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SPORTS
Brock's home run wins it for Hurricane
Hurricane's Tate Brock brings his bat around as he makes contact with the ball during the Little League Baseball 10-11 year-old state tournament championship game against Fringe on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at League 3 in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Coming into the Little League Baseball 10-11-year-old state tournament championship game Wednesday at League 3 field, all the talk was about Fringe's hitting power. But it was Hurricane that stole the show and won the game with a power shot of its own.
Fringe rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning, but Hurricane catcher Tate Brock blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead for good. It marked the second straight game that Brock had hit a homer.
"I was mad we let them come back," Brock said. "I have always wanted to get the game-winning hit at the state championship game and I finally did."
Both teams were elated when Gov. Joe Manchin showed up to throw the first pitch. Manchin hails from Marion County in Fairview W.Va., where Fringe is based.
But not even the support of the governor could lift Fringe to a state title. Despite the disheartening loss, Fringe showed true class by turning around and cheering for Hurricane as their players paraded around the field with the championship banner on their victory lap.
Hurricane looked to be in complete control, holding a 4-1 lead after four innings. But a team like Fringe doesn't play an entire game without having at least one inning packed with hitting.
Kurt Latocha delivered a big shot, smacking a two-run double. Fringe added another run before the inning was done to tie the game at 4-4.
But the home run by Brock erased Fringe's hard fought effort to battle its way back into the game. It was Hurricane's hot start to the game that was crucial in allowing the team to hold on for the win.
Hurricane scored four runs in the opening inning to seize the lead. With bases loaded Henry Sorsain hit a clutch line drive single to drive in two. Hurricane had three hits and advanced two more runners to base after being hit by pitches.
Pitching was another strong point of Hurricane's game. Trey Dawson worked six innings, giving up five hits, striking out nine and allowing two walks.
Fringe also had a solid presence on the mound in Christopher Petrucci. In five innings, he fanned six, gave up six hits, hit two batters and walked none.
FRINGE 100 030 -- 4 5 0
HURRICANE 400 01x -- 5 6 0
Petrucci and McCullough; Dawson and Brock. WP -- Dawson. LP -- Petrucci.
Hitting -- (F) Petrucci 1-2, 2B; Latocha 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI; (H) Rogoszewski 2-3, Brock 2-3, RBI; Sorsain 1-3, 2 RBI.
