Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007200437
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB McLELLAND CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And Mitchell can think of no better time for the team to explode than during the Blue Ridge District playoffs that begin Wednesday in the Roanoke area, with all 10 teams involved.
A shaky start with many disappointing losses has the North team out of the running for the regular-season title. But the upcoming playoffs have Mitchell and his squad thinking big.
"We lost a lot of games we should have won early in the season," Mitchell said. "But the kids have never lost their desire or confidence in themselves. We have a great group, and they all still have their spirit. They are all ready to go all out in the playoffs to show they have a good team."
The North squad is composed of players from William Byrd, Lord Botetourt, Staunton River and Roanoke Valley Christian high schools.
Several Legion veterans are on the team. Chris Dillard, a first-baseman who graduated from Botetourt last year, is playing his fourth season with the team. The three-year veterans are five players from Byrd - Kevin Adams, Chris Duncan, Mark Mitchell, the coach's son, Gary Saunders, and Kevin Saunders.
Mitchell thinks he has good pitching with Jimmy Nichols from Botetourt. Others who can be called on include Chuck Livengood, also from Botetourt, and Duncan, Brian Young, Matt Reynolds and Andy DeWease, all from Byrd.
"I think we have excellent pitching," said Mitchell. "But they just haven't been able to live up to their potential."
The same thing might be said of the team's hitting and fielding, according to Mitchell.
"We have some great hitters, but we just haven't been able to get the key hits," he explained.
"Our fielding is good but then we make an error or two at the wrong times. We just seem to be snakebit. But we are still a potential winning team. I just hope we can show it in the playoffs."
Nichols and Livengood led the Blue Ridge District in hitting this past spring, and Mitchell looks for the two to find their heavy bats before the playoffs.
The leading team hitter in early games has been Josh Herman, a catcher who enjoyed a great junior year with the Byrd Terriers. Herman is a long ball hitter who also has a good batting eye. He had 140 at-bats in high school and Legion games this season before striking out.
Tony Huddleston of Staunton River is a player who has been hitting in recent games.
Reynolds, who stands 6 feet 4, made All-Blue Ridge District this spring as did several other North players. Young is both a football quarterback and regular in basketball but has yet to realize his potential in baseball as a first baseman and pitcher.
Scot Davis, a second baseman from Botetourt, and Steve Short, a first baseman-outfielder from Byrd, are two other North players who are scheduled to explode before the season is complete. Another player who has yet to find his batting eye is outfielder Mark Mitchell.
Jimmy Mitchell has been involved in Legion baseball for 10 years. He developed winners in the 1960s and '70s when Roanoke Post 3 sponsored only one team. Several of his teams won district titles and made strong showings in the state playoffs. He has been coaching North for three seasons.
He is assisted this season by his oldest son, Mike, who played at Patrick Henry and at Radford University, and Mike Hunter, a former infielder in the Minnesota Twins organization.
by CNB