THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408100584
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
After unceremoniously withdrawing from the American Legion state tournament last year, Greenbrier Post 280 ventures to Hopewell High School outside of Richmond today with something to prove.
``We want to go out there and whip (the competition) again,'' first baseman Shawn O'Dell said.
Post 280 won its opener last year, 9-8, over Midlothian Post 186, only to have to forfeit when it was discovered that pitcher Jimmy Anderson of Western Branch was ineligible.
Anderson, who held Midlothian hitless over five innings, attended a school outside Post 280's zone.
Post 280 coach Gary Lavelle was given the option of playing out of the losers bracket, but it was a moot point. By the time Lavelle (who had returned to Chesapeake to work) was told of the situation, there were only 20 minutes until the losers bracket game was scheduled to begin.
With his players unaware and scattered across Richmond, Lavelle was forced to withdraw his team from the tournament.
``Coach called us and told us to pack our bags - we were leaving,'' O'Dell said. ``With 20 minutes until the game, there was no way we could do it. We didn't want to leave, but having to play out of the losers bracket when we won was kind of stupid.''
Some of the players were angry. Some were bitter. All of them felt cheated.
``It really hurt because I thought we had the kind of team to win the state tournament,'' Lavelle said. ``It was just not a good ending, no matter how you look at it. It broke a lot of guys' hearts.''
This year, Post 280 cruised to a 20-2 record and the District 2 title. But now the team is down to just 14 players.
The latest casualties include Brian Turner (appendicitis) and shortstop Darryn Bettis (mononucleosis). Bettis was second among Greenbrier position players with a .408 average.
Even with the shortage of able bodies, Lavelle and his players believe they have a good chance of winning the state title.
The first test in the double-elimination tournament comes at 10 a.m. today against District 17 champion Falls Church Post 130 (23-9). Lavelle is starting his ace, Mike Floyd, who has never lost a Legion game. Floyd is 19-0 overall, 9-0 this season, with an 0.56 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings.
David Ellyson (5-0, 2.20 ERA) will start Thursday, followed by Brian Brantley if Greenbrier advances to the semifinal round.
American Legion rules limit a pitcher to 12 innings over the course of the tournament.
``We'll take it one game at a time, but if it takes Mike going nine innings for us to win the first game, that's what we'll do,'' Lavelle said.
Post 280 is hitting .313, led by Division II state private school player of the year Mike Hoskins (.532).
Infielder Anthony Linhardt is batting .380 and leads the team with 14 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBIs. Other top hitters are Matt Harden (.355), All-Tidewater pick Derek Riebel (.346) and Toby Gonzalez (.343).
O'Dell, a 20th-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins, is hitting .242.
``If he gets hot for us in the tournament, it's going to be a big boost,'' Lavelle said.
Greenbrier Post 280 is seeking to become the first Tidewater-area team to win the state championship since Norfolk Post 204 in 1972. The winner of the state tournament advances to the region championship Aug. 19-23 in Colonial Heights. by CNB