THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 19, 1996 TAG: 9608190029
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 50 lines
Brian Woods' bases-loaded double in the third inning drove in two runs and helped Ansonia, Conn., to a 3-1 victory over Nashville, Tenn., in Sunday's first game in the 1996 Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series.
Ansonia pitcher Corey Somerville worked six innings and scored a run, and outfielder Fran DeGennaro had three hits to pace the Connecticut club. Reliever Patrick Lynch came on in the seventh to get the save.
Somerville allowed eight hits, and stranded 10 Nashville runners in the victory.
Trailing 1-0, Connecticut rallied after consecutive singles by Dan Ortiz, Somerville and DeGennaro loaded the bases with nobody out. Woods doubled into the left-centerfield gap to score Ortiz and Somerville.
Ansonia got an insurance run in the fifth when Nashville third baseman Donnie Ross made a high throw to first on a Steve Stonoha grounder, allowing DeGennaro to score.
Nashville got its only run in the first when Josh Pride's sacrifice fly scored Shane Chandler from third.
Ross, who has signed to play in the Seattle Mariners' organization, had two hits for Nashville.
Ansonia manager Bruce Peck said he is used to his club coming from behind. In its state tournament, Ansonia had to play through the loser's bracket to the title. In New England regional play, Ansonia sprinted to the World Series bid.
``I think it's a determination on the part of this team to drive me crazy,'' Peck said. ``But it's a trademark of good athletes to dig a little deeper.''
Ansonia had a day off Saturday before its first game in the series.
``We've been chomping at the bit to get here,'' Peck said. ``The first couple of innings showed that we were a little too anxious. We were swinging at some bad pitches.''
Somerville - a two-sport star who quarterbacked Shelton High to a state football title - credited a solid defensive effort for the victory.
``I was a little nervous at first,'' he said. ``But our defense has always played well. I went to some off-speed stuff in the late innings. They still hit it, but the defense came through.''
Ansonia next plays at 8 p.m. Tuesday against the Iron Area, N.J.,-Coos Bay, Ore., winner. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DREW C. WILSON, The Virginian-Pilot
The Dare County Babe Ruth team lost to Coos Bay, Ore., in the first
round of the baseball league's World Series on Saturday. Manteo is
hosting the tournament for 16- to 18-year-olds. by CNB