THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030236
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 39 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BILL LEFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Notes on a frayed white cuff. . . .
Churchland High School's baseball team has its best hitter back in the lineup, hopefully to secure a spot among the top four teams and a berth in the district tournament later this month.
Centerfielder/pitcher Otis Jones, who was sporting a .303 batting average, was sidelined after a mishap on a college recruiting trip.
The college scouts had Jones run a sprint, and he pulled a hamstring.
Wonder if Churchland coach Ray McGinley will recommend that school to his speedy outfielder?
Lopez Scott, who was a football and baseball standout at Manor High School, has been g1blcol5 Scott
elected president of the student government at the Portsmouth campus of Tidewater Community College.
Scott, 22, graduated from Manor in 1992.
Scott is a security guard at the college and is a work-study student in the library there.
Lopez had hoped to win an athletic scholarship while at Manor, and he will be the first to tell you that he did not take education seriously enough and his grades came up short. Now he is a business administration student with a 3.0 grade point average and hopes to go to Hampton University.
This year, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament stiffened its dealings with agents who came in to sign players.
Practice sites were not announced for the first time and no agents were allowed to attend even if they were able to find the sites.
An information sheet also was published that pointed out the PIT does not recognize or provide credentials for agents.
Said player-selection co-chairman Booty Baker: ``Over the years, many agents have been friends of the PIT. However, there have been problems with some agents.
``Each year, we have complaints from the players about being confronted in the halls or while eating. Players have been taken from the hotel, causing them to miss practice or other activities.
``Our committee is trying to run a good tournament and none of these activities help us to accomplish that difficult task.''
On a recent trip to New Mexico for a reunion of former National Football League players, former Pittsburgh Steeler and ex-Norfolk Neptunes coach George Hughes had a chance to talk with several of his Continental League players.
``When I was in Dallas, I ran into two of the Neptunes at the airport, Earl Wood and Mike Capshaw. I had a brief visit there with Ron Nery, too. I also saw Gary and Freddie Glick on my trip and had a chat with Willie Ross.
``Just about all of them said the Neptunes should get together for another reunion like the one we had several years back at the Diamond Club.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Scott
by CNB