
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994                    TAG: 9406030942 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940603                                 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH

W. BRANCH, G. BRIDGE IN FINAL

{LEAD} Today's Eastern Region girls softball finale at Princess Anne High School between Western Branch and Great Bridge resembles two old sparring partners squaring off in preparation for a championship fight against someone else.

The 1-2 finishers in the Southeastern District gained the Eastern Region's berths in next week's state tournament by ousting Beach District teams in Wednesday's region semifinals.

{REST} Today's 4 p.m. showdown will be the fourth meeting of the year between the Chesapeake rivals. Western Branch (19-4) , en route to the Southeastern regular-season title, posted 8-6 and 6-4 victories. Great Bridge (16-6-1) captured the Southeastern tournament by topping the Bruins, 5-3.

Opposing coaches Chris Ake of Western Branch and Noble Palmer of Great Bridge are hoping they'll meet for a fifth time - as state semifinalists.

The winner of today's game will host the Central Region runner-up next Friday. The loser will travel to Richmond to play the Central champion the same day. And those winners will vie for a state championship berth.

Western Branch is seeking its second consecutive region title. Great Bridge last won it in 1984. by CNB