THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994 TAG: 9406110472
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940611 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Steve Johnson limited the Skyhawks to one run in five innings of staunch relief and leftfielder Brian McLain drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly as the Patriots rallied from 4-0 deficit.
{REST} ``We're a diehard ball team,'' McLain said.
First Colonial (19-7) will play Central Region champion Clover Hill (24-1) Tuesday night at a site to be determined in the Richmond area. The Cavaliers beat Western Branch, 6-2.
First Colonial appeared to be facing certain elimination the way Bird righthander Brian Tingen sailed through the Patriots' batting order on his first try.
Tingen, who has signed with Virginia Commonwealth, might be the best pitcher in the Central Region. But on a night when the strike zone resembled a postage stamp - there were 14 walks, seven by each team - he carried the additional burden of a shakey infield defense.
The Skyhawks (14-10) committed three errors that led to three unearned runs. Just as damaging was a mental mistake by third baseman Shane Fridley with two on and one out in the fourth.
Fridley fielded Tom Horvath's grounder on the edge of the infield grass and instead of throwing directly to first, tried unsuccessfully for the forceout at third and then threw late.
So when Tingen struck out Jason Bozard there were only two outs instead of three.
That gave McLain, a sometime starter who bats ninth, a chance to hit with the bases loaded.
He swung and missed at a fastball, then pulled a slider down the leftfield line to drive in Nate Frost, pinch-running for catcher Ryan Dunbar, and A.T. Vasta with the Patriots' first two runs.
McLain scored to make it 4-3 when shortstop Kevin Atkins booted David Winter's grounder.
First Colonial took the lead with two runs in the fifth. A walk and another error by Atkins two runners on with none out.
Vasta followed with his second hit, a single to right, driving in Brad Tetlow with the tying run. Horvath bunted Frost and Vasta to second and third and Bozard walked, loading the bases for McLain.
``I was just trying to hit it to the right side and get a run in,'' McLain said. ``I got a fastball on the outside corner and took it that way.''
His medium-deep fly to right scored Frost with what turned out to be the winning run.
Johnson took care of the rest. He relieved Jamie Booth with two outs in the top of the second and the score 3-0, a runner on third and a 3-and-2 count on Tingen.
Booth had walked four and allowed two hits.
``Jamie is a finesse pitcher and if he can't get his curveball over he's not effective,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. ``I don't want him on the mound having to throw a fastball.''
Johnson was surprised at the timing of his entrance, but kept his poise. He struck out Tingen with a fastball and appeared to get stronger as the game progressed. Johnson scattered six hits, walked three and struck out eight.
``I was ready to come in at any time, but I thought he'd wait and see if Jamie could get out of it,'' Johnson said. ``After that I just tried to throw strikes.''
by CNB