THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300468
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Granby baseball coach Vince Zebro wasn't about to hit the panic button after his team's 0-2 start.
On Wednesday, the Comets' Frank Thompson made sure Zebro had no further immediate reason to worry.
Thompson went 3-for-3, including a mammoth two-run home run in the fifth inning, and pitched the final three innings in relief as Granby, ranked No. 6 in South Hampton Roads, posted a 6-3 victory over previously unbeaten and fourth-ranked Churchland.
``He's key,'' Zebro said. ``And that might be one of the farthest balls I've seen hit here.''
Thompson, who began the game in leftfield, relieved starter Ryan McFadden after McFadden gave up a leadoff walk to begin the fifth. The Truckers (2-1) were able to scratch out a run in their half to cut Granby's lead to 3-2.
Then the lefthanded Thompson hit a 410-foot shot to right-center with a man on in Granby's half of the inning.
``I wanted a little bit more of a lead to work with,'' said Thompson, who had a two-run down the rightfield line in the first.
Thompson's heroics overshadowed an otherwise sterling day at the plate by Churchland's Dale Heely, who went 3-for-3 and drove in all three Churchland runs. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Granby's Ryan McFadden has the ball, but Aaron Bailey of Churchland
beat the play and was safe at second in the Comets' 6-3 win. Granby
came into the game ranked No. 6 in South Hampton Roads; Churchland
was previously unbeaten and fourth-ranked.
by CNB