DATE: Thursday, August 7, 1997              TAG: 9708070800

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   41 lines

CHESAPEAKE ADVANCES BOTH WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAMS TITLE GAMES FRIDAY AT PRINCESS ANNE PARK.

With the completion of quarterfinal and semifinal games in the men's and women's divisions, the stage is now set for the championship round of the 16th annual Tidewater Softball Championships Friday at Princess Anne Park.

Chesapeake placed both its women's teams - including defending champion Superior - in Friday's title game. Superior will face the Lady Rattlers.

Portsmouth winner and defending Tidewater champion Harrison's provided the crowd of more than 500 with the most challenging trip to Friday's title match.

They will face Chesapeake champion Northwest/deBeers.

Harrison's survived a 24-23 eight inning thriller over Chesapeake runner-up The Warriors despite a pair of Warriors grand slam home runs in the last two innings.

Harrison's got 11 homers in the game and scored six runs in the top of the final inning. Dewey Fussell and Gary Ellison each hit three homers.

Harrison's followed with a 21-9 semifinal victory over Beach champion HiTides on the strength of 10 home runs.

Northwest/deBeers got to the championship with a 25-15 win over Superior/Flannagan's of Portsmouth and a 25-22 semifinal victory over Norfolk champ Clancy's.

Northwest used 25 hits - including Stacy Mizalle's three homes runs in the quarterfinal and Danny Grubb's three home run performance in the semi to advance.

In women's action, the Chesapeake champion Lady Rattlers advanced with a 21-5 quarterfinal victory over P.J.'s Elite and a 9-8 semifinal victory over Beach champ Cummings/Easton.

Majorie Dyke and Juanita Moore were both 4 for 4 in the opener, and Vanessa Mitchell hit in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh against Cummings. Mitchell was 3 for 3.

Superior advanced with a 23-1 win over Portsmouth's New Generation and an 11-10 victory over Beach runner-up Krossroads.

Suzy Mizelle was 4 for 4 with three RBIs, while Gina Sivells was 2 for 4, including the winning RBI.

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