arnold/Fan; :40]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=be better here.]
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[Live=Justin Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Shannon and Justin/Microwave]

[Doobies]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=bwa]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC15:23]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD OTS]
The Doobie Brothers arrived in Roanoke yesterday and are looking forward to tonight's performance at the Roanoke Civic Center.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
A number of original band members reunited for this tour. It's been more than a decade since the band played in the Roanoke area. One of their most popular songs even has a special tie to the Star City and helped the band on its way to stardom.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You know like...]
[SUPER=01-Tom Johnston/The Doobie Brothers]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=...stuff, it's great]
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[VO-NAT]
After tonight's concert, the Doobie Brothers will travel to Alabama for the next leg of their tour.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Losing Miami to the A-C-C would mean losing jobs in the New River Valley.
That's what some county supervisors say.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

More on that when News 7 at Six returns.
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[VO-NAT]

And don't expect to take the plunge into summer at many public pools this Memorial Day weekend.
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[Cable-Satellite]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC2:01:35]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Cable or satellite.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
It's a decision many of you may be thinking about now that local channels are becoming available on DISH Network and DIRECT-TV. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 in MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Newsroom Pod;]

Business Reporter Rachel Cannon joins us with more on both options, Rachel? Keith and Shannon, DISH Network says they actually flipped the switch a couple hours ago. Their satellite customers can now order local channels. Direct-TV is not far behind.
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL NEwsroom Pod]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; ]
Since not being able to pick up the local affiliates was the biggest complaint from satellite subscribers the race is on ... will cable or satellite win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Just program it for your tv]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Pedelty/Cox Communications; :14]
[SUPER=04-Courtesy DISH Network; :35]
[SUPER=01-Lorie Deal/DISH Network; :41]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=CONTRACTS WITH THEM.]
(( NATS 16:46:23 "Just program it for your tv." Cox Communications has been providing cable service to the Roanoke Valley for over 27-years. Its investment in the local community is one reason managers think you should stay with them.
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[SOT 16:42:08]
[IN Q=we have]
((MICHAEL PEDELTY/COX COMMUNICATIONS; WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE, WORK HERE, GO TO SCHOOL GO TO CHURCH BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS SO WE'RE MORE LOCAL THEN THEY WILL EVER BE.))
[OUT Q=EVER BE.]
Cable also bills itself as flexible. Cox's 60-thousand regional customers can make changes in service at any time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:43:08]
[IN Q=often]
((MICHAEL PEDELTY/COX COMMUNICATIONS; OFTEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CONTRACT THAT CAN BE A YEAR OR TWO LONG, WITH CABLE YOU NEVER HAVE A CONTRACT.))
[OUT Q=CONTRACT]
But satellite companies say not so fast. They provide more for your money.
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[SOT 16:54:38]
[IN Q=number one]
((LORIE DEAL/ECHOSTAR DIR. OF OPERATIONS; NUMBER ONE, HUNDRED PERCENT ALL DIGITAL CHANNELS THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS GOING TO BE TOP NOTCH.))
[OUT Q=NOTCH]
Retailers of dish systems say you get more channels for less. Now that locals are available, they expect dish sales to double, if not triple. And DISH Network says when it comes to pricing, you will not see hikes that have become common with cable.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:56:13]
[IN Q=here we]
((HERE WE HAVE THAT INSIDE TRACK TO OUR PROGRAMMERS WE'RE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE LONG TERM CONTRACTS WITH THEM.))
[OUT Q=THEM]))
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[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Newsroom Pod]
Weather is another variable that people may consider when deciding. Cable says they have a stronger signal that doesn't get as easily disrupted by weather.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Newsroom Pod;]
While satellite says it takes very, very strong storm to bring down their service and that's it's certainly comparable to cable. Keith and Shannon, people need to check into the various packages to see what fits their needs and wallet best.

