Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990 TAG: 9004130720
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-22 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Despite the fact that PH hasn't competed regularly for the Roanoke Valley District title during the past few years, things began to change last spring when former Salem Pirate pitcher Dave Nelson moved from Stonewall Jackson to take over at PH.
The Patriots were competitive during the regular season, then stunned everybody by winning the RVD tournament to make it to the region. Patrick Henry finished 9-7. This season, the Patriots are off to a 7-0 start that includes victories over Pulaski County and Cave Spring - teams they'll have to fight for the RVD crown.
Nelson, a Hawaii native who pitched for Salem in 1974-75, never left the Roanoke area. Until he took the PH baseball job last spring, he had been the coach at Jackson, which had dominated Roanoke junior high baseball the last eight years.
"Some of these kids never had the experience of losing," says Nelson, who turned out many unbeaten teams at Jackson. He is also the third-base coach of an American Legion team, Post 3 South, which combines players from Cave Spring and Patrick Henry. That team finished fifth in the state last summer.
"Dave's a hard worker," says Post 3 South field manager Posey Oyler, who has turned over much of the responsibility for running the American Legion team to Nelson. "I think he helps the players in that he stays cool. He's been down the road.
"The kids have fun playing for Dave. That's the key to the whole thing. He believes if it's not fun, it's not worth doing."
The two most prominent PH players are senior catcher Ted Lamar and junior pitcher Kevin Gabbert.
Both came under Nelson's influence as seventh-graders at Jackson and the influence has had a profound effect on their careers. The stocky Lamar was told to go behind the plate, and Gabbert was informed that his future in baseball would be as a pitcher.
"I had a pretty good arm plus the catcher that was at Stonewall Jackson was ready to go [to high school]," says Lamar. "So Coach Nelson said he wanted me to try it. It was a new experience, but I liked it. I knew I'd get pretty much playing time."
Gabbert had a similar experience. "He spotted me right away and told me I should work on being a pitcher," says Gabbert.
Nelson is always on Lamar about his weight. The PH catcher is a young look-alike of stocky Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella when he was starring for the Dodgers in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Lamar played all the sports at Stonewall Jackson - football, wrestling, basketball and baseball. Now he concentrates on baseball. He carries a 2.9 grade-point average and figures to be a candidate for a college baseball scholarship.
"I'd love to be a pro catcher," says Lamar, who now only plays baseball. "The sport is just like a part of me."
Lamar, who has a career .326 average at PH, is a conversationalist. He plans to major in sports communication or business management in college. "Something I can make money in," he says with a big grin.
Does the fast start surprise the senior?
"In a way, because we're still very young. But these guys won't quit. Five of the wins we've come from behind," says Lamar.
Gabbert is a fearless pitcher. Nelson says the left-hander isn't afraid to throw a curve on a 3-0 count, which is the sign of a good prospect. The PH coach also talks about the old axiom that says southpaws sometimes don't march to the same tune as do other people.
"I've heard that," says Gabbert with a smile. "A lot of it's joking around. It doesn't matter whether you're left-handed or right-handed. It's whatever does the job."
Still, Gabbert admits to some strange ways.
"In the Lord Botetourt game [last week], I went over to the third baseman before the last out and asked, `How do you want me to pitch to this guy?' I just wanted him to be a part of the game. Let him think he has some idea of what I throw."
It's not likely that major-league pitchers such as Nolan Ryan or Orel Hershiser would ever give their third baseman the same option. So did Gabbert take the advice that was offered?
"I take a suggestion every now and then. It was cold, and I don't remember if I did. But at the Pulaski County game [won by PH 5-3], I asked the shortstop and he said, `a curveball.' That's basically what I wanted to do."
Gabbert also happened to hit a home run in the Lord Botetourt game. "That usually happens once a year. At Jackson, I hit one in a championship game. I don't expect to hit one unless I'm playing first base [where he's stationed when he's not pitching].
"I'm more into it [hitting] at first. I like to concentrate on pitching otherwise and I don't think about hitting."
Gabbert is 3-0 with a 2.00 earned run average this year. Lifetime, he's 8-3 with a 2.31 ERA. This includes his role in last year's regional loss. In just over one season, though, Gabbert has 10 complete games.
"I'd like to think I'm better than I was last year. I'm working on a slider and changeup. Last year I just had a curveball," says Gabbert.
If Gabbert falters, Nelson has Jamie Whorley, another junior who is 3-0 with one save and an 0.41 batting average. Barry Shelton (.286) can move to catcher, a position he shares with Lamar in the summer. During the spring, though, he's stationed at third base. Both played under Nelson at Jackson.
"Sure, I can teach kids but it comes down to seeing the talent at an early level," Nelson says of the philosophy that has made his teams successful.
"You can see kids who can reach back and throw. Then it's a matter of getting the natural attributes out of them. It takes an eye to spot kids at an early age."
by CNB