THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607110196
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 51 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 44 lines
THE BABE RUTH World Series will move one base closer to reality this week as members of the Albemarle area team are picked - and begin practicing.
Head coach William Creef, the junior varsity coach at Manteo High School, said the Albemarle team will be chosen Sunday and will begin practice Tuesday.
The 18 players will be selected by the coaches of teams from Dare County, Currituck County, Elizabeth City-Camden County, Perquimans County, Edenton, Columbia and Bertie County.
Of those 18 players, six automatically will come from Dare County.
``We've got about a month to prepare for the World Series,'' Creef said. ``We will have at least eight scrimmage games.''
Creef said the team is expected to scrimmage against a team from Virginia Wesleyan College, a team of 1992-93 graduates from Manteo High School, and play two or three games against a team from Chesapeake.
The Albemarle team could have a mountain larger than Jockey's Ridge sand dune to climb to win this tournament.
Creef said his team, which won't play an official game together until the tournament, could face squads that have played as many as 150 games together.
Also, the talent pool in the area has been depleted because of other commitments and players who played for the Edenton American Legion Post 40 team.
``A lot of them played legion ball and can't play Babe Ruth ball. They can't play both,'' Creef said. ``For example, Jimmy Forrest, who played at Manteo High School, is playing with Edenton. Matt Meekins has already signed with East Carolina.
``We should have a decent team,'' he said. ``One thing you have to remember is the host team has never won a World Series.''
The Albemarle team will open the nine-team, double-elimination tournament with a first round game at 7:30 p.m. August 17 at Manteo High School. MEMO: The Babe Ruth 1996 World Series tournament is Aug. 17-24. For more
information on the tournament or to obtain tickets to the tournament
games, please call 919-480-1422. by CNB