THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100652
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Pitching, hitting and defense all came together for Cox Thursday, as the second-ranked Falcons routed No. 1 First Colonial 8-2 at Cox.
The victory boosted Cox (14-1, 11-1) into a first-place Beach District tie with the Patriots (13-3, 11-1), and avenged the Falcons' only defeat, a 4-3 extra-innings setback April 11.
``This was the game of the year for Cox High School,'' coach John Ingram said. ``We've been the poor neighborhood stepchildren around here for years . today.''
Cox banged out 12 hits in support of ace Jason Dubois (6-0). Dubois, who had three of the hits himself, allowed the First Colonial only four.
The junior righthander heaped the praise upon his defense, particularly leftfielder Scott Magnuson and third baseman Aaron Strausbaugh.
``First Colonial's team is stacked, top to bottom,'' Dubois said. ``You just try to make good pitches and let the guys behind you take care of the rest. That's what they're there for.''
Magnuson made a pair of circus catches, including a diving backhanded stab in the first inning to rob Ryan Dunbar of extra bases.
Strausbaugh did a dead-on Brooks Robinson impression by turning in three gold-star plays and ending the game with a backhand spear of a line drive.
Strausbaugh was also the Falcons' hitting star, going 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.
``He's a stud, no question about it,'' Ingram said.
The Falcons got to First Colonial starter Ed Manley early, as J.T. Tignor's two-run double keyed a three-run second inning.
The Falcons, mindful of the fact that the Patriots rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win the first meeting - ``I didn't even think about having this game won until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh,'' Strausbaugh said - tacked on three more in the fourth.
Two innings later, Cox chased Manley (5-1) when Dubois doubled and scored on Strausbaugh's homer.
First Colonial scored single runs in the third and fourth, the second coming on a Dunbar homer.
``They're a definite state contender,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. ``And you'd better bring your best club when you play them.'' by CNB