THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504050616
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Great Bridge's Mike Oliphant figured that a little extra batting practice couldn't hurt. So Monday evening he rounded up teammates Aaron Sanders and Alton and Sean Todd and went to the local batting cage.
The payoff came quickly.
Oliphant and Sanders homered as the Wildcats' dormant bats awakened Tuesday in a 6-5 victory over Indian River, South Hampton Roads' third-ranked team, at Indian River Middle School.
``We have a lot of hitters with talent,'' Oliphant said. ``We just hadn't hit the ball. Winning today was extremely important. If we'd lost, our morale would have headed downhill.''
Instead, the Wildcats cut the number of unbeaten teams in Southeastern District play to one: Western Branch.
``Nobody's going through this district unbeaten, this year anyway,'' Indian River coach Steve West said. ``Or I don't see it happening. At least we don't have to eat grit for a whole year like we used to when you only played each team once. At least we get to play them again.''
With winds gusting over 20 mph, it was a hitters' day, and Oliphant proved as much with a leadoff home run.
``We knew Indian River hit the ball well,'' said Great Bridge coach Martin Oliver. ``And I told 'em if the pitchers didn't keep the ball down, there'd be a lot of home runs today.''
With the score deadlocked at 3-3, Sanders led off the third with a home run. One batter later, David Bailey came on in relief of Braves starter Eddie Byrum.
Bailey shut down the Wildcats (3-2-1, 2-1-1 Southeastern District) until a case of miscommunication led to two more Great Bridge runs in the fifth.
With two out and runners at second and third, Larry Bowles popped up to shallow right. Byrum, who had moved to second, and rightfielder Adam Vaughan let it fall in for a two-run single and a 6-3 lead.
``That's supposed to be automatic,'' West said. ``That really hurt.''
Indian River (3-2, 3-1) rallied for two runs in the sixth when Oliphant mishandled Duane Barnes' grounder up the middle with the bases loaded to pull within 6-5.
Then in the Braves' half of the seventh, Keith Reynolds singled to center to start the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brent Linhardt.
But Great Bridge's Mike Cuddyer struck out Matt Davis and Vaughan to end the threat. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
GARY C. KNAPP
Indian River's Eddie Byrum slides safely into second, under a
leaping Shaun Todd. Great Bridge won, 6-5, handing the Braves their
first Southeastern District loss.
by CNB