Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990 TAG: 9005240593
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: By JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DANVILLE LENGTH: Long
In the first three innings Wednesday, the senior left-hander walked three George Washington-Danville batters. Each one came into score, and Cave Spring fell behind early.
With the score tied and two out in the fifth, Hazelwood hung a curve on an 0-2 pitch to Alfred Shirley, who launched it over the right center-field fence, propelling the Eagles into the Northwestern Region championship with a 5-4 win over Cave Spring at Market Garden.
"An 0-2 curve ball," said Knights coach Roger White, "[Hazelwood] hung it over the plate, we wanted it in the dirt, and [Shirley] hit it out. He certainly wasn't trying to throw it there. Their guy just came through at the right time."
Shirley's homer ended a spirited comeback by the Knights (17-5), who rallied from a 4-0 deficit.
Senior catcher Jason St. Clair halved the margin with a two-run homer in the fourth.
Ernie Caldwell led off the top of the fifth with a single. Then Tom Nelson singled with one out.
The Eagles (14-4) got another out, but with St. Clair up again, Eagles coach Vern Barker elected to intentionally load the bases by walking him.
"We weren't going to let [St. Clair] beat us," Barker said. "We had a base open anyway."
But the strategy failed when freshman starter Omari Venable walked Jason Shafer and Keith on nine pitches to force in the tying runs.
Clark went to senior pitcher Jeff Mauldin, who got pinch hitter Brian Ellis to ground into a fielder's choice ending the inning.
Maudlin (5-2), the starter when Danville lost the regional championship to Cave Spring last season, picked up the win in relief.
Danville senior catcher Jerry Burton drove in the first four runs with a two-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the third.
In other baseball:
Tazewell whipped Christiansburg 14-0 in the semifinals of the Group AA Region IV tournament at Tazewell Middle School.
Tazewell (19-2), which qualified for the Group AA Tournament with the victory, plays Friday at Virginia High for the regional championship. Virginia High beat Graham 4-3 in the other semifinal. Christiansburg (14-5) was stopped in the semifinals for the third straight year.
\ SOFTBALL: Katrina Wilhelm drove in the winning run in the 14th inning as Lord Botetourt slipped past Liberty 6-5 in the Group AA Region III tournament quarterfinals at Tunstall High.
Botetourt (16-5) plays Laurel Park in a semifinal game today at 3 p.m. The winner receives an automatic berth in the state tournament.
At Tunstall, Tracy Palmer pitched a one-hitter and Laura Hyer got the game-winning double in the seventh as Salem beat Magna Vista 4-3 in the first round of the Region III tournament.
Michelle Hairston and Palmer walked and Hyer hit the game-winner.
Lord Botetourt plays Laurel Park 3 p.m. today and Brookville plays Salem at 5 p.m. The winners play in the championship at 7 p.m.
The Group AAA Northwestern Region game between Franklin County and Halifax County was postponed by wet grounds. It will be made up this afternoon. The winner advances to the Group AAA tournament and the regional semifinals on Friday.
Stephanie Martin and Nikki Hall combined on a no-hitter as Glenvar defeated Castlewood 14-0 and advanced to the final of the Group A Region C Tournament at Floyd.
Martin (9-3) pitched six innings, struck out four and walked eight. Hall pitched the seventh.
Glenvar's Terri Beamer walked four times and scored four runs. Tammi Beamer had two hits and drove in three runs.
Glenvar plays Parry McCluer on Friday at a site to be determined today.
Parry McCluer reached the Group A Region C final by defeating Galax 20-0 in a game called after five innings.
The Fighting Blues' Jennifer Williams gave up two hits, struck out eight and walked four for the victory. She also had two hits and scored three runs.
Tammy Grant went 4-for-4 and scored four runs for Parry McCluer (15-2), and Kristi Coleman had a triple and a three-run homer.
\ GIRLS' TENNIS: At Radford, Region III winner Salem won the No. 1 singles and doubles match but lost the others as Abingdon advanced to the Group AA championship with the 7-2 victory.
Doris Ballak defeated Debbie Henderson 6-0, 6-0 and teamed with Kristi Garren to defeat Henderson and Rachel Woolwine 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) in doubles.
\ BOYS' TENNIS: Salem earned the chance to bring home two state championship trophies from the Group AA finals, but the Spartans' hope for a singles title fell to a world-class opponent.
In the team competition, the Spartans advanced to the finals with a 7-2 win over Marion at Back Creek Park outside Poquoson. Salem will play at 9 this morning against James Monroe of Fredericksburg, a 7-2 winner over Franklin High.
In the individual doubles, Salem's Tommy McDonald and Justin Barham defeated Jamey Lowe and Chris Lloyd of Handley 6-4, 6-3 to reach the finals. They will face Stefan Susta and Scott Rogers of Tabb.
In the individual singles semifinals, Rachid Benjelloun of Western Albemarle defeated McDonald 6-3, 6-2. Benjelloun is an exchange student from Morocco and is ranked No. 1 in the 18-under group for all Northeast Africa; he plays in tournaments on the European circuit.
At Riner, Mike Tullos contributed on the only two victories for Mathews of Region A as Region C champion Glenvar won seven matches to advance to the finals of the Group A boys' championship.
Glenvar plays George Mason, which beat J.J. Kelly 7-2, in today's team championship at 8:30 a.m.
Boggess and Paris Goodnight also contributed to this roundup.)
by CNB