Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: INDEPENDENCE LENGTH: Medium
The Blue Devils had put the Black Raiders in the dark long before that, though.
Back-to-back home runs by Mack Cassell and Devin Floyd staked Grayson County to a three-run lead in the first inning and the Devils cruised to an 8-1 pasting of Burton.
Cassell, a senior catcher who claims he's been in a season-long slump despite a .404 average, slugged two homers, a double, had five RBI and three runs scored in three at-bats.
"About time," Cassell said. "It's playing in the tournament that's helped me. I like playing in front of all these people."
Grayson County (17-4), the Region C champion two straight years, advances to the state semifinals 6 p.m. Friday at Casey Field in Covington. The Devils play Wilson Memorial, an 8-0 winner over Arcadia.
Grayson County had only six hits, but that mattered little with the tough pitching it got. Right-handed side-armer Chris Lundy turned in his second straight effective pitching performance.
Lundy scattered five hits and struck out 12 while walking eight. Until Burton (8-14) scored in the seventh inning, Lundy (3-4) extended a scoreless inning streak that started in the regional championship victory over Bath County to 10.
"What can I say about Lundy?" Grayson County coach Ed Goodson said. "At the beginning of the year, he was throwing balls off the top of the backstop. He came to me during the Bath County game and said, `Coach, I'm ready to pitch.' I told him, `Lundy, you've already had your chance.' "
But Goodson relented, and the results have been surprising, to say the least. At one point this year, Lundy's earned run average was 14.50.
Burton finished last in the Lonesome Pine District before recovering to make a postseason run.
"We knew we had to play perfect game to win; we didn't," Burton coach Neil Morris said.
Grayson County seems to be rounding into form just in time, Cassell said.
"We're playing as a team now," he said. "We're peaking right now."
J.I. Burton 0000001-154 Grayson County 302300x-860
Austin, Phelps (4) and Bevins; Lundy and Cassell. W - Lundy (3-4). L - Austin (3-3). HR - Cassell (GC), 1st, one on; Floyd (GC), 1st, none on; Cassell (GC), 4th, two on.
by CNB