THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 15, 1994 TAG: 9408150367
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HOPEWELL LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
After the first two games between Post 280 Greenbrier and Post 54 Bedford produced 46 runs on 60 hits, everyone expected Sunday's game between the two in the American Legion state championship to be a slugfest.
It didn't happen. At least not at the plate.
All of the action was on the mound, as Post 280's David Ellyson and Post 54's Brandon Inge faced off in a winner-take-all contest. Both notched complete games, but Inge came out on top in the pitcher's duel as Bedford scratched out a 2-1 win at Hopewell High.
``I wasn't really surprised with the score, because it's been a long tournament. Everyone was getting pretty tired,'' said Post 280 manager Gary Lavelle.
Ellyson held Bedford to just seven hits and one earned run. The deciding run was unearned.
``He has a lot of heart. He's a battler and he'll give 100 percent no matter how he feels,'' said Lavelle.
``He threw an excellent ballgame.''
Bedford (30-1) struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second. David Olah and Patrick Muncher singled to open the inning, and both advanced on a groundout. Post 54 catcher Vince Whorley caught Greenbrier's defense off guard, laying down a perfect squeeze bunt back to the pitcher that allowed Olah to score.
Post 280 (24-4) wasn't behind for long. In the top of the third, Mike Hoskins stroked a one-out double into the leftfield corner, the game's only extra-base hit. Inge got Shawn O'Dell to pop out to short before Linhardt tied the game with a single to left.
Ellyson was the victim of bad luck, and bad fielding, in the fourth. Jerry Padgett led off with a single, and moved to second on a throwing error by third baseman Matt Harden. With Muncher at the plate, Ellyson delivered a pitch that Hoskins let slip past him and to the backstop, allowing Padgett to advance to third.
Muncher's sacrifice fly two pitches later drove home the winning run for Bedford.
Post 280 had its chances to come back, but Inge, who was named the tournament MVP, held Greenbrier at arm's length. Post 280 had two runners on with no outs in the fifth and sixth innings yet failed to score, and put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the ninth.
Every Post 280 starter except Harden had a hit. Whorley and Greenbrier's Derek Riebel were the only players with two hits.
After the game, Hoskin's was named the Paddy Smith Sportsmanship Award winner.
Post 54 Bedford 2, Post 280 Greenbrier 1 Post 280 Greenbrier001 000 000 - 1 11 3
Post 54 Bedford010 100 00x - 2 7 0
Ellyson and Hoskins; Inge and Whorley, Olah (8). W-Inge (8-1). L-Ellyson (6-1). ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Post 280 third baseman Matt Harden misses a line drive during the
American Legion Championship on Sunday.
by CNB