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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995                   TAG: 9505250098
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TERRIERS BOUNCE SPARTANS

An old baseball axiom says to ``Hit 'em where they ain't.'' But hitting them where they are can work, too, as William Byrd learned during Wednesday's Blue Ridge District baseball tournament championship game.

With the score 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, William Byrd's Matt Whitehead approached the plate with the bases loaded against Salem.

Whitehead drilled a 3-1 pitch to center field that looked as if it would be caught by Salem's Charley Hammersley.

When Hammersley reached the warning track, roughly 350 feet from home, he jumped to catch the ball. But the ball bounced off his glove and over the fence.

The play was ruled a sacrifice fly and a three-base error. The end result was a 6-1 Terriers victory at William Byrd High School. The bizarre play gave Byrd (15-4-1) its third tournament title in four years.

``I have seen plays like it on ESPN,'' said Scott Atkins, Salem's coach. ``Jose Canseco had a ball bounce off of his head [and go over the wall]. But that play didn't cost us the game. We didn't score runs when we had the chance.''

``When I hit the ball, I didn't think it was going over,'' Whitehead said. ``When I saw the ball go over the fence, I just smiled. I got back to the dugout and they told me what happened. I don't really care whether it is a home run or not, as long as we got the runs and won the game.''

Byrd's Mike McGuire, the district player of the year, had a solid game on the mound. McGuire limited the Spartans (14-5-1) to four hits in seven innings and was in control throughout.

``Early on I had trouble throwing strikes [two walks in the first inning], but the pitching coach told me to calm down, throw strikes and let them hit it,'' McGuire said.

Salem had its best opportunity to seize control in the fifth inning. Trailing 1-0, Greg Harrison led off the inning with a double and was singled home by Ricky Eubanks to tie the score. With two out and runners on first and third, Salem attempted a double steal, but Eubanks was thrown out at home to end the inning.

William Byrd advanced to the title game by defeating Rockbridge 4-1 on the strength of Matt Flippen's seven-hit complete game. Marvin Brown homered and scored twice to pace the Terriers' offense.

Salem scored four runs in the seventh inning, keyed by Kevin Feazell's two-run homer, to secure an 8-4 victory over Alleghany in the second semifinal.

The Spartans begin Region III playoff action at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Brookville at William Byrd. The Terriers will be home for the start of regional play at 5 p.m. Thursday against either the Piedmont or Seminole district runner-up.

NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.

by CNB