THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608211010
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 45 lines
Nashville's Jeff Parsons allowed only two hits Tuesday night to lead his team to a 3-1 win over Coos Bay, Ore. in a loser's bracket game in the 1996 Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series.
The right-hander had a no-hitter for 5 1/3 innings, until Jeremy Freitas singled to right in the last of the sixth to break up Parsons' chance at history.
The loss ends Coos Bay's World Series hopes. Nashville advances to face Hammond, Ind., at 5:30 p.m. today .
He lost his chance for a shutout with two outs in the seventh. Russ Hayes led off the inning with a single. After forcing a ground out that moved Hayes to second, Parson's struck out Rusty Keith. But after getting a third strike on Steve Reed, the pitch got away from catcher Josh Pride. Pride's throw to first hit Reed's helmet and caromed into right field. Reed came in to score to make it 3-1.
Parsons came back to fan John Richards to end the game.
The last no-hitter in the 16-18 year-old World Series came in 1984, when Roger Miller of Sarasota, Fla. accomplished the feat.
``I usually throw the fastball, but in the early innings I went with my curveball,'' Parsons said. ``I went to the fastball in the late innings.''
Parsons did not allow a ball out of the infield until Keith flied to center in the fifth.
``I thought about the no-hitter,'' Parsons said. ``But the most important thing for us was to advance. I didn't pitch as well as I could, but at least we won.''
Parsons threw only 90 pitches in seven innings of work.
Parsons helped his own cause in the opening frame, leading off with a double. Shane Chandler drove him home with another double to left-center, and Nashville led, 1-0.
Two batters later, catcher Josh Pride singled to score Chandler, and Nashville has a 2-0 lead.
The Music City club- named the Shoetiques for their local sponsor - gave Coos Bay starter Derek Wells the boot early. Wells faced only six hitters in the first, allowing two runs on four hits. He was replaced by Russ Hayes. Hayes allowed only one run on two hits in relief.
Nashville scored another run in the fourth when Pride doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. by CNB