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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994                   TAG: 9406140037
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

KNIGHTS RALLY PAST ST. PAUL 8-4

Visiting James River overcame adversity in the late innings and defeated St. Paul 8-4 on Friday in the Group A softball tournament, ensuring that a Pioneer District team will play for the state title at home on June 17.

St. Paul scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie it and force extra innings. In the top of the ninth, however, James River's big hitters - Kara Mundy and Amber Vines - settled the outcome. Mundy doubled and Vines homered to start a four-run inning.

James River will meet Glenvar at the Moyer Complex in Salem on Tuesday in a state semifinal at a time to be announced next week. The winner of that game will play host to the state championship game.

The Knights and Highlanders, both members of the Pioneer District, have played four times this year. James River won the first game 8-4 and then lost 4-3, 7-1 and 8-0. The last game was for the Region C championship and it forced the Knights to travel here Friday.

James River had a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh when Sara Mundy, the winning pitcher, faltered and St. Paul tied it.

The Knights (19-5) made sure the Deacons (18-6) didn't have another rally left in the ninth. After Amber Vines' homer, Angie Sink tripled and came home on a grounder by Heather Vines that was booted. Vines scored when the Deacons failed to cover third on a sacrifice and threw away the ball for an error.

Sara Mundy earned her 15th victory in 18 decisions.\ \ FAIRFAX - Franklin County's Group AAA state quarterfinal baseball game didn't take as long as the bus ride to Fairfax. It just seemed that way for the Eagles.

After the nearly eight-hour bus trek, Franklin County played its worst defensive game of the season, committing six errors that helped West Potomac end Franklin County's season with a 9-2 victory Friday.

West Potomac (18-5) scored nine runs in the first four innings to advance past the Eagles (18-6).

"They were ready to go and we weren't," said Franklin County catcher Riley Hodges. "We were tired from the bus ride."

"It's a shame it had to end like this," said F.L. Slough, the Eagles' coach.

Franklin County, which committed five errors in its 7-1 Northwestern Region final loss to Hylton, made four errors in the first three innings Friday that led to two runs.

by CNB