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Denbigh crushes Cox 21-1

By MELINDA WALDROP |mwaldrop@dailypress.com

NORFOLK -- So much for any worries about Denbigh's offense.

The Patriots pounded Cox 21-1 behind 23 hits in Wednesday's Eastern Region semifinal at Old Dominion University, earning a trip to tonight's region championship game and to Tuesday's state quarterfinals.

"We've been telling them we had to relax at the plate and really get after it," said Denbigh coach Rusty Ingram, whose team scored at least one run in every inning but the seventh, including eight in the sixth. "You play for one run an inning, and if you get more, it's a plus."

Denbigh (22-2) needed a dominating performance from starting pitcher Ethan Carter to offset just three hits and poor baserunning in a 2-0 quarterfinal victory against Maury on Monday. On Wednesday, Cameron Roth (9-2) got more run support after two innings than Carter got in his entire game, but Roth still allowed just four hits and didn't give up a run until the sixth inning.

"It's easy to go out there when we hit the ball like we did," said Roth, one of seven seniors making Denbigh's first state tournament appearance in more than 10 years. "One through nine, we really saw the ball well."

Cox starter Matt Chegin gave up eight hits in three innings of work, while Roth didn't allow a hit until Drew Wilkinson's double to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Roth started the Patriots' scoring with an RBI single in the first. Denbigh added two more runs in the second, third and fourth innings, with Carter drilling a two-run triple in the fourth.

"A lot of us, this was either gonna be our last game, or a couple more," said senior shortstop Aaron Watkins, whose 3-for-4, three-RBI performance included a two-run home run in the fifth inning. "So we had to make this one count."

The Patriots batted around in the six-run fifth and again in the eight-run sixth, which included a two-run double from senior Thomas Drewry, who was prevented from catching by a knee injury but back in the lineup as Denbigh's designated hitter.

The Falcons (18-6) finally scored on Austin Erb's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth.

"Hats off to Denbigh," Cox coach Bill Conroy said. "They can really hit the baseball."

Christopher McDougal – who has caught both region games for Drewry but will likely start on the mound tonight against Granby – was 4-for-5 with two RBI. Left fielder Ethan Trevathan was 4-for-5 with a double.

If Denbigh wins tonight, it will play host to Tuesday's quarterfinal against a Central Region foe at Christopher Newport, Ingram said.

Ingram said this is Denbigh's first trip to the state tournament since the 1994 or 1995 season, when Cox defeated the Patriots in both the region title game and the state semifinals on its way to a state championship.

"None of those guys remembers it, but my coaching staff remembers it," Ingram said.

After Wednesday, that memory can fade.

Denbigh 21, Cox 1
Denbigh 122 268 0 - 21 23 1
Cox 000 000 1 - 1 4 6
W – Roth (9-2). L – Chegin (4-1). Standouts – Denbigh: McDougal 4-5, two RBI; Trevathan 4-5, double; Watkins 3-4, three RBI, home run; Watlett 2-5, four RBI, double; Cox: Amorosso 1-2, double; Wiklinson 1-2, double. Records: Denbigh 22-2, Cox 18-6.

[WHATS-UP???]

Looked like Denbigh played the game to win. Great TEAM work from both offense and defense last night. McDougal did a great job behind the plate. What a talented athlete he is to step in at the last minute to perform. This team looks to be getting prepared to do their talking on the field, like it should be done.

[AA2007]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Great job Denbigh. I know you will represent us well!

[doubleplay09]

Take it to them DHS play hard and keep up the outstanding work

[WHATS-UP???]

Will someone post the scores as soon as possible tonight after game. I got in trouble at school today and not allowed to go. Thanks

[Lynn Burke]

Originally Posted by WHATS-UP???

Will someone post the scores as soon as possible tonight after game. I got in trouble at school today and not allowed to go. Thanks

Check the scoreboard on the home page. That's your best bet for the score. And stay out of trouble at school.