THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9506300283
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 31 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DWIGHT FOXX, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Chesapeake Post 280 pitcher Dave Ellyson took his start against defending state American Legion champion Bedford Post 54 personally.
When the two teams met last year for the state title, Bedford defeated Ellyson and Post 280 on its way to a berth in the American Legion World Series in Pennsylvania.
Ellyson knew going into the contest that he couldn't be nervous and timid like he was in last year's game. Bedford can sense when you're scared and feed off it the pitcher explained.
The rising Norfolk State sophomore was more than up for the challenge as he allowed no earned runs in five innings of work and Chesapeake ended Bedford's 40-game regular-season winning streak with a 3-1 win in a rain-shortened contest Sunday afternoon at Trant Memorial Field in Virginia Beach.
Bedford manager Kenny Clay said his team had not lost a regular-season contest since 1993.
Ironically, the first loss Bedford (2-1) suffered last year was to Post 280 in the state tournament in Colonial Heights. Bedford finished 38-4 last year, losing once in the Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament and two one-run games in the American Legion World Series.
Ellyson, who pitched five innings, allowing five hits, one walk, one run (unearned) and struck out two, was pleasantly surprised that he had ended a 40-game regular-season winning streak.
``I didn't know that,'' the wide-eyed 18-year-old said. ``I just tried to relax and hit my spots. They'll eat you up if you're tense. Even though this wasn't a district game, I wanted to beat them. It was a personal thing.''
The game was called in the bottom of the fifth due to rain with Post 280 having scored one run to extend its lead to 3-1. Daryn Bettis was on second base with one out when the umpires stopped the game.
The second game was postponed as well.
Both Ellyson and Post 280 manager John Knight said the game was crucial for a team that was 4-4 and at times has played with a ``big head.''
``They seemed to have come together today (Sunday),'' Knight said. ``Ellyson pitched today like he did last year. Today, he seemed to be in his rhythm and was hitting his spots.
``Their pride's been hurt; like when we lost a doubleheader last Saturday at Nansemond River. They're taking it (the games) more seriously.''
Ellyson said losing to an underdog Churchland team might have been the right medicine to get Chesapeake back on track as far as challenging for a district title and a possible state title as well.
``We've been playing with the big head,'' Ellyson said. ``Churchland surprised us. We thought they were going to lay down for us. It was good that they beat us. Now, we're back focused and playing together.''
Twice Post 280 ended Bedford scoring threats with inning-ending double plays and scored its first two runs with timely, two-out hits.
Mike Oliphant scored Brian Anderson with a two-out single in the bottom of the second and Eddie Gosman drove home Darren Bettis with a two-out base hit in the third.
``We've been using the hit-and-run a lot more lately,'' Knight said. ``That's been forcing them to swing the bats a little more. If it works, they can reap the benefits. If it doesn't work, they can blame the coach.''
Clay said with a little luck the two teams could meet in the state tournament in 1995. Bedford will host the state tournament this year.
He admitted that coming to Hampton Roads was a wasted trip from a baseball standpoint. Post 54 was scheduled to play Princess Anne Post 113 Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader but the games were rained out.
An attempt to play Saturday night at Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk was also unsuccessful. So to play only one game instead of four was disappointing, particularly when Legion 18-man rosters were due by Monday.
Clay had hoped to use the games to make his final roster decisions.
``But as far as camaraderie was concerned it was great,'' the second-year manager said. ``That was one of the points we wanted to make coming down here. We didn't get to go to the beach because we were trying to get some games scheduled. We stayed around the hotel getting antsy. Yesterday (Saturday), was a totally wasted day.'' by CNB