THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608080178
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 57 lines
THE TEAM IS Post 204-Norfolk. Or at least according to the names on the baseball jerseys.
In actuality, the squad is a summer version of Cox High. From standout pitcher Jason Dubois to Virginia recruit Tim Lavigne, all but two postseason roster spots belong to the state AAA high school champions.
One of those non-Cox players is Lake Taylor High outfielder and pitcher Robby Hale. And Hale retired the Post 280-Chesapeake team on three strikeouts in the ninth inning to preserve a 9-8 victory Monday evening, sending Cox back to the state tournament - this time for the American Legion championship.
``I'm saying this is a repeat and I didn't go,'' to the high school tournament, Hale said.
Post 204's victory in the 2nd District tournament is the first time in more than 20 years a Virginia Beach team advanced to the state tournament, which started Wednesday in Colonial Heights.
``It was expected,'' Lavigne said of the state tournament berth.
But after going 20-0 in the regular season, Post 280 probably expected to win the title, too. Dubois & Co., which finished third in the regular season, was determined to turn back the Chesapeake squad.
Dubois hit a two-run, two-out home run off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning for a 6-1 Post 204 lead.
``I watched him the whole night,'' Dubois said of Chesapeake ace John Curtice, who struck him out in his first two at-bats. ``He threw a fastball and it felt good.''
Post 204 scored another run in the fifth before Chesapeake charged back with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one.
``It was a good win, particularly without players that played in the regular season,'' Post 204 coach Dave Alberts said.
Actually, Post 204 was missing only one player from its regular-season team, Alberts' son, Jeff, who was not eligible for the playoffs because he attended Catholic last spring. But the coach did have some limitations with his pitching staff Monday night. Lavigne could not take the mound because of a sore arm and Dubois played right field because he was due to go to a Baltimore Orioles baseball camp on Tuesday.
Ted Tignor started for Post 204 and allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings. Hale allowed two runs in the seventh as Chesapeake cut the deficit to 9-8 but retired seven of the final nine batters he faced.
``I had problems spotting them but then I got warmed up and started hitting my spots,'' said Hale.
Post 280 won the previous three 2nd District championships and played in the last two American Legion state title games.
While the Post 204 players acknowledged the goal of winning the district because of the high school championship, other players said victory is the bottom line regardless of the circumstances.
``All Legion teams want to go to the states,'' Dubois said. ``Even the worst team wants to go the states.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Eric John of Post 204 and Cox High School steals second base when
Ross Robertson was unable to hold onto the ball. by CNB