Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 18, 1990                   TAG: 9007180255
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: BEDFORD
SOURCE: By RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HUNTINGTON ROCKS PULASKI

Fresh out of high school on the coast of Washington state, the big Huntington Cubs right-hander improved his record to 3-0 with a 6-2 victory over the Pulaski Braves on Tuesday night in an Appalachian League game at Calfee Park.

"I didn't think that I'd be having the success that I am now," he said. "I thought I'd struggle some, as young as I am [18]. I thought it would be tougher.

"Don't get me wrong, though. It is tough. It's just a different style of pitching."

Godfrey seems to have made the necessary adjustments. Against the skidding Braves, he scattered four hits, striking out three and walking four. After giving up a run in the first inning, he shut out Pulaski for the next five innings.

"I had a nine-day layoff and I struggled early on," he said. "I was tight until about the sixth inning, and by that time I was getting tired. I wasn't overpowering, as you could tell, so all I was doing was trying to hit my spots."

The Braves (15-10) have lost three in a row, two by one run. It wasn't that close Tuesday.

"We just didn't swing the sticks," said Randy Ingle, Pulaski's manager. "And our pitchers kept getting behind."

Huntington pitchers Thomas Mann and Charles Kirk worked the last three innings, limiting the Braves to two hits and one run. Pulaski pitching, meanwhile, gave up 15 hits.

Huntington (15-8) pounced on Braves starter Keith Morrison (3-2) for three hits and two runs in the first and pulled away. Pulaski scored a run in its half of the first, but that was as close as the Braves would get the rest of the evening.

\ BRAVES BRIEFS: Pulaski lost one of its most valuable players when shortstop Hector Roa was called up to Sumter of the Class A South Atlantic League. Roa, who left Monday, batted .348 with 32 hits, three homers and 14 RBI for Pulaski. . . . Third baseman Jamie Crump was out of the lineup with a swollen index finger on his right (throwing) hand. Utilityman Trent Mongero took over at third. Crump's status is day-to-day. . . . Joe Roa (1-0, 3.57 ERA) pitches against David Stevens (0-1, 3.63) tonight in the final game of the series. Huntington 200112000-6150 Pulaski 100000100-262

Godfrey, Mann (7), Kirk (9) and Gabbani; Morrison, Werland (5), Shepherd (8) and Gonzalez. W-Godfrey (3-0). L-Morrison (3-2).