ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Second place in Roanoke Valley District baseball hasn't been any fun the past two years.
One year removed from being swept in four games by archrival Cave Spring, Franklin County won all four of its 1996 meetings with the Knights, the last a 4-2 triumph in the championship match of the league tournament on a spring afternoon Thursday at Calfee Park.
``That was the first time I've lost all four to them,'' Cave Spring coach Roger White said. ``I hope it's the last.''
The Eagles (18-1) won their 17th straight game and set a school record for victories in a season. They also will be able to load the trophy case with some more hardware.
Both teams advance to the Group AAA Northwest Region playoffs starting Monday. Franklin County will entertain the runner-up in the Western District, which will be determined after Heritage and George Washington-Danville play for the league championship today. The winner of that game will play host to Cave Spring (13-7).
This RVD title game was tightly contested. Cave Spring took the early lead in the second inning. Greg Wells walked to start the frame. That was followed one out later by David Trumbower's sharply struck line drive to the gap in left center to bring home the run.
Franklin County offered its response in the third by scoring four runs after the inning had begun poorly.
Gray Hodges, the Eagles' talented center fielder, had made a spectacular, diving, run-saving play in the bottom of the second. Perhaps inspired and refreshed by the exploit, Hodges lashed a leadoff triple when the Eagles came to bat. A moment later, he was thrown out in a rundown on a play that had started with Ashley Moore's infield grounder.
``I thought it was through,'' Hodges said. ``With no outs, you have to let the ball get through the infield. I made a bad mistake.''
His teammates picked him up with a walk and three straight hits, including a Jimmy Scott triple and Brian Strong single that combined to plate three runs.
That was all the operating room Franklin County left-hander Larry Bowles needed to beat Cave Spring for the third time this year (he also had a no decision). Bowles struck out seven and walked five, the last three of those coming in the seventh as the Knights rallied for one more run.
``I started aiming it,'' Bowles said. ``I wasn't nervous, just a little excited because it was near the end of the game.''
In the semifinals, Cave Spring routed Pulaski County 12-4, and Franklin County handled William Fleming 9-3.
NOTE: Pplease see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB