THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120310
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
It's a fact: Pitching wins baseball games, even when your hitting has gone sour.
The Camden County baseball team proved that last week with a 4-0 win over Northeastern in the first round of the Albemarle Area Easter Baseball Tournament.
Doug Leary and Northeastern's Chris Perry battled each other on the mound for five innings. Perry had a no-hitter going into the fifth, but when he tired and began walking batters, Camden scored three runs with just one hit. When Leary tired in the sixth, Tom Ott closed the door for Camden.
In the sixth inning, Perry walked Kevin Dodson, Mike Ott and Ryan Allen. With one out, Nick Williams had Camden's lone hit, a bloop single to left that fell out of reach of the drawn-in infield. Williams scored Dodson. Tom Ott and Robbie Chesson both drew walks to drive in the other two runs.
Camden scored a run in the third without a hit. Brian Gamet led off the inning by reaching base on an error by Northeastern third baseman John Helms. Gamet moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brad Johnson and reached third on a wild pitch by Perry. After Leary was walked, Perry balked home Gamet on a pickoff attempt at first base.
Meanwhile, Leary allowed base runners, but always got away clean. In the first inning, Aaron Soodek smacked a two-out single through the left side of the infield, but Leary coaxed John Helms to fly out to center.
In the Northeastern third, Leary walked Donavon Whitehurst to open the inning. Whitehurst was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by B.J. Huggins. Leary then struck out Perry and walked Kent Alexander. But Leary got Soodek to ground out to end a potential rally.
In the fourth, Leary was saved by a great play in the outfield. Darris Adams whacked a one-out single. Northeastern's Toby Lewis followed with a long drive to center. Williams raced back and caught the ball with his back against the fence. Justin Burk kept the inning alive with a bloop single over short, but once again, Leary pitched out of trouble by forcing Whitehurst to ground out.
The Eagles had their best chance to score in the fifth. With two outs, Leary hit Alexander with a pitch. Alexander stole second and moved to third on an infield single by Aaron Soodek. But Leary got John Helms to fly out to right to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Leary hit Northeastern's Tyronne Harper with a pitch and was yanked from the game by Camden head coach Billy Cannon. In came Ott, who proceeded to pick Harper off first base after two pitches. Ott then hit Lewis with a pitch, got Burk to fly out to right, and walked Whitehurst. With two outs, the count 3-2, and runners on first and second moving on the pitch, Ott struck out Huggins to end the inning.
In the Northeastern seventh, Ott struck out the side to preserve the win.
Cannon said that his pitching staff has thrown well all year, getting the Bruins off to an 8-2 start.
``Nine out of 10 outings we've had the pitching,'' Cannon said.
``Doug did an outstanding job, and Tom came in and closed the door.''
Cannon knows a good pitching performance when he sees one.
``Credit Perry,'' he said. ``He threw a heck of a game. He's tough.'' by CNB