THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406100925
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940610 LENGTH: Medium
Clover Hill, 23-1 and ranked eighth in the nation by USA Today, has won 20 consecutive games since a 1-0 loss to Essex.
{REST} The Cavaliers will face Western Branch pitcher Jimmy Anderson, who has won 20 consecutive decisions over two years.
Anderson hasn't taken the loss in a high school game since May 27, 1992, when Kecoughtan edged the Bruins, 2-1, in an Eastern Region semifinal.
Defending state champion First Colonial (18-7) meets Central Region runner-up L.C. Bird (14-9) in another quarterfinal game at Old Dominion. Game time is 7 p.m.
The Western Branch-Clover Hill winner will host the Bird-First Colonial winner Tuesday night in the semifinals. The winner of that game will host the state final June 17.
The Western Branch-Clover Hill game matches perhaps the best pitcher in the state against the best hitting team.
Anderson is 9-0 with a 0.09 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 82 innings.
Clover Hill counters with a team batting average of .399 and is averaging 10.4 runs per game.
``I don't know what type of pitching they have up there, but that's impressive,'' Western Branch coach Jim Stanko said.
The Cavaliers' top run producers are first baseman Jake Anthony (.580, 29 RBIs) and catcher Fred Stoots (.518, 33 RBIs).
Robbie Preston, a 6-foot-7 righthander, will start on the mound for Clover Hill. Preston, who has signed with the University of Richmond, is 9-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
Western Branch could be without designated hitter Calvin Diggs, who missed three days of school this week with strep throat. Diggs batted .346 in the regular season and had a pair of extra-base hits against Green Run in the region semifinals. If he can't play, Tate Roussel (.192) or Kevin Smith (.243) will fill in.
First Colonial is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the state tournament. The Patriots have averaged 11.2 runs in five 1994 postseason games.
Junior lefthander Jamie Booth (7-1, 2.89) will start for the Patriots against righthander Brian Tingen (8-3, 1.11).
Tingen, who has signed with Virginia Commonwealth, has struck out 117 batters in 82 1/3 innings.
``They are a different team with him on the mound,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. by CNB