THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406030941
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940603 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Both teams advance to next week's state quarterfinals. First Colonial (18-7) will play host to the Central Region runnerup and Western Branch (19-6) will visit the Central region champion.
{REST} The Patriots jumped on Western Branch's Leigh Phelps for four runs in the first inning, continuing a trend they established in the quarterfinals against Kecoughtan.
The Patriots scored 15 first-inning runs and 42 overall in the three tournament games.
``It takes all the pressure in the world off,'' shortstop Pat Cecchini said of the Patriots' first-inning success. ``It gets the jitters out.''
Cecchini, the only full-time starter back from last season's state title team, was in the middle of every rally. He was 3-for-4, scored two runs, batted in one and stole a base.
Cecchini supplied a single to the Patriots' four-run first that began with the first of three errors on Bruin third baseman Matt Hemmis.
Jamie Booth delivered an RBI-double and after Brad Tetlow grounded out, Ryan Dunbar singled to left driving in Cecchini.
Booth scored when leftfielder Jeff Leiker overthrew home plate. With runners on first and third, A.T. Vasta got caught in rundown and Dunbar scored the fourth run when first baseman Jimmy Anderson threw wildly to the plate.
``We gave them four or five runs,'' lamented Western Branch coach Jim Stanko. The left side of the infield has hurt us all year.''
Those quick four runs made First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson's decision to start sophomore Ed Manley instead of Jamie Booth, who pitched six shutout innings on Monday, look smart.
Manley, the Patriots' No. 3 starter, took a four-hitter into the seventh before needing relief help from Steve Johnson. Manley allowed all four runs, three earned, walked one and struck out eight.
He was perfect through three innings and benefited from two catches by Jason Bozard and Dave Winter.
Manley admitted being intimidated after watching Western Branch wallop Green Run, 12-0, in Wednesday's semifinal.
``I didn't know what was going to happen,'' he said. ``I just threw around the corners and they didn't seem to hit it.''
That effort typified First Colonial's entire approach to the game. The Patriots' banged out 11 hits and rarely let a Western Branch mistake go unpunished.
Western Branch managed to supply some drama in the seventh. The Bruins scored twice and loaded the bases with two out, bringing up Anderson.
But Johnson got him to loft a fly to shallow leftfield and Brian Mclain made the catch for the out. by CNB