THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 6, 1995 TAG: 9505060447
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Churchland High pitcher Robert Jones took an already tight Southeastern District baseball race and stuck it in a vice Friday afternoon.
The lefthander limited Western Branch, South Hampton Roads' third-ranked team, to two hits and struck out nine as Churchland downed the visiting Bruins, 4-0, to knock Western Branch out of first place in the district.
Coupled with Great Bridge's 2-1 victory over Indian River, the Truckers (7-6 overall, 6-2 Southeastern) moved into a second-place tie in the loss column with Western Branch (14-3, 9-2).
Great Bridge (11-4-1, 7-1-1) leads the district, while Indian River (10-6, 7-3) is fourth, 1 1/2 games behind the leader in the loss column.
Western Branch could only manage a first-inning single up the middle by Nick Ardagna and an infield single by Jeff Leiker in the sixth against Jones.
``Two scratch singles,'' Western Branch coach Jim Stanko said. ``I don't know how many strikeouts Jones had, but he was tough today. And we didn't help ourselves.''
The Bruins committed six errors. But the Truckers weren't able to capitalize in the first three innings, stranding seven runners.
The fourth inning, however, was all Churchland.
Chris Kelley ripped a double to straight-away center and Otis Jones followed with a looping double down the rightfield line. Kelley scored on rightfielder Eric Beaver's wild throw to third.
Aaron Bailey followed with his first high school career home run, a two-run shot to right-center off Western Branch starting pitcher Dale Goodrich.
Gary Denette followed with a single, went to third on a wild pickoff attempt by Goodrich, then scored on an errant throw to third by first baseman Doug Brennan to make it 4-0.
Jones then retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. by CNB