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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994                    TAG: 9406110474 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940611                                 LENGTH: MIDLOTHIAN, VA.

WESTERN BRANCH ERRORS ELIMINATE BRUINS, 1-0

{LEAD} Western Branch committed an uncharacteristic five errors - six if you count the one coach Chris Ake took credit for - and fell from the Group AAA state softball tournament Friday.

The Bruins were beaten by Midlothian, 1-0, in a steady drizzle on the Trojans' home field in a quarterfinal-round game.

{REST} The most costly error came in the bottom of the fifth. With two out and Midlothian's Kara Smith on third, centerfielder Julie Smith hit a sharp line drive to shortstop Evie Benson, who bobbled the catch and made a wild throw to first. Kara Smith scored easily.

Ake blamed the errors on nerves, and maybe just a little on the drizzle that fell throughout the game.

``My shortstop is usually really steady,'' said Ake. ``It was getting a little slippery out there and it was hard to get a handle on it.

``I think it was a little bit of nerves just being here.''

The Trojans (20-2) will play Great Bridge, a 4-3 winner over Monacan, Tuesday at Princess Anne High School in the semifinals.

The Bruins (19-6) had a chance to tie in the sixth. Calee Morris doubled to left off Nicki Patton bringing up the Bruins' leading hitter Jaci Morris.

Jaci Morris' hit dropped into right field. Calee Morris was rounding third as Shannon Ewan threw the ball to Patton who then tossed the ball to catcher Kelly White for the out.

Ake was certain when Patton cut off the throw to White that Calee Morris would make it home safely.

``I definitely thought it was 1-1 there, or I wouldn't have sent her,'' Ake said. ``She isn't the fastest runner we have, so if I didn't think she was in there I wouldn't have sent her. I guess that was my error. I had one tonight too.''

With two out and none on, the Bruins committed three straight errors to load the bases and set the Trojans up to take the lead in the third.

While everyone else in the infield seemed to have trouble deciding which base to go to for the out, pitcher Nicole Belote, who threw a two-hitter, bailed herself out of the jam when Kara Smith lined to her and she tossed Ewan out at home.

by CNB