THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504270162
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Several baseball teams in the Albemarle area have survived on great pitching so far this season. Add Camden County High School to that list.
The Bruins jumped out to a 10-6 record earlier this week with a 9-1 win over Albemarle School. What's more significant is that the Bruins were 6-1 in the Albemarle Conference and tied for first place with perennial powerhouse Williamston.
The win over Albemarle, although a non-conference game, was typical for Camden. Kevin Dodson, Tom Ott and Brian Gamet combined on the mound for a one-hitter. Dodson, the starter, struck out the side in the first inning and forced three groundouts in the third inning. Ott entered the game in the sixth inning and proceeded to strike out the side. The lone Colts' hit was a leadoff bloop single by Jason Denscombe, who reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Terrence Winslow and moved to third on a groundout by Ryan Cooper. But Dodson struck out Aaron Hale to leave Denscombe stranded.
Leading 1-0 after an RBI single by Dodson in the first, the Bruins struck for four runs in the second inning with some hits and some shoddy fielding by the Colts. Rob Chesson led off the inning with a walk by starting pitcher Drew Woodard. Eric Chesson followed with a bunt that catcher Clay Cooper bobbled for an error. Jason Staples also bunted and Woodard threw the ball away, allowing Rob Chesson to score. Ryan Allen drove in Eric Chesson with a groundout and Brad Johnson and Ott both drove in runs with singles.
The Bruins have played well all year despite losing one of their best players, Mike Ott, to a broken ankle the third game of the season. Ott was the Bruins' third pitcher. The youngsters have had to take up the slack. Brother Tom, a freshman, is 4-0 with three saves on the mound. Sophomore Kevin Dodson is 4-2 on the hill. Doug Leary has also pitched well, but will probably not pitch the rest of the season after an arm injury in the local Easter tournament.
Camden pitching proved it could hold down the best team in the area twice. Currituck, which opened the season with a long winning streak, had two of its toughest challenges against Camden. The Knights won both games, 2-1 and 4-3.
Camden head coach Billy Cannon said his young team has won with determination to go along with the pitching.
``Our strongest asset is our attitude,'' Cannon said. ``We work hard every day. Our pitching has carried us. We've hit just well enough to win.''
Cannon is starting just one senior, Jason Staples at second base. He wasn't sure where his team stood when the season started.
``When you're starting two freshmen and three sophomores you're full of question marks,'' he said, ``and you don't know how they are going to respond. Usually it takes those freshmen a year or two to adjust.''
The Bruins have more than responded and adjusted. by CNB