Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9408050034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium
It was a satisfying, ringing double by the Green Wave star that scored a run. But it didn't stop the West from absorbing an 8-5 loss.
Blankenship wasn't upset he got only one at-bat.
Franklin County's Riley Hodges came only about 300 miles. He delivered a single and batted five times as the West's main catcher.
It was an odd night in which the East rallied from a three-run deficit late in the game on some questionable defense by the West and an interesting use of pitchers.
Tunstall's Bubba Scarce and Glenvar's Jason Anderson, who were instrumental in their teams winning state championships, did not pitch after the third inning.
``We had a lot of pitchers and tried to use everybody,'' said Glenvar coach Larry Wood, who was a West assistant.
``[Other coaches] didn't know what everybody could do. I'd seen [Castlewood's Denny] Wagner, had heard about Scarce and knew what [Chris] Carr could do. Really, our outfield defense let too many balls get past in the late innings, and we had some kids out of position.''
Blankenship, who was one of the state's leading rushers during the 1993 football season, might very well have been playing in tonight's football game that will wind up the all-star week.
``Making all-state in football and baseball was a great way to wind up my career. But baseball is my favorite sport. I had to make a choice between baseball and football [for here],'' said Blankenship, who will play baseball at Bluefield College.
Even though he came 400 miles to bat just one time, Blankenship would do it again.
``They wanted to give everybody a chance, and the last hitter hadn't played as much as I did. It was a long trip, but it was worth just being here with these guys. More people deserved to be here.''
Blankenship's hit was the hardest of the night for either team.
``I didn't finish my swing. I stopped after I made contact. If I hadn't, there's no telling how far it would have gone.''
Hodges hit the ball hard, but didn't get a single until his final at-bat in the ninth. He was on base when the final out was recorded.
``I was kind of surprised to be up that many times,'' said Hodges, who will go to VMI on a baseball scholarship. ``I think I had a decent day in batting practice, and that was the reason.''
As for getting only one hit, Hodges said, ``I missed [good] pitches. I'd hit the ball on top or on the bottom but never hit it solidly.''
Mike Colangelo of the West, from C.D. Hylton in Woodbridge, was his team's MVP with two singles and a walk in the leadoff position. Bob Craun of Nansemond River was the East MVP for nailing down a save by striking out the side in the ninth and for knocking in two runs in the seventh as his team tied the score.
by CNB