Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 28, 1990 TAG: 9004280267
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Alleghany and host William Byrd ended up in an 8-8 Blue Ridge District tie after darkness descended.
That result, which adds up to half a win and half a loss, according to Virginia High School League procedures, was more palatable for the front-running Mountaineers (5-1-1, 7-3-1) than it was for the Terriers (2-3-1, 8-4-1).
"I'd rather have a half-win than I would a loss," Alleghany coach Gary Rice said, whose team maintained its hold on first place.
"Unbelievable," said a frowning Byrd coach Gary Walthall, whose team's frustrations with Alleghany are longstanding.
Byrd appeared to have a back-and-forth battle in hand when it erased a two-run deficit with a three-run fifth inning. It took an 8-7 lead into the top of the seventh. Then the Terriers made a great defensive play with a 9-4-5 relay that caught Brian Porterfield at third to prevent a leadoff triple.
With two out, Chris Guth reached on an error. The tying run scored on Brian Carson's double to right. That pulled Carson, the starting pitcher, out of the 10-hit, eight-run mess he had made for himself.
"We tried to tell him all day long to keep the ball down because we have a second baseman [Porterfield] and shortstop [David Groseclose] who can make the plays," Rice said. "But he didn't keep the ball down."
Another who experienced highs and lows was Byrd starter Brian Young. He homered and had three RBI but also gave up seven hits, six earned runs and committed an error on a potential double-play ball that opened the door for the Mountaineers' five-run fourth.
In other baseball:
Keswick Phillips hit three of Bath County's six home runs as the Chargers routed James River 20-0 in five innings. He had four hits and eight RBI. Six of Phillips' 12 homers have come this week.
Eric Smith's double and triple contributed to Salem's 6-1 Blue Ridge District victory against homestanding Staunton River.
Cave Spring racked up 15 hits, left-hander Mark Hazelwood pitched a seven-hitter and Dee Dalton hit a three-run homer and teamed with Jason St. Clair for six RBI as Cave Spring defeated host Franklin County 10-2 in the Roanoke Valley District.
Jason Greene's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave Pulaski County a 7-6 victory over Patrick Henry in a Roanoke Valley District game at Calfee Park in Pulaski.
\ SOFTBALL: Jannell Sowers pitched a one-hitter, striking out 11 and walking two as Lord Botetourt defeated Northside 5-1 and moved into a tie with the Vikings for first place in the Blue Ridge District.
Franklin County's Shelley Bowles hit a three-run home run in the third inning and pitched a five hitter as the Eagles defeated the Knights 6-2 in a Roanoke Valley District game.
\ BOYS' SOCCER: Carter Teague scored at 29:15 of the second half and goalkeeper Jim Dixon had nine saves as North Cross handed Patrick Henry its first loss of the season 1-0 in a nondistrict game.
by CNB