Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 7, 1990 TAG: 9006080665
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Northside might not have championship teams in every sport, but the Vikings have four of the most versatile athletes returning.
In boys' competition, the Vikings have Curtis Ballard (track, basketball and football), John Baker (football, basketball and baseball) and Brian Burke (track and basketball).
In girls' competition, Northside's Patti Fisher returns as a basketball, softball and track star.
Salem isn't without versatile athletes of its own. Jay Sandy plays basketball, football and track while transfer Corey Epperly is a three-sport participant in basketball, football and baseball.
In girls' competition, Shaunice Warr is back as starting point guard and also runs track. Of course, there is Lori Archer, who could dominate Group AA running in cross country and the distance events in track.
Northside might have the most intriguing group of returning athletes. Ballard was second in the Group AA triple jump, was the sixth man on the basketball team and was the Vikings' top running back.
Baker, only a sophomore, had an outstanding season in football and was a pick on the Sizzling Sophomores in basketball where he was Timesland's leading 3-point shooter. He also plays baseball.
Burke is the mystery player. The only sport he participated in was track, where he was the Group AA high-jump champion. He also was the Region III 110-meter hurdles' champ. Next year, the 6-foot-3 Burke will have a big role on the basketball team despite not having played the sport in high school.
Fisher was a second-team All-Timesland basketball pick. Unquestionably, basketball is her top sport. She's also outstanding in track and softball, but trying to do both sports at the same time hurt her performance. Next year, to have a big season in the spring, Fisher might have to make a choice.
Viking basketball coach Billy Pope will get the most benefit out of Northside's three boys' star athletes. Burke might be the key to making Northside a favorite in the Blue Ridge District race.
"With a lack of returning height, we're looking for someone to play inside for us. I'll have to see him up against some of the other guys. Obviously, he had a lot of success in track. I hope it carries over for him," said Pope.
Burke's brother, Neil, was an All-Timesland player a year ago. "I knew last year that Brian was an outstanding jumper," said Pope. "Even as a sophomore, he was outjumping Neil in his vertical leap. I'm excited that he wants to come out and play next year."
Ballard was a good basketball player who did a lot through his athletic moves. "For us to have a good team, Curtis is going to have to have a big year for us. He'll have to score more for us, but he showed signs this year of being a scorer," said Pope.
Baker is Northside's leading returning scorer. "I'm glad he's a junior," said Pope. "It's easy to forget sometimes that he is a junior."
Northside football coach Jim Hickam says Ballard has the potential to be a college prospect. "The only thing I feel might be against him is his body size. The fact that he's so lean and wiry is a plus aspect for him in track, but [football] coaches have shown a little concern about his total size in terms of him being a running back," said Hickam.
However, there is a possibility that Ballard might be shifted to receiver.
Hickam says Baker is a definite prospect in football for next year. "He might have a greater chance in football because he's an intermediate size in basketball. He has more potential, sizewise, in football," said Hickam.
Hickam would love to have Burke try out for football. "I think he would like to play football, but he had an injury in sandlot football. My understanding is that his parents are not greatly in favor of him playing," said the Vikings' football coach.
Sandy was an All-Timesland football player at Salem, but an injury slowed him during basketball. Epperly transferred to Salem after the first semester, but he was a pick on the Sizzling Sophomore football team at end and a double-figure scorer in basketball at Group A Shawsville. At Salem, he was the Spartans' main pitcher in baseball.
A look at the other schools:
\ Cave Spring - Boys' distance runner John Hawthorne in cross country and track is back along with outstanding athletes such as Dee Dalton (baseball) and Duane Webb (football). In girls' sports, Lisa Hodges is outstanding in basketball and track (discus) while Lisa Beightol is a three-sport star in basketball, volleyball and soccer.
\ Craig County - Three-sport star Chad Johnston leads the Rockets, who are getting stronger in Pioneer District competition. He's the quarterback in football, but baseball might be his best sport.
\ Franklin County - Running back Mark Witcher hopes to match a good sophomore season in football, while softball pitcher Shelley Bowles will try to improve and lift her team into the Group AAA meet a year from now.
\ Glenvar - Jamie Soltis is the Group A 3,200-meter track and 103-pound wrestling champ. He won Group A cross country as a sophomore. He's the most versatile in a strong list of boys' athletes. Cammi Beason heads a list of returning girl athletes as a good basketball and softball player.
\ James River - The Knights' basketball team loses most of the talent from the Group A runner-up squad, but 6-foot-3 Solan Wooden, who has not played as a sophomore, is coming out for the team. He could be a star, according to Coach John Shotwell. In football, the Knights return running back Derek Jones, who should head an outstanding offensive team.
\ Jefferson Forest - Boys' basketball returns Keith Enslow, one of the leading scorers in the Seminole District with a 16.4 average. Bryan Jennings, a freshman who started the last few weeks in boys' basketball, is another top athlete.
\ Liberty - Ray Brawley is back in football and basketball. Eric Lowry also is an outstanding football player who made the Group AA wrestling tournament. The top girls' athlete might be three-sport star Davonne Witt in basketball, softball and volleyball.
\ Lord Botetourt - The softball team lost only three seniors and returns All-Timesland outfielder Karen Lee along with sophomore pitcher Janelle Sowers from the Group AA runner-up squad. Bobby Prince, a baseball and basketball star who was a member of the Sizzling Sophomores in the latter sport, is a top returning boys' athlete.
\ Patrick Henry - There may not be an outstanding three-sport star, but baseball pitcher Kevin Gabbert could be as good in that sport as anyone in Timesland. Sophomore defensive back Tuan Reynolds is another strong one-sport star. Boys' basketball returns every starter from this year's team. Summer Clayton returns as an outstanding volleyball and softball player.
\ Staunton River - Chris Martin in football and boys' basketball could be a super athlete for the Golden Eagles as they move to the Seminole District. Among the top girls are Leigh Gardner in softball, volleyball and basketball along with Kim Epperly in volleyball and basketball. Christy Parcell, a runner, is in indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country.
\ William Byrd - Three-sport star Brian Young, a sophomore, could be a candidate for Timesland athlete of the year honors in two seasons. He was quarterback and Sizzling Sophomore defensive back in football, a part-time starter in basketball and the Terriers' main pitcher in baseball. In girls' sports, Angie McDaniel is a three-sport star, but basketball is her strongest sport. Marcee Hufton, another sophomore, is strong in basketball and softball. Antonette Veloso is one of the state's best girls' tennis players.
\ William Fleming - Timesland boys' player of the year Joe Fitzgerald and former Sizzling Sophomore player of the year Dontel Arrington are back along with leading Roanoke Valley District girls' scorer Reginia Fields in basketball. The football team has sensational sophomore runner Larry Basham back.
\ Private schools - Roanoke Catholic has soccer player P.J. McCarthy returning as one of the top young players in that sport. North Cross has Chad Burchinal back for baseball and football. Among girls' athletes, All-Timesland second-team softball players Amoreli Ronquillo (Roanoke Catholic) and Kristen Humphries (North Cross) return.
by CNB