THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140403
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Greenbrier Christian's Nick James had a lot of reasons Monday for wanting to beat Nansemond-Suffolk.
He attended N-SA as a freshman and knew many of the Saints.
He was beating N-SA 4-0 last season when he was struck in the head by a throw from the umpire and ended up losing 5-4.
He signed a baseball grant with James Madison University on Saturday and it wouldn't have looked good to lose his next start.
The TCIS regular-season championship and top seeding in this week's tournament were riding on the outcome.
With all of that motivation it was no big deal to James that he had only a mediocre fastball.
By changing speeds and throwing to spots, James checked N-SA on two hits as Greenbrier grabbed a 6-0 victory and its first TCIS regular-season title. James had a no-hitter for 4 2/3 innings and finished with a two-hitter. He walked one and struck out 12.
``This is the one I wanted to get,'' he said. ``I knew I couldn't come out and overpower them. I just tried to throw strikes and change speeds.''
N-SA's only hits were infield singles by Joby Webb in the fifth and T.C. Mizelle in the seventh. Greenbrier first baseman Wade Brooks nearly made a diving catch on Webb's line drive, but lost the handle when he hit the ground.
``I thought Wade had it,'' James said. ``That's why I was just standing there like a log. If I had covered first we probably would have got him.''
All of Greenbrier's runs came against starter and loser Mike Johnston and were unearned. The Gators (20-3, 9-0) broke it open with five runs in the fourth.
N-SA (13-6, 8-1) committed three errors in the inning, allowing three runs to score.
Heath Burris added a sacrifice fly and Nick Honeycutt drew a bases-loaded walk.
``James pitched a good game, but I feel like we let Mike down,'' N-SA coach Bill Harris said.
-ROBIN BRINKLEY
In girls softball:
Bayside 2, Princess Anne 1: Heidi Hill scored on a single by Amber Stought in the third inning as the No. 1 Marlins clinched the Beach District regular season title against the No. 4 Cavaliers.
Hill pitched a complete game, striking out nine, and did not allow a hit after the second inning for the Marlins (16-0). Bethany Hall added an RBI triple for Bayside. Jen Kanten drove in Lori Ferguson with a single in the second for Princess Anne (13-3).
Nansemond-Suffolk 10, Greenbrier Christian 0: Lee Wilson was 3 for 3 with a triple, two doubles and three RBIs for the No. 5 Saints, who clinched the regular season TCIS title. Sarah Putnam (12-2) struck out six for the win as the Saints pounded out six doubles.
Great Bridge 15, Deep Creek 5: Melanie Robertson was 3 for 5 with a triple and Renee Scott and Melissa Wooldridge added two hits each for the No. 2 Wildcats (13-3, 10-1). Denise Wack struck out 13, while walking eight for Great Bridge.
In baseball:
Western Branch 5, Deep Creek 4: Corey Bauswell's three-run home run in the fourth propelled the unranked Bruins over the No. 9 Hornets. Jay Tinkham (4-3) struck out three as Andrew Powers went 2 for 3 for Western Branch (8-10 overall, 6-6 Southeastern). Nick Cuffee was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Hornets.
Nansemond River 11, Smithfield 0: John Drames pitched a no-hitter, striking out 14 as the No. 7 Warriors (16-3 overall, 11-2 Bay Rivers) clinched the regular-season district title. Drames, who added two hits and three RBIs, faced two batters over the minimum and didn't walk a batter until there were two outs in the seventh. Chip Runyon and Lee Parks added two hits and two RBIs each.
Jill Ferguson, of Great Bridge and the Coastal Virginia Volleyball Club, has accepted a volleyball scholarship from American University. An All-Southeastern District player, Ferguson also considered volleyball offers from George Mason, Central Connecticut State and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and a track offer from Norfolk State. She is the second Coastal Virginia member to accept a scholarship. Earlier, Katie MacPhail of Western Branch signed with UNC-Greensboro. by CNB