THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 10, 1995 TAG: 9506100423
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: YORKTOWN LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Nansemond River rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to beat York, 6-4, in a Group AA state softball semifinal Friday.
The Warriors (18-5) will visit Richlands on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the state championship.
York (22-2) had been undefeated at home and their only other loss was at Nansemond River in the regular season.
``We just kept telling ourselves, `We will beat York,' '' Nansemond River pitcher Chrissy Mims said. ``We kept each other fired up and got the hits when we needed them.''
Kari Harrell started the Nansemond River seventh with a home run to left off York's Amy Morgan. Heather Behreads then reached on an infield single, stole second and scored the game-winner on Mims' base hit to center. Mims tallied an insurance run on a passed ball.
``I saw it slipping when (Harrell) hit that home run,'' said York coach Allen Thompson. ``I knew we were in trouble.''
Mims sent down the Falcons in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
``We finally realized that if we calmed down and took our time we could beat them,'' said Harrell. ``We just had to get hits one at a time.''
The Falcons broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth when Jaime Hogge walked and scored on an error and Gina Straight's bunt single drove in Lindsey May.
The Warriors answered in the fifth. Angie Gatling singled and stole second before scoring on a single by Mims. Kelly McCrickard reached on a fielder's choice and was driven in on Mary Jo Williams' sacrifice bunt.
York came back in the sixth when May singled and scored on a bunt.
Nansemond River came to bat in the seventh trailing, 4-3.
``Neither team would say die,'' said Warrior coach Jerry Varacallo. ``The girls wouldn't quit and really hung in there to come back. This game was played like a championship game.''
York had beaten Nansemond River in the teams' three meetings this season, including a 9-4 victory in the Bay Rivers District final and a 4-0 win in the Region I final last week.
``If we played as a team we thought we could win,'' said Harrell, adding that losing three straight to the Falcons helped them prepare.
``We changed everything we did today to prepare for this game,'' said Varacallo. ``We even parked the bus in a different place.''
Mims (16-5) allowed five hits and struck out two, while Morgan (14-2) fanned six and gave up 10 hits. Game Summary/C5 by CNB