THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504020175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
The Western Branch Invitational showed the host school a bit of fine-tuning is in order if the Bruins plan on contending for a Group AAA state title.
Chantilly, on the other hand, appears to be ready right now.
The 1994 Northern Region champion Chargers stamped themselves as one of the frontrunners for state honors by outdueling the Bruins, 4-1, in a matchup of 1994 Group AAA state tournament quarterfinalists Saturday in the Western Branch Invitational final.
The Chargers (6-0) surrendered only one run over their final 16 innings of the two-day tournament. That streak included an 18-0 pummelling of 1994 state champion Midlothian in Friday's semifinals.
``I think (a title) is a realistic goal,'' Chantilly coach Kathy Matthew said. ``Our main goal is getting to the state tournament. That's what we're really focused on.''
Western Branch coach Chris Ake conceived this tournament with the intention of getting an idea of where her Bruins stood against quality opposition.
The verdict: They must shore up defensively and produce more timely hitting.
Western Branch made three errors in the final, the first of which led the the Chargers' first run.
``We made some mistakes we shouldn't have made,'' Ake said.
The defensive lapses undermined the solid pitching of Bruins' starter Nicole Belote, who held the Chargers to four hits.
But the Bruins (4-3) countered with just four hits of their own off Chantilly's Fauna Lackovic and failed to deliver with runners in scoring position.
``We just didn't put the bat on the ball,'' Western Branch catcher Angie Albertson said.
Albertson was one of the prime offenders. After going 7 for 7 in two games Friday, the senior catcher went hitless in three at-bats in the final and stranded four baserunners.
The Bruins got their lone run in the second inning when Calee Morris tripled and scored on a passed ball.
Chantilly took a 2-1 lead into the sixth, then broke the game open on Kristina Orr's two-run single.
``It would have been nice to win this tournament, but what we do down the line is more important,'' Ake said. by CNB