THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040541
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Lake Taylor's baseball team has employed a mix of solid starting pitching, flawless defense and timely hitting to solidify a spot in South Hampton Roads' top-10 baseball poll.
Wednesday afternoon in a key district game at Maury High School, the sixth-ranked Titans used that recipe to construct a two-game lead in the Eastern District.
Pitcher J.T. Hazelette limited Maury to three hits, his defense turned two double plays and the Titans (11-3, 4-0 Eastern) scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning to post a 3-1 victory over Maury.
Maury (10-6, 2-2) struck first when Todd Davidson doubled to the gap in left to drive in Aaron Ambrose, who had walked.
``We walked Ambrose a couple times,'' said Titans catcher Jason Dixon. ``But he's not the kind of guy you want to let beat you with the bat.''
The Commodores appeared to have escaped Lake Taylor's half of the fifth inning when Davidson coaxed David Lambert into grounding to third with two out. But Taylor Blair threw wide to first. Then leftfielder Ricky Hart misplayed Robbie Hale's fly ball, allowing Lake Taylor's first run.
Hazelette followed with a run-scoring single and Dixon capped the rally with a run-scoring triple. Dixon, who doubled to lead off the fourth, finished 2 for 3 with a walk.
``We're just a scrappy bunch of people,'' Dixon said. ``You can't give us four outs in an inning and expect to win.'' by CNB