THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606130169
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover story
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 115 lines
AFTER THE COX Falcons' 4-2 victory over Potomac in the Group AAA state baseball championship Monday, the rest of the state's coaches are probably wondering just what is going on in the Beach District that it is producing such great teams.
The Cox championship was the third in four years for the Beach. And the only team to beat the 27-1 Falcons all year was - tadah!!! - First Colonial, another Beach team.
Green Run won it all last year with only two losses during the season and three years ago First Colonial went unbeaten to capture the title.
Back in the 1970s, Kempsville and Bayside also captured state crowns.
So just why has the Beach District become the league of the '90s in baseball?
According to many in the field, it's no one thing and there is no secret formula.
``It's a combination of lots of things,'' said Ocean Lakes coach Gary Spedden, on hand at Potomac High to offer congratulations to the Falcons. ``Fall programs, AAU, Little Leagues, JV sports coming back, and people like (First Colonial coach) Norbie Wilson and (former Salem coach) Randy Sterling. People like them have pushed the rest of us to work harder.''
Not unlike in most areas, kids in Virginia Beach start early. They can be seen all summer long on the T-ball and coach-pitch fields, wielding bats nearly as long as the kids are tall.
From there, a vast offering of avenues are available.
There are Department of Parks and Recreation leagues, Little League Baseball, Pony-Colt, American Legion and, just in the past couple of years, AAU.
All of these give youngsters basic training and experience that is enhanced during middle school, junior varsity and finally varsity high school play.
In fact, when varsity coaches in Virginia Beach get some of these kids, they are so well-schooled in the fundamentals that things just fall into place.
And with the higher level of competition many of the starter organizations offer, the varsity newcomers have a wealth of experience against top-notch competition.
``And things like (winning state titles) doesn't hurt,'' Cox coach John Ingram said. ``(Cox) has struggled the past couple of years to get to this level and the kids have all been working hard to get here.
``I've felt all along that the competition in the Beach is so good that once you make it to the next level you're extremely prepared for anything the rest of the state has to offer.''
Beach District baseball people are noticing that kids who previously had been giving up baseball to play other sports are coming back to the game.
``That's a key,'' Cox assistant Tyree Brown said. ``There is more dedication by the kids yearround and you have to have that in any sport to be competitive at this level.
``And seeing how successful baseball is in our area is helping get more and more of these kids back out for baseball. It sure doesn't hurt.''
Even though Cox will lose nine seniors to graduation from this championship team, the future still looks bright.
For starters, winning pitcher Jason Dubois, The Virginian-Pilot player of the year, will be back.
And Ron Moore's Falcon junior varsity team went 9-1 and batted .370.
``There's no reason to think that this can't continue,'' Moore said. ``Everything that's going on is helping the Beach and now we've finally arrived.''
Cox literally began building its Field of Dreams several years ago when Ingram decided to join First Colonial and Salem in constructing a quality playing facility complete with outfield fence, dugouts and grass infield.
Most of the job was done by players, coaches and family.
The kind of team fellowship that resulted from the shared labor is just one more thing that helped Cox get to the championship.
``Definitely,'' said Brown. ``Relationships develop in those kinds of social situations like working on the field. And it helped give the kids a sense of pride that I think carried over into competition.''
Cox winning the state title on the Potomac High field was a little ironic for Brown, who also coaches the U-13 Drillers AAU team.
The Drillers last week captured the state AAU U-13 championship and its national tournament berth.
They won it on the Potomac High field and they beat a Potomac team filled with players living in the Potomac High attendance zone.
The Driller lineup also featured many kids from the Cox zone.
``A lot of parallels here today,'' Brown said. ``It's pretty interesting.
``And thinking about it, it made me feel pretty good about our chances here today.''
One Cox player registered a rare double play with the championship.
Outfielder Eric John became what is believed to be the only Beach baseball player to capture back-to-back titles on different teams.
John played with the Green Run championship team last year, but transferred to Cox during the summer.
``Last year felt great because it was the first one,'' he said. ``This one feels great because I'm a senior.
``I think there's a little more emotion with this one.''
John switched to Cox because of an interest in outer space. Cox is the only school to offer an astronomy class. Perhaps the Falcons' victory was in the stars. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MIKE HEFFNER
Cox catcher Brandon Ramsey, left, and outfielder Jeff Tignor hoist
the state trophy, marking the school's first baseball title of any
kind.
Although the Falcons lose nine seniors, championship winning pitcher
Jason Dubois, The Virginian-Pilot player of the year, will be back.
Aaron Strausbaugh gestures toward the Cox dugout after his double in
the fifth inning extended Cox's lead to 4-2. Potomac shortstop Barry
Blake can't stand to watch. Strausbaugh drove in three runs, stole a
base and scored a run.
Cox centerfielder Jeff Tignor makes a valiant, but unsuccessful,
attempt to catch this double off the bat of Potomac's Tim Licata in
the fourth inning. The Falcons had to rally to win the state finale. by CNB