THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250636
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Although the game meant little on paper, the Western Branch and Great Bridge softball teams played like it meant the world.
Because both teams were assured berths in the upcoming Eastern Region tournament, the outcome of Southeastern District championship decided nothing but area bragging rights. In that respect, the No. 1 Bruins came out on top, rallying in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat No. 4 Great Bridge, 3-2, Wednesday at Indian River High School.
The Wildcats (17-4) went ahead, 2-0, in the second. Emily Ouzts and Elizabeth Bain hit back-to-back singles and advanced on a groundout. Kelly Black drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly, and Bain scored on a wild pitch.
Western Branch (18-4) cut the lead in half with an unearned run in the third inning.
After Wildcats pitcher Denise Wack struck out pinch-hitter Tara Stephens to open the seventh, Sarah Wolf started the rally with a bouncer to second that handcuffed Black for a base hit. Wolf moved to second on Nicole Belote's seeing-eye single to short, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Jaci Morris followed with a grounder to second. Black fielded the ball cleanly and threw home, but Wolf already had crossed the plate to tie the game at 2.
Catcher Angie Albertson drove in the game-winner with a chopper to short as Belote touched the plate ahead of the tag of catcher Marni Magyar.
Belote (16-3) scattered five hits over seven innings for the victory and went 2 for 3 at the plate.
The Bruins will play the winner of the Beach District tournament in the opening round of the Eastern Region quarterfinals on Monday at Princess Anne Park. Great Bridge will face Princess Anne, the Beach District regular-season champions.
Sussex Central 18, New Kent 0: Undefeated Sussex Central won the Tri-Rivers District softball tournament championship Wednesday as Denise Reagan pitched a five-inning one-hitter to improve to 17-0. LaTaya Hilliard was 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Tigers' 12-hit attack. Sussex Central (18-0) will host Northampton in the Class A, Region A tournament at 3 p.m. Monday. New Kent also advances and will visit Nandua on Monday.
Nandua 4, Northampton 3: With the score tied and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chris White scored on a wild pitch to give Nandua the Eastern Shore championship. by CNB