Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990                   TAG: 9005120067
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

GILES WINS CLOSE ONES; NO ONE KNOWS HOW

Early this week, the Spartans were 12-5 overall and 7-2 in the New River District, neck and neck with Christiansburg at the top of the standings. They have a legitimate shot at finishing first in the district and earning an automatic bid to the Region IV tournament. At the worst, Giles - 4-10 a year ago - will finish second.

Not bad for a team some picked for the basement.

"It has been a year that I did not anticipate," Frazier said. "The kids are a phenomenal group to work with. I've coached teams with more ability, but I've never had such a pleasant surprise."

One thing that has no doubt pleased Frazier is his team's knack for winning close ones. Of the Spartans' seven district wins, six have been by a run. The other was a relative rout - a two-run game.

"They have made an old man out of me with all of these one-run games," Frazier said. "They pull it out, and then after the game I always say, `How did they do that?' I honestly didn't expect this kind of win-loss percentage.

"It's not just this team; it would surprise me with any team. Very seldom can a team consistently win the close games."

Giles' players also have been surprised at their season.

"I didn't think we'd play like we're playing," said shortstop John Hunt. "I didn't think we'd be in last, either, but I really had no idea we'd play this good."

"We just kept our heads up and had enthusiasm," said pitcher Andy Tawney. "I really didn't think things would be like this at first, but after a couple of games I could see we had a good team."

What is the secret of this upstart Giles squad?

Even if the coach and players knew for sure, they might not want to reveal it. But the truth is that even the Spartans don't seem to fully understand how they are contending for first place.

Sure, Giles has its stars. Third baseman Jared Wilburn and Hunt both finished the week hitting better than .450, and Tawney is 6-1 with an ERA of less than 3. But as much as they have contributed, the standouts are not the sole reason for the team's success.

"Hunt and Wilburn have hit the ball well and Tawney's undoubtedly been the mainstay of our staff, but you can't attribute it to just those guys," Frazier said. "To put it simply, it's got to be a tribute to all of the people that play on this baseball team. Everybody has contributed.

"The guys who have limited playing time and come off the bench have done an outstanding job. These guys are role players and they have accepted their roles. It seems like we always have somebody different step up and make a crucial play.

"I think they all just know that in pressure spots, somebody is going to make a play that wins the game for us.

"I think it's a testament to their character. They've overcome a lot of odds, and I feel good for them. I think that it will carry over into everything they do.

"They're a cohesive, close, joking bunch. They've always had fun, but they're intense when they need to be."

That sense of unity is echoed by many of Frazier's players. It's not something to be measured or compiled as a statistic, but it's obviously important to the members of the team.

"I know that it helps us, being close," Wilburn said. "When somebody's down, there's always people to bring him up."