THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605190195
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KINSTON, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Matt Quatraro's second home run of the game, a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, broke a tie as ODU defeated James Madison 4-3 in the final of the Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament at Grainger Stadium. The Monarchs won their third straight CAA tournament title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Exhausted on a hot day, Quatraro said he was thinking about just surviving, not about the score, school records or another championship.
``I was just trying to stay on my feet,'' the still-tired senior catcher said afterward. ``I was just trying to get one good swing.''
But that one swing turned out to be the biggest hit of his career.
The Monarchs (39-15), who defeated JMU (34-25) for the third straight year, became only the second team to win three consecutive tournament championships, after East Carolina from 1989-1991.
``That's the best part,'' said Quatraro, whose second shot of the game tied the school's season home run record of 13. ``That rarely happens in any sport at any level.''
This game was a microcosm of the Monarchs' season. One big hit, a few solid innings of relief pitching and a come-from-behind victory was the difference between the championship round being decided in one game instead of two.
``It seems like we've been doing it all year long,'' said Ron Walker, the tournament's most valuable player. ``Everyone chipping in. Everyone doing their job.''
And for the fourth straight contest, Walker did his job late in the game, pitching a scoreless ninth to earn his third straight save. He also picked up the decision in ODU's victory over William and Mary Tuesday evening.
``I didn't want Ronnie to come out there in a tie,'' ODU coach Tony Guzzo said. ``We wanted him out there with the lead.''
John O'Reilly allowed three runs in five innings before giving way to Justin Kreider. The combination of Kreider, Jesse James, Bob Holland and Walker allowed three hits and no runs in four innings.
``Johnny O, on three days rest, goes out there and gets us through the middle of the game,'' Guzzo said. ``And Justin, coming in for a fourth straight game, kept it under control.''
As for Quatraro, just why was he so tired?
For starters, he went 4 for 4 with two RBI and three runs. Along with Walker, he finished the tournament 7 for 14.
``He's one of my favorite players of all time,'' JMU coach Kevin Anderson said. ``He's killed us for four years.''
ODU learns of its destination for the NCAA tournament Monday afternoon. The seedings will be announced on ESPN at 3 p.m. by CNB