THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607260224
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 92 lines
HYMAN'S AUTO SALES and the HiTides kicked off the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation adult softball playoffs last week, with Hyman's eking out a 19-16 victory over the archrival HiTides in the men's A division championship game.
Other divisions are expected to hold their title games this week.
Hyman's and the HiTides tied in the final standings with 16-4 records, but Hyman's was awarded the division's automatic berth to the 15th annual Tidewater Softball Championships by defeating the HiTides three out of four times during the season.
Despite it's regular-season title, Hyman's found itself battling out of the loser's bracket after forfeiting a game early in the tournament. That meant Hyman's had to beat the HiTides twice last Tuesday to gain the trophy.
Hyman's assured itself of at least a chance by blasting the HiTides 27-7 in the opener.
Hyman's came out strong, scoring 13 runs in the top of the first inning, as 18 batters went to the plate for 11 hits.
``We're a base-hitting team and have been all year,'' coach Bruce Pearl said.
The HiTides were behind 26-4 after three innings and the contest ended in five innings on the 12-run mercy rule.
The nightcap was more befitting a title contest, and it was the HiTides who took the early lead.
In the first, the HiTides ended a Hyman's rally with a one-out double play which seemed to bring some much needed life into the team as it took the offensive side of the inning. There, the HiTides got a one-out homer from John Brogan and a base hit by Vince Trypuc, who eventually scored on Ronnie Norton's sacrifice fly.
While it was only a 2-0 lead, it was a far cry from the first game.
``You could tell there was more desire in their eyes. . .more want,'' HiTides coach Art Hubbard said of his team.
HiTides took a 4-3 lead into the fourth inning, when Hyman's had another explosive at-bat - scoring 10 runs on 10 hits for a 13-4 lead. Hyman's scored seven of those runs with two outs - helped in part on home runs by Chris Tomlinson and Earlie West.
In the bottom of the sixth, the HiTides rallied to close the gap to 15-8. The HiTides got four hits, including Hubbard's two-run homer.
But Hyman's responded with four runs of its own in the top of the seventh, leaving the HiTides needing a miraculous comeback.
And they almost got it.
The HiTides opened with two base hits and a double before Trypuc crushed a three-run homer.
Another homer and a pair of Hyman's errors helped the HiTides close to 19-16. Then, with two outs and two on, the HiTides found themselves at the top of the order.
But the HiTides were unable to get another runner in and Hyman's escaped with the championship.
``We were poised, right where you'd want to be,'' Hubbard said. ``But we just couldn't get the key hits all night long.''
For Hyman's, it was the fifth victory out of six tries over the HiTides.
``There are certain teams that certain years they just seem to own you,'' Hubbard said. ``And this year (Hyman's) owned us.''
For the game, Hyman's hit just under .600.
``That's about where we've been all year,'' Pearl said. ``Those games were typical of the way we played all year.''
Hyman's was led by Shelby Brooks and West - who both were 7-of-9. Scott Bigby, the team's leading hitter during the season, was 7-of-10.
The rest of the Beach championships are scheduled to conclude this week, barring any more of the rain that has caused so many delays. Men's B and D divisions are slated for Tuesday, with the C division set for Wednesday. Women's finals will either be Wednesday or Thursday. The church finals are set for Thursday.
Coed championships in competitive and recreation divisions will be held a week from Monday.
The 15th annual Tidewater Softball Championships are back at the Beach this season - with quarterfinals and semifinals set for Aug. 6-7, and championships in four divisions Friday, Aug. 9. All games will be played at Princess Anne Park.
In the format, the top two teams from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth, in divisions for men, women, coed and church, meet for area bragging rights.
Also on Friday, at 6:30 p.m., the Tidewater Senior Athletic Association will hold its over-50 championship the evening of title games. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Scott Bigby, one of the leading hitters on the Hyman's Auto Sales
team, heads to first base in a game against the HiTides.
One of the top hitters on the Hyman's Auto Sales adult softball team
is Shelby Brooks who was 7-of-9 in the championship play. Other
leading hitters were . Earlie West, also 7-of-9 and Scott Bigby, the
team's leading hitter during the season, who was 7-of-10. by CNB