THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020645
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Western Branch's Jimmy Anderson limited No. 1 Green Run to one hit and the Bruins put on an offensive show to match in routing the Stallions, 12-0, in an Eastern Region semifinal game Wednesday at Old Dominion University.
{REST} Anderson (9-0) walked two and struck out 16. Green Run's only hit was a solid single to right by John Defere in the second inning.
``I threw hard and had good control,'' Anderson said. ``You can't lose with 12 runs and my pitching.''
Western Branch scored four runs on only two hits against Chad Lee in the top of the first inning.
Lee, who took his first loss of the season after six wins, contributed mightily to his own demise with three walks, one hit batsman and three wild pitches in a lonely one-third of an inning.
Any chance that he might get out of the jam was ended when Travis Kincaid blooped a single down the rightfield line to score the Bruins' second run. Then Lee's fate was sealed when designated hitter Calvin Diggs ripped a two-run single to left - one pitch after catcher Mike Olmstead let a foul pop up drop harmlessly behind the plate.
Anderson with a four-run lead is a scary thought for any opposing team; but there was a precedent for a comeback.
First Colonial had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Bruins, 5-4, in nine innings in last season's region semifinals.
``I didn't think about that,'' Anderson said. ``The lead was nice but it didn't change nothing. I was going after them regardless.''
Western Branch (19-5) will play First Colonial (17-7) tonight at 7 at ODU for the championship. Both teams have qualified for the state quarterfinals June 10.
Tonight's winner will play host to the Central Region runner-up. The loser visits the Central Region champion.
Wednesday, Western Branch closed out Green Run with six runs - just two earned - on three hits in the third.
The rally was fueled by two walks and two errors. The big hits were an RBI double by Nick Ardagna and an RBI triple by Diggs off Jason Clark.
Jason Howell capped the scoring with a two-run triple to the fence in left-center in the fourth off David Abbott.
Green Run's closest attempt at a score came in the second when Olmstead drew a leadoff walk and Defere singled Olmstead to third.
Anderson responded by striking out Chip Basnight and Chris Elmore. Defere took off for second on the third strike to Elmore and catcher Nick Ardagna threw through.
Shortstop James Fticsar caught the ball in front of the bag and fired back to Ardagna in time to get pinch runner Rick Stocks at the plate.
``Jimmy can be dominant and they are a good fastball hitting team,'' Green Run coach Gary Spedden said. ``You can't stake them to a lead like that.''
by CNB