THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030235
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 39 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
THE SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT baseball tournament will be held at the Oscar Smith field and Indian River will host the district softball tournament.
Both tournaments are scheduled for May 22-23.
Bill Myers, Oscar Smith athletic director, is chairman of the baseball tourney. Churchland athletic director Bill Strickland is in charge of the softball meet.
The tournament winners will join the regular-season champions in the Eastern Regiontournament. The regionals also have been set.
The region baseball tournament will be at Old Dominion University's Bud Metheny complex May 27, 29 and 30. The region softball tournament will be at Princess Anne High School on May 27, 29 and 31.
Neither Southeastern title has yet been decided as the teams move into the stretch run.
In games through Wednesday, Great Bridge remained the only team undefeated in league play in baseball. The Wildcats (7-0) held a two-game lead over Deep Creek (5-2).
Title hopes were flickering for third-place Indian River (4-3) and fourth-place Churchland (3-3). All other teams had four or more losses.
The top four finishers qualify for the district tournament. If the regular-season winner also captures the district meet, the No. 2 finisher will advance to the regional.
Great Bridge defeated Churchland in the tournament final last year, 3-2. Indian River was the regular-season winner.
In softball through Wednesday Great Bridge (7-1) maintained a half-game edge over Western Branch (6-1). Churchland has three league losses. Norcom is winless and all others have dropped four or more games. Wilson lost its fourth Wednesday to Deep Creek, 4-3, on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Western Branch swept league honors last year and beat Great Bridge in the district tourney final, 3-2.
The Southeastern District track meets for both boys and girls will be held at Churchland May 17-18. Norcom athletic director Joe Langston is meet director.
Competition on Friday, May 17 will start at 2 p.m. The Saturday finals will start at 9 a.m. The Eastern Region meets will be at Todd Stadium in Newport News on May 24-25.
Great Bridge won both the boys and girls crowns in last year's district meets. Western Branch was runner-up in both divisions.
Pierre Anderson of Great Bridge is district chairman of the boys and girls soccer tournament, scheduled for May 14 and May 16.
Action is scheduled at Western Branch and Churchland. The finals will be at Western Branch.
Great Bridge won both the regular season and district meet in the boys division last year. The Wildcats beat Deep Creek in the tourney final, 2-0.
The Great Bridge girls won the regular-season title for the third consecutive year. Western Branch stunned the Wildcats in the final of the district tourney 1-0. It was the only goal scored against Great Bridge by a district team throughout the year.
Oscar Smith threw a scare at Great Bridge Wednesday, bowing in overtime 2-1.
The district boys tennis tournament will be held Monday and Tuesday. Qualifiers will advance to the regional tournament, which will be played at Owls Creek and First Colonial High School May 14, 16, 17, 20 and 21. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Churchland centerfielder/pitcher Otis Jones, who also is the team's
best hitter, is back in action after pulling a hamstring on a
college recruiting trip.
by CNB