ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608090028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
For a while Thursday, it looked as if Vinton might keep its dream alive.
After four innings, the youth baseball team was holding its own in the Dixie Pre-Majors World Series championship game at Kiwanis Field in Salem. Vinton, a decided underdog, had given up only two hits to the Auburn University team from Montgomery, Ala., in a scoreless game.
But everything changed when Auburn's Davey Thomas stepped to the plate in the fifth. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder's leadoff double ignited a rally.
With that, AUM by the score of 10-0 in the tournament for players ages 15-16. Auburn's other victory came in 1988.
Vinton finished with a 4-2 record in the double-elimination tournament.
``It's hard to hold that team for seven innings,'' said Vinton manager Jim Wheeling after the game ended in the sixth inning because of the 10-run rule. ``We tried to stop them. It didn't work today. They have a lot of good hitters on their team.
``But we showed the state of Virginia was good. Anyone who takes second in a tournament that has the state champions from 12 states is good.''
If Vinton was good, Auburn was great. The visitors scored 60 runs in five games during the tournament. Four Alabama players batted over .400.
For a while, Vinton (4-2 in tournament play), however, looked was able to cool Auburn's hot bats.
``Our game plan was to use one pitcher for the first three innings, then a second pitcher the next two,'' Wheeling said. ``And we would have someone pitch the last two.''
And it almost worked.
After giving up a base hit, Vinton starter Brian Rickerson retired eight consecutive batters. Reliever Brad Gusler didn't give up a hit in the fourth.
But then things started to unravel. Auburn scored 10 runs on nine hits during the next two innings.
``I hate losing,'' said Vinton center fielder Tommy Chambers, tears dripping from his face. ``To get this far was my dream. Nobody thought that we were going to make it this far.
``I didn't even think that we were going to make it out of the state tournament. But we made it to the championship. And when you make it that far and lose it really hurts.''
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB