THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050255
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 38 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The Camden County High School baseball team has performed well on a ``blood and guts'' principle this season. But heart can only carry you so far. Northeastern High School gave the Bruins a reality check this past Wednesday.
The 1A Bruins downed the 4A Eagles 8-7 in eight innings in a previous matchup this season. On Wednesday, the Northeastern bats came alive as the Eagles swatted Camden 16-6.
Before the Bruins knew what happened, Northeastern scored five runs and batted around in the first inning. The opening frame was highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles by John Helms and Justin Burk off starting pitcher Kevin Dodson.
In the second, the Eagles added three more on RBI singles Jerrell Carver and Darius Adams, and a run scoring ground out by Helms.
Trailing 8-1, Camden cut the Northeastern lead in half in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Dodson, and run-scoring singles by Tom Ott and Brian Gamet.
The Eagles countered with a pair in the third off Camden reliever Ryan Allen when Darius Adams smacked a two-run double down the left field line.
Camden took advantage of a Northeastern error for a run in the top of the fourth, but again, the Eagles countered with three more in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Robert Pippen drove in a run with a ground out. Carver drove in a run with a 310-foot fly ball. Adams drove in another run with a single to center.
Helms ended the game for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run double to the gap in left center.
Northeastern head coach David Brinson said Northeastern wanted to atone for the earlier loss to the Bruins.
``They showed a little pride in themsleves today,'' Brinson said. ``They are neighbors and you sure hate to get on the short end of it.''
Despite beating a 1A school in a non-conference game, Brinson said every win is a big one for his young team.
``We start two freshman and three sophomores,'' he said. ``Every win moves us along. It teaches the young kids how to win.''
Billy Cannon, Camden head coach, gave credit to the Northeastern offense.
``It was one of those days that when you put your bat on the ball, you're going to find a hole,'' he said. ``They just found more than we did.''
Camden has some injury woes which could hurt during the Albemarle Conference stretch run. Pitcher Doug Leary cannot pitch the rest of the season due to an arm injury.
Cannon will have to rely on freshman Tom Ott and Dodson the rest of the way.
``Leary was one of our top two pitchers,'' Cannon said. ``There is no way we are going to get by without that hurting us.''
If Camden is to stay in the race for a shot at the Albemarle Conference title and a position in the 1A state playoffs, it will have to dig deeper into the blood and guts. by CNB