[Gonier]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC3:11:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The F-B-I has solved two more Roanoke Valley bank robberies.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Forty-four year old Douglas Earl Gonier was indicted by a federal grand jury today for one of the two bank robberies committed on the same day earlier this month. Gonier had been hired as a painter by the Holiday Inn, Tanglewood. He was making 15-dollars an hour at the motel before he allegedly robbed the Valley Bank directly across the street.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./May 7]
The indictment says he got 16-hundred dollars. By his own admission, he went on to hold up banks in Alabama and Tennessee. He and Katherine Burch were together for two years, but even she wasn't fully aware of all that he'd been doing. She confirms that Doug is addicted to crack- -and that's one reason he may have done what he did. But she says he's much more than a drug addict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:58:50]
[IN Q=He's funny, he's very]
((KATHERINE BURCH/GONIER'S FRIEND; HE'S FUNNY. HE'S VERY FUNNY, VERY HUMOROUS. HE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY LAUGHING IN JUST A MINUTE. HE'S A WRITER. HE'S A MAGICIAN. ))
[SUPER=01-Katherine Burch/Gonier's Friend]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=HE'S A MAGICIAN]
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[VO-NAT]
She says Gonier is intelligent and a good businessman when drugs aren't running his life.
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[Brown]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-17 TC31:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The other bank robbery suspect indicted today is charged with a hold-up just yesterday morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
In court today, 35- year old Jerome D. Brown acknowledged that he's the one named in the indictment. The prosecutor said Brown confessed to
[SUPER=04-Yesterday]
the hold-up at the Bank of Botetourt on Peters Creek Roanoke. This was the case where two high school students chased the get-a-way car and got the tag number for police. After passing a note to a teller, demanding money, Brown allegedly made off with about 18-hundred dollars. He, too admitted he has a severe crack habit. He's from Queens and is wanted in New York for four more bank robberies.
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[Mod-U-Kraf]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=jwa]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC1:00:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Builiding a home can take a while.
Case in point, one home in Franklin County has been in the making for 32 YEARS.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]

Employees at Mod-U-Kraf Homes in Rocky Mount put the finishing touches on the company's ten- THOUSANDTH home today.
Even the rain couldn't dampen spirits as employees celebrated with a group snapshot in front of the production facility.
Mod-U-Kraf Homes was established in 1971.
With 222 employees, it's now Franklin County's second largest employer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We work together closely]
((JEFF POWELL/VP AND GENERAL MANAGER, MOD-U-KRAF HOMES: WE WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY AS A TEAM TO BE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED WELL AND EVERYONE WORKS HARD TO ACCOMPLISH OUR DREAM OF BUILDING THE PERFECT HOME.))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Powell/Mod-U-Kraf Homes VP and Gen. Manager; :04]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=building the perfect home.]
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[VO-NAT]

The ten-thousandth home was sold to buyers who plan to re-sell the home in Asheville, North Carolina.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Wall Street posted a humble gain before heading into the long Memorial Day weekend. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/7.36/8601.38/x/2.54/1510.09;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW gained seven points.
NASDAQ rose two and a half.
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[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[City-Pools]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC1:38:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanokers won't be spending Memorial Day weekend at the city's public pools.
The cool, wet weather has prompted the city to keep the Fallon Park and Washington Park pools closed.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The water temperature has fallen below the 70 degree minimum the city requires. Parks and recreation officials say it could present a risk of hypothermia.
Even if the weather improves over the weekend, they say it will take some time for the water to warm up.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Evelyn Alexander Water Park at Pulaski County's Randolph Park will also be closed tomorrow because of the cool water.
But officials there plan to open as scheduled on Sunday and Monday.

