Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 18, 1990 TAG: 9004180115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Over the same stretch, Blacksburg committed four errors.
The hitting and miscues resulted in 12 runs for the Demons and a 14-10 New River District baseball victory at Blacksburg.
The win was the sixth straight for Christiansburg (3-0 in the New River, 6-1 overall).
"It seemed like after a couple of [fifth-inning] singles, everyone felt like they could hit the ball," said Alan Ferrell, who knocked in a run in each of the innings. "We didn't hit in the early innings. It seemed like we had to relax."
Blacksburg (1-2, 3-3) fell victim to defensive woes.
"Our middle inning defense let us down," said Steve Price, the Indians' first-year coach. "But we came back. That's our pattern."
Christiansburg trailed 3-2 when it scored eight runs in the fifth inning.
Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases with one out. Then came singles by Richard Shaver, Donnie Robinson, Darren Graham and Ferrell; a squeeze bunt by Mike Sweeney, and three Blacksburg errors. That gave Christiansburg a 10-3 lead.
In the sixth, the Demons took a 14-5 lead. Ferrell had an RBI single, Scott Lucas hit a two-run single and winning pitcher Mike Royal (3-1) added an run-scoring single.
The Indians sliced five runs off Christiansburg's lead, but it was too late.
Royal allowed six hits and struck out nine over six-plus innings in winning his third straight game. He allowed all 10 Blacksburg runs, four earned, before being relieved by Graham.
"We won, but we didn't play well," said Kirk Litton, the Christiansburg coach. "We made too many mistakes. We just weren't in it mentally."
The Demons made five errors and issued 10 walks.
In other baseball:
Kevin Hungate threw a complete-game seven-hitter and had two hits, a run scored and three stolen bases as Auburn fought off Fort Chiswell 7-6 in a Mountain Empire District game at Fort Chiswell.
Shane Robbins scored twice, including the game-winning run, and had two outstanding defensive plays. Robbins, a second baseman, threw out a runner at second on a relay play and also had a diving catch on a tough infield looper. Robbie Dalton drove in three runs for the Eagles (2-1, 2-5), who have won two of their past three.
Auburn led 7-2 going into the sixth, but Fort Chiswell scored four runs before the rally fizzled.
At Hot Springs, Chris Williams homered, singled and drove in five runs to lead Bath County to a 14-5 Pioneer District victory against Lexington. Jeff Lowry had three hits for the Chargers (7-1, 8-1), who have won six straight. Lexington is 3-6, 3-6.
At Galax, Len Crockett had two doubles and an RBI to lead Galax past Rocky Gap 10-8 in a Mountain Empire District game. Jason Lambert had three hits for the Eagles (0-3, 0-5). The Maroon Tide is 1-2, 2-8.
\ SOCCER: Blacksburg got goals from Nathan Warren, Andrew Shires and Jon Bohland and beat North Cross 3-1 in a game involving previously undefeated teams.
It was the first time Blacksburg (7-0), the defending Group AA champion, has beaten the Raiders (7-1) in three years.
"They [the Indians] were tough," said Richard Cook, North Cross' coach. "They beat the heck out of us in the first half. They dominated us in every phase of the game, and if it hadn't been for our goalie, Jim Dixon, it would have been worse."
Dixon had seven of his 10 saves in the first half.
"They put a lot of pressure on the ball in the first half and we panicked," Cook said. "It evened up a bit in the second half, but they still played a heck of a game. They hadn't beaten us in three years, but they were looking for us today and they got us."
In the second half, Joe Basile scored the Raiders' only goal as Dixon was shutting out Blacksburg.
At Glenvar, Wouter Wehberg scored two goals and Jarrod Roberts was in goal for the shutout as the Highlanders (5-3-1) beat Pulaski County 4-0.
by CNB