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

DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996                 TAG: 9607280248
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C11  EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE SCHLOFF, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   57 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Plaza Little League player Chris Barnes is 12. An incorrect age was in a Sunday story. Also, the Little League distance between home plate and pitching mound is 46 feet, not 44 as reported. Correction published Monday, July 29, 1996 on page C10 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** PLAZA WINS 7-0 TO SET UP SHOWDOWN TODAY AGAINST CHURCHLAND

For District 8 champion Plaza, the Little League World Series got one day closer after beating District 11 champion Tazewell 7-0 at Olive Branch Saturday.

Plaza, who finished fourth in last year's championship, was led by Chris Barnes, who struck out nine in six innings, and Eric Rivera, who scored three runs and stole four bases.

``These kids work harder than we do,'' said Plaza coach Dan Abrams. ``They gave it their all.''

This is the first time since man landed on the moon that the Virginia State Little League tournament has been held at Olive Branch.

When the first tournament started there were only four districts. By 1970, the state championship grew to 15.

``The biggest difference in these kids and the ones back then are their sizes, said John Pyron, a state tournament official and one of the first organizers of the tournament.

``The average kid out there today is 5-foot-8.

Plaza's Barnes, 11, who beats Pyron's normal standard by one inch at 5-9, and not to mention 150 pounds, also contributed a bunt single bloop in the fourth.

When the first state tournament action started in 1956, the pitching mound was 35 feet from home plate. Today it's 44.

``It'snice to get these kids together'', said Pyron. ``They are good kids and very good players. I'll bet at least ten of them can hit one over the wall.''

Only Cramer and Hatton came close to hitting one over the wall. They both smacked a double apiece.

``We put them in the right direction,''said Abrams.

Plaza will take on District 6 winner Churchland at 10 a.m.

Churchland, which had a first round bye, is more than anxious to get started.

``These kids are ready,'' said Abrams. ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN\The Virginian-Pilot

Plaza's Paul Hatton gets in with a stolen base Saturday as

Tazewell's Mark Strong can't get the tag down. by CNB