[Big-East]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC26:00]
[GRAPHIC=ACC Big East]

If the University of Miami leaves the Big East, jobs will be lost and families will be disrupted.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
That's what the Montgomery County board of supervisors said in a letter today to the university's President Donna Shalala (shuh-LAY-luh). The board says if Miami joins the A-C-C, the move will not only hurt Virginia Tech, but its surrounding communites as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5929]
[IN Q=there's countless]
((NICK RUSH/MONTGOMERY CO.: THERE'S COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN SPUN OFF BY PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND IT'S BEEN AN AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SHOP OWNERS, OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS, IT'S REALLY THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE NEW RIVER VALLEY.))
[SUPER=01-Nick Rush/Montgomery Co. Supervisors Chair;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=new river valley]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Talks surrounding Miami have already had an impact at Virginia Tech. Officials say Lane Stadium's west-end expansion is now on hold because of the uncertainty of the conference's future.

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[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Frank Beamer talks to News 7 sports today about the latest on the Big East situation, Ryan Newman captures the Coke 600 pole,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and former Cave Spring star and now Wake Forest linebacker Michael Hamlar gives back to the Roanoke community at Dare graduation.
(------------)

[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=Sp-149 1:00:54]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]

Ryan Newman's speed of 185.312 miles per hour earns him his second pole in three tries for the Coke 600 in Bud pole qualifying from the Lowes Motor Speedway today.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/SPEED; :00]

Elliott Sadler will start on the outside pole with a speed of 184.300 miles an hour, now here is the starting grid for the Coca-Cola 600.
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[WIPE TO QUALIFYING BOARDS]
(XXXXXXXX)
[IN CUE: FIRST DRIVER STEVE PARK] [WIPE TO MOTION]
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[SUPER=X5016;]
[SUPER=0107-1. Ryan Newman//2. Elliott Sadler//3. Mike Skinner//4. Jeff Gordon//5. Jack Sprague//;]
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[SUPER=0107-6. Tony Stewart//7. Joe Nemechek//8. Dave Blaney//9. Michael Waltrip//10. Johnny Benson//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-11. Bobby Labonte//12. Kurt Busch//13. Steve Park//14. Jimmy Spencer//15. Jeff Green//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-16. Todd Bodine//17. Jamie McMurray//18. Matt Kenseth//19. Casey Mears//20. Kevin Harvick//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-21. Mark Martin//22. Jeremy Mayfield//23. Dale Jarrett//24. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.//25. Tony Raines//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-26. Greg Biffle//27. Kevin Lepage//28. Kenny Wallace//29. Larry Foyt//30. Ken Schrader//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-31. Kyle Petty//32. Bill Elliott//33. Ricky Craven//34. Rusty Wallace//35. Jeff Burton//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-36. Sterling Marlin//37. Jimmie Johnson/Prov/38. Robby Gordon/Prov/39. Terry Labonte/Prov/40. Ricky Rudd/Pr
ov/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-41. Ward Burton/Prov/42. John Andretti/Prov/43. Mike Wallace/Prov/;]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=.....last driver."]
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[S-Beamer]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-147 13110tc]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST/ACC]

The talk on the streets is that the ACC expansion is a "done deal." That may be the case, but Mike Stevens Frank Beamer still isn't buying it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :15]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :22]
[SUPER=@mike1; :42]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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[S-DARE]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-140 1:33:28]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Former Friday Football Extra player of the week, Cave Spring standout and Now Wake Forest linebacker Michael Hamlar spoke to D.A.R.E graduates today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Hamlar came out to Oakland intermediate school spoke to the 80 plus youngsters. Hamlar is a computer science major with a double minors in business and communications. He talked about his sacrifices and not always doing the things that were popular. He is a rising senior with two more years of football.
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[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-146 1:29:10]
[GRAPHIC=ACC baseball]

Clemson is out while UVa stays alaive in ACC baseball tournament play.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Blue Devils vs. Tigers; :00]

Hamlar's former Cave Spring basketball teammate Tyler Lumsden started on the mound for the Tigers but several errors cost him a bunch of runs. Duke scored seven runs in the second inning to eliminate the Tigers 7-4.
[SUPER=04-Cavaliers vs. Demon Deacons;]

UVa's Joe Koshansky hit a solo homer in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift the Cavaliers over Wake Forest 12-11.(------------) Uva plays the loser of unc/fsu game tomorrow.