THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 24, 1996 TAG: 9608260368
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 60 lines
The undefeated kids from California and the once-beaten Tennesseans from Music City will battle at 1:30 today for the 16-18 Babe Ruth World Series championship.
Both Alacosta, Calif., and Nashville scored easy triumphs on television in Friday's semifinals to move into the final game of the eight-day tournament, which matches nine teams from across the country.
Today's title game also will be televised, on Home Team Sports.
Nashville advanced with home runs by Mike Parsley and Donnie Ross and Jeff Parsons' three-hit shutout that eliminated Iron Area, N.J., 11-0.
Iron Area also was the loser in the first semifinal game of the double-elimination tournament. They were hammered 12-2 by the Tri-City Tigers of Alacosta.
Nashville stuck to the same script it has followed since falling into the loser's bracket - score early, pitch and play defense.
The Southeast regional champs wasted no time getting on the board. With Ross at second, Kyle Thomas singled, and it was 1-0, Nashville.
That was all the team needed.
Iron Area, which committed five errors in the loss to Alacosta, struggled with the glove against Nashville, too. A two-out error by shortstop Ian Magley allowed Eric King to score, and Nashville led, 2-0.
Parsley's slam in the third put the game away. A one-out single by Josh Pride and a walk to Thomas set the stage for Parsley's three-run shot to right, making it 5-0. Iron Area starter Shaun Stokes threw his glove in disgust and left the game after the homer.
``The first time I went up there, he threw six fastballs right by me,'' Parsley said. ``I went up there looking for a fastball. He threw one out over the plate, and I jumped on it.''
Things were no better for Iron Area reliever Chris Pieklo. Brandon Jaggers and Jason Adams had RBIs in the fourth, and Thomas drove in his second run as Nashville sent nine hitters to the plate. The lead ballooned to 8-0.
Then in the fifth, with one out, Charlie Phillips was hit by a pitch. Ross picked up the second home run for Nashville to make it 10-0. The blast went directly over the 360-foot sign in centerfield, and bounced on a concession stand roof.
The hit parade continued in the sixth. Grant Martin singled and scored on a Jaggers' double.
Parsons was on cruise control on the mound. Despite a sore wrist, the Clemson-bound hurler fanned eight and walked none in seven innings of work. He struck out the side in the final inning to seal the deal for Nashville.
Manager Mike Rippetoe said he had no qualms about starting his ace. Parsons has two wins and a save in the series.
``We had to go with him,'' Rippetoe said. ``The medical staff put a little minicast on his wrist, and then they'd take it off when he'd go out to pitch.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Jeff Parsons of Nashville fires in a pitch Friday against the Iron
Area, N.J., team in the 16-18 Babe Ruth World Series in Manteo.
Parsons threw a three-hit shutout, leading Nashville to an 11-0 win
and a berth in today's championship game against Alacosta, Calif.
KEYWORDS: BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES by CNB