THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: NORFOLK
But that's what happened Wednesday evening in one of the craziest semifinal games ever in the Eastern Region tournament.
{REST} First Colonial batted around in the first two innings, scoring seven runs in the first and eight in the second.
The Patriots needed almost all of those runs as Great Bridge refused to cave in, battling back before running out of gas and succumbing to the defending state champions, 25-11, at Old Dominion's Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
With the victory, First Colonial validated its ticket to a fourth consecutive state tournament. Both Eastern Region finalists advance. In the region final tonight at 7 at ODU, First Colonial will face the winner of Wednesday night's game between Western Branch and Green Run.
The Patriots (17-7) sent 12 men to the plate in the first and 13 in the second.
Great Bridge freshman sensation Mike Cuddyer (8-1) failed to make it out of the first inning and absorbed the first loss of his high school career. Brian McLain's three-run double spelled Cuddyer's end.
Reliever Brian Brantley fared no better as the Patriots chased him in the second, the final blow being Jamie Booth's run-scoring single to make it 13-0.
The Patriots led 15-0 before Great Bridge (20-4) touched First Colonial starter Steve Johnson for three runs in the third. Johnson settled down in the fourth, but Patriots coach Norbie Wilson pulled Johnson before the fifth with a 16-3 lead, saving him for tonight's region final.
Although Johnson can now pitch six innings tonight if needed, it almost proved a fatal mistake.
Great Bridge rocked relievers Matt Lafler and Tyler Brown, who gave up a combined eight runs, the big shots being a two-run home run by Johnny Fox and a two-run triple by Rufus Hinton. Ed Manley pitched the last 2 1/3 innings for the Patriots.
``In tournament baseball you don't want to embarrass another team,'' Wilson said. ``But I almost embarrassed myself and I definitely embarrassed two young pitchers who I sent in unprepared to pitch in that situation.
``I've never been involved in a game like this, and I hope I never am again.''
Seven Patriots had multiple-hit games: McLain, Booth, David Winter, Pat Cecchini, Brad Tetlow, A.T. Vasta and Ryan Dunbar.
McLain had the biggest night as he went 3-for-5, including two doubles, and drove in six runs.
Great Bridge coach Martin Oliver was thrilled that the Wildcats ``made a heck of a comeback when we could have rolled over.'' But he added that if he'd been a betting man, he would have lost a considerable sum.
``I'd have bet my house that they couldn't hit two guys (Cuddyer and Brantley) who were a combined 14-0 coming in,'' Oliver said. ``They just hit the ball all night. I'd be out of a house right now.''
by CNB