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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990                   TAG: 9007130257
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Bob McLelland correspondent
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

DREAM TEAM

"There might be teams around with better individual players," Wells explained. "But I have never been associated with a team that had 18 players who can do more things and do them well. I know I am not scared to use any of them at any time or in any situation. They are just a joy to be around. They actually make coming to practice a pleasure."

Dave Thomas, who is an assistant coach with Don Phillips, serves as the team's business manager. Thomas has been associated with the team for five years and served as head coach several years. Thomas calls the team "the most dedicated one I have been around."

Thomas, who owns two area Arby's stores, says the team is not the most talented but the most enjoyable to coach. "They are all so dedicated and want to improve," he said. "They come to practice early, and some are always wanting to stay around for more work."

West apparently is out to make its coaches look good. The team jumped off to a good start in the 10-team Blue Ridge District. The team won 12 of its first 13 games to take an early lead in the district.

West is a varied group of 18 players who have been honed from an initial group of 30 candidates.

First of all, the players come from five area high schools - Salem, Northside, Glenvar, Shawsville and Christiansburg.

The players are both experienced and young. There are three who graduated from high school last year, two of whom have played college ball. One has played for Wells four years, and two have played three years.

Then, there are the young ones. Two have just completed their freshman year in high school and four others are sophomores. Wells also is blessed with seven players whom he can call on to pitch, something of a rarity for Legion ball.

The real veteran of the team is Rob Gibson, who is both a pitcher and designated hitter. Gibson, a Salem graduate, is playing his fourth summer of Legion ball. This spring, he played at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Gibson agrees with his coaches about the spirit of the team.

"I'm real excited about playing this summer," Gibson explained. "All the guys do their best and hustle all the time, even in practice. We have a lot of guys who can play several places. I remember one game when we were getting beat and Billy put in almost a whole new team. I know he took me out as a designated hitter. Darn if we didn't come back and win the game."

Gibson posted a 6-2 record at Aiken playing both varsity and junior varsity ball. He was not happy with his varsity time and plans to transfer to another school in the fall. He is hoping his Legion play this summer will interest some other schools to offer him a try.

Wells said Gibson is much stronger this summer and has a much harder fast ball. He also has improved his hitting, both in power and consistency.

The two-year veterans are first baseman Pat Rakes, who played for Wells at Shawsville and this past spring at Ferrum College, and Rodney Vest, who graduated from Salem last year but did not play this past spring.

Vest recently injured his ankle, however, in a pickup basketball game and will be sidelined for several games.

Wells said Rakes, who made all-state at Glenvar, is a power-hitter and is doing a good job defensively.

Mike Royal is a pitcher-outfielder from Christiansburg, who was voted player of the year in the New River District. "He has quite an arm," said Wells. "I know when he is not pitching, we like to use him in the outfield. He probably has the strongest arm on the team."

Kelly Dampeer is one of the younger players. He was a star as a freshman for the Northside varsity this spring. "He might only be 15," explained Wells, "but he has a lot of all-around athletic ability. He hits well and does a good job in the infield. He has a great future ahead."

Eric Smith is a catcher who was graduated from Salem this year. He plans to attend the University of Richmond as a walk-on. "He is one of our hardest workers," Wells said. "He's one of the first here and the last to leave at practices."

Chris Hatcher, a second baseman who played as a sophomore for Northside this season, is called a "good contact hitter, who we use No. 2 in the batting order."

Bobby Foster is a third baseman from Northside who set a Legion record last season when he smacked three consecutive home runs and drove in seven runs.

Wells is a manager who knows baseball and has playing experience to show for himself. He played on the last Glenvar team that won a Group AA district title in 1977, and for the first Salem team that won the Group AAA Roanoke Valley District in 1978. He won all-metro honors each year and then was a trip captain at Longwood College as a freshman. He has been a winning coach at Shawsville for five years.

While Wells and Thomas are excited about the fast start of their West team, neither is predicting a district title. "There are still a lot of games to play," Wells said. "And there are many good teams in the district, especially Post 3 South. But we know all our guys will do their best the rest of the summer. After all, that's all you can ask of them."