THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290465
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
If good hitting is contagious, Green Run has the fever.
Seven Stallions hammered extra-base hits Friday as Green Run, South Hampton Roads' second-ranked boys baseball team, toppled top-ranked First Colonial, 11-3. The victory assured a new No. 1 team when the new area poll is released Tuesday.
The Stallions (11-0 overall, 8-0 in the Beach District) erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to break up what had been a pitchers' duel between lefthanders Chris Elmore of Green Run and Jamie Booth of First Colonial.
``The whole year, First Colonial had been ranked No. 1, which they deserved,'' Green Run coach Jeff Ballance said. ``But we felt we were just as good . . . or better.''
The Stallions' David Abbott opened the bottom half of the fourth with a double down the leftfield line. John Defere then reached base when he drilled a line drive off Booth's foot that bounded to the left of shortstop David Winter, whose off-balance throw sailed over first base.
Chip Basnight followed with a triple to right, and Elmore doubled to the gap in right to give the Stallions a 4-1 lead.
After Booth was pulled from the game, Jason Healey welcomed relief pitcher Steve Johnson with a ground-rule double to the gap in left. Defere added a double later in the inning to cap the scoring explosion as the Stallions batted around.
Gene Mugler and Ed McInnis also had doubles for the Stallions, who have pounded 18 extra-base hits in three games this week.
``We knew this week was big,'' Abbott said. ``Coach put a lot of emphasis on the week's first two games (against Bayside and Kempsville).
``We couldn't take them lightly, and if we'd lost either of those games it would have taken some of the edge off this one. This way, we proved who's No. 1. We've got legitimate sticks all the way through our lineup.''
It was the defending Beach District champions' fourth consecutive victory over the Patriots, who won the state Group AAA title two years ago and advanced to the state semifinals last season, despite losing three times to the Stallions.
``I was very impressed with the way Green Run swung the bats,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. ``And I was impressed with Chris Elmore.''
Elmore didn't necessarily silence First Colonial (11-1, 7-1). The University of North Carolina signee gave up six hits, one more than the total he had allowed in his previous four games.
But the eight-run outburst, coming in front of a crowd of about 500 at Plaza Little League, was just the type of 18th birthday present Elmore had hoped to receive.
``I wanted at least three runs to give me some margin for error,'' said Elmore, who ran his record as a senior to 5-0. ``Ya know, I'd hate to pitch against my team. We are hitting the mess out of the ball.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Joseph John Kotlowski, Staff
Green Run players celebrate Friday's victory. A poll Tuesday will
name the area's new No. 1 team.
by CNB