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[Lynn Burke]

Menchville cuts off Hampton's comeback bid
By Melinda Waldrop | mwaldrop@dailypress.com

NEWPORT NEWS -- Down five runs to Menchville in the third inning, the Hampton High baseball team might have been harboring thoughts of a comeback.

That is, until Sean Fields was thrown out trying to steal second.

Catcher Tucker Brown's on-the-money strike marked the first time the Crabbers' speedy shortstop failed to steal a base in his 12 attempts this season and helped the Monarchs cruise to an 11-1, six-inning victory.

"I think that got our kids all pumped up," Menchville coach Phil Forbes said. "We respect him highly, and we knew he was gonna run if he got on."

Hampton coach Danny Mitchell wasn't immune to the roar the play provoked. Fields went 30-for-31 in stolen-base attempts last season.

"You heard the crowd. You heard the players," he said. "And the catcher made a heck of a play on it, because it was an inside pitch."

By that time, the Crabbers (6-4 overall, 5-3 Peninsula District) already were in a 6-1 hole after the Monarchs (5-3, 5-3) took full advantage of three doubles, two walks and an error in a six-run first inning. Hampton, which scored its lone run in the top of the first, only advanced a runner to second twice more against Menchville starter Shawn Sizemore, who gave up two hits in five innings of work.

"We didn't show up," Mitchell said. "You can't give up six runs in the first inning and expect to win anything. You can't give up six runs in Nintendo and expect to win."

Sizemore also opened Menchville's initial at-bat with the first of his two doubles. He was one of five Monarchs with two hits.

Reliever Kenny Williams retired Hampton in order in the top of the sixth, and the Crabbers lost their final chance to bat when Alex Nuttycombe's RBI single gave Menchville a 10-run lead in the bottom of the inning.

"We're still picking and choosing some teams that are constantly beating us and beating us. We've still got the attitude that we can't beat them," Mitchell said. "(The Monarchs) have had our number the last couple of years. They're not the same baseball team they were last year. They're a good baseball team, but they're not 11-1 better than us. They were today."

Menchville 11, Hampton 1

Hampton 100 000 0 - 1 2 2

Menchville 600 212 x - 11 11 0

WP - Sizemore (2-1). LP - Trimble (4-1). Top hitters - Menchville: M. Armstead 2-3, two RBI, two doubles; Brown 2-4, two RBI, two doubles; Sizemore 2-4, RBI, two doubles; Nuttycombe 2-4, RBI; Shoemaker 2-3. Records - Hampton 6-4 overall, 5-3 PD; Menchville 5-3, 5-3