THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996               TAG: 9607270393
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   66 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** In an American Legion baseball story Saturday, Michael Costa of the West All-Star team was incorrectly identified. And Bernie Williams is not from Catholic, as previously reported, and Steve Cooley's first name was incorrect. Correction published Monday, July 29, 1996 on page C10 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** TEAMMATES LEAD EAST TO AMERICAN LEGION VICTORY

Some American Legion players Friday afternoon got a chance to do two things they normally wouldn't during the season: play in a professional ballpark and beat a team that includes players from undefeated Post 280 Chesapeake.

Post 110 Virginia Beach teammates Jay Doll and Keith Cooley both knocked in two runs in the fourth inning to rally the East all-star team past their West counterparts, 5-2 before a smattering of fans at Harbor Park.

``It's an honor to be here. This is the stuff dreams are made of,'' said Doll, a rising senior at Tallwood. ``Getting the RBI double was just a dream come true.''

The dream was more a nightmare for the West squad, which lost a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth The lead came from no-hit innings from Nick James and John Curtice of Post 280 and Post 310's Robert Jones.

Travis Evans (Post 113 Virginia Beach) struck out, but advanced to first on a passed ball. Brian Evans then reached on an error. A hit batsman loaded the bases for Doll, who then doubled in two runs. Cooley then delivered a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-1.

In the top of the fifth, Ryan McFadden (Post 327 Pro Motors) singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Otis Jones (Post 310 Churchland) to make the score 4-2.

Any hopes of a rally were ended in the bottom half of the fifth when Catholic's Bernie Williams scored on a Robbie Robinson hit. Williams had advanced from first to third on an overthrown pickoff throw.

For the players, the site of the game was as big a deal as the game itself.

``Most of the Legion parks feel really small, but when you come out here - boom!,'' Cooley said. ``It's just so big.''

It also gives the West players a slight psychological advantage for the upcoming playoffs in winning against players from Post 280, which finished the American Legion season with a perfect record.

STATE LITTLE LEAGUE: District 6 champion Churchland and District 8 winner Plaza will be the local representatives in the state Little League Majors (11-12 years old) baseball tournament, which begins this morning at Olive Branch.

The 15-team, double-elimination tournament starts at 10 a.m. with Plaza playing the District 11 champion. Seven other games are on tap in today's opening round. Churchland, the host team, does not play until 10 a.m. Sunday when it plays the Plaza-District 11 game winner.

The tournament champion advances to the Southern Region tournament Aug. 8 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Plaza Little League will be the site for the Southern Region, Division 4 Big League softball and baseball tournaments this weekend. State champions from North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina will be participating. Games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. today and Sunday. by CNB