ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: AMHERST
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
THE TERRIERS rely on strong pitching to gain a spot in the Group AA tournament.
Lights-out pitching carried both the winners in the Group AA Region III baseball semifinals Thursday.
William Byrd's Chris Manning mesmerized Patrick County with a 13-strikeout, five-hit performance as the Terriers won 3-0 on the neutral diamond at Amherst County. In the nightcap, William Campbell's Anthony Pennix kept Salem under control by allowing no earned runs while his teammates supported him with 11 hits as the Generals triumphed 9-1.
William Campbell (19-2) and William Byrd (17-4) will meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday here for the regional title. Both teams advance to the state tournament that starts Tuesday, with the Region III winner entertaining the Region IV runner-up and the Region III loser traveling to the Region IV champion.
Patrick County, the regular season and tournament champion of the Piedmont District, had a man on in every inning against Manning, but couldn't score.
``None of their hitters were intimidated like some of the guys I've seen this year,'' said Manning, a junior. ``Everybody was swinging the bats. We were a little lucky to come away with the victories as many opportunities as they had.''
Byrd, which will be going to the state tournament for the third time since 1992, was not exactly mounting a fearsome attack with four hits.
``Pitching and defense has carried us all year,'' Byrd coach Rodney Spradlin said. ``We also did the little things, getting a bunt down and some clutch hits when we needed them.''
William Byrd's Ben Smith led off the second inning with a double, and Matt McGuire followed with a sacrifice before No.8 hitter Parker Humphreys got a one-out, two-run single to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
An insurance run came in the sixth with a two-out solo home run from Matt Whitehead to straightaway center field.
``I flew out twice before I could figure out what I was doing wrong,'' said Whitehead, who hit his third homer of the year. ``I was dropping my shoulder and pulling my head off the ball. I was relaxed and confident when I went up there the third time.''
Manning was so relaxed that he declined the traditional postgame arm ice-down.
``My arm never hurts,'' he said. ``I could pitch tomorrow.''
Pennix knows how it goes with an arm that can go the distance. Eight days ago, he threw 150-plus pitches in a 12-inning 6-5 loss to Rustburg in the Seminole District tournament. Pennix experienced no ill effects.
``I always take real good care of my arm after a game so I can be ready for my next start,'' he said.
Salem coach Scott Atkins thought that if Pennix were to be hit, it was going to be early.
``With these [stadium] lights not being the best, the longer it went, the harder it was to hit him,'' Atkins said.
Thus, when Atkins sensed a breakthrough in the sixth inning with the Spartans trailing 4-0, he coached aggressively. Greg Harrison reached on a one-out error and Ricky Eubanks followed with a single. When Seth Moore doubled, Atkins gambled and sent Eubanks home, where he perished on a relay from left field via shortstop. Moore then was thrown out at third.
``I took a chance and sent him because I thought that may have been our best shot,'' Atkins said. ``They had to make two great throws to get him at home.''
The Generals then exploded for five runs in their half of the inning to put the game away.
``We've got a good bunch of guys here and I'm proud of them. Scrappy kids who never give up, that's what it's all about.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB