DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 1997            TAG: 9709090400

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   30 lines

HARRISON'S MOVING TAKES SOFTBALL TITLE

The Harrison's Moving softball team of Portsmouth captured the National Softball Association's Over-40 World Series over the weekend in Burlington, N.C., defeating Star Foods of North Carolina 37-21 in the championship game.

Harrison's dominated the 12-team field, outscoring opponents 168-64. Because of the 12-run mercy rule, Harrison's played only 21 innings in five games and compiled a team batting average of .710.

``The margin of victory averaged 20 runs a game,'' said manager Warrek Kozak of Portsmouth. ``They had us 12-11 in the championship game going into the bottom of the fourth inning and we scored 26 runs. Several guys had three hits each in that inning.

``We really played well.''

Harrison's won the Amateur Softball Association's over-40 tournament two years ago.

Wayne Latham of Richmond was the tournament MVP, hitting .905. Also named to the All-World team were Dewey Fussell of Portsmouth (.900), Chesapeake's Jay Smith (.750), Bobby Coleman of Fairfax (.765) and Richmond's Bubba Crostic (.765) and J.W. Mitchell (.700). Fussell led the tournament with seven home runs and 28 RBIs.

Other players were Glen Loehr, Thurston Watkins and Jimmy Lilley of Chesapeake; Gary Ellison of Virginia Beach; Johnny Neice of Portsmouth; Barry Roach of Surry; and Wade Hephert of Richmond.

- LEE TOLLIVER

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