THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080587
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Forget psychic hot lines. For a real peek into the future, try contacting First Colonial's Jason Bozard.
The Patriots' rightfielder predicted that he'd hit two home runs, then delivered a pair of mammoth round-trippers Wednesday to lead visiting First Colonial past Mills Godwin, 9-7, in the Group AAA state baseball quarterfinals.
The home runs were part of a 4-for-4, three-RBI day for Bozard, who had hit only two home runs in the Patriots' first 26 games.
``I'm not a power hitter, but I called those home runs tonight,'' Bozard said. ``On the bus ride up here, I told everyone I was going to hit two home runs.''
The victory moved First Colonial (24-3) into the state semifinals, where it will meet Green Run for the fifth time this season at 7 p.m. Friday at Old Dominion. The Stallions have won three of the four meetings.
Bozard boldly offered more prognostication, this time regarding the rematch with the Stallions.
``I'll say we're going to have a 3-2 record against Green Run after Friday,'' he said. ``If I can call two home runs, I can call anything.''
Bozard wasn't the only Patriot wielding a hot bat Wednesday. Catcher Ryan Dunbar also blasted a home run and the Eastern Region runners-up cranked out 10 hits off three Mills Godwin pitchers.
The hitting explosion offset an uncharacteristally rocky outing by First Colonial ace Jamie Booth. The senior southpaw (10-1) came in with a 1.05 ERA but surrendered all seven runs on seven hits.
He also walked seven and uncorked two wild pitches in a six-inning, 124-pitch effort.
``You don't score seven runs on Jamie Booth, I don't care who you are,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. ``But when you play in a different region with different umpires, you have to make the adjustments. We didn't adjust, and we're very fortunate to get out of here with a win.''
Expectations of a pitchers' duel between Booth and Mills Godwin starter Adam Taylor (3-1) were shattered early as Bozard, the second batter of the game, lined a shot well over the 343-foot sign in straightaway center.
The Eagles answered with a run in their half of the first, but the Patriots batted around in second, scoring five times.
The Eagles closed to within two with three unearned runs in the second, but First Colonial extended its lead to 8-4 in the fourth on Winters' RBI triple and a Bozard RBI single.
Mills Godwin had cut the lead to 8-7 in the sixth when Bozard drilled his second home run over the 350-foot sign in left-center.
``I think that deflated their confidence a little,'' he said.
First Colonial closer Steve Johnson came on in the seventh and retired the Eagles in order after giving up a leadoff double to pick up his third save. by CNB