Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 25, 1990 TAG: 9007250104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I think we have the best 16-and-under team in the country," Brian Schwartz said. "Of course, we haven't played a game yet."
The Spirit, comprised of players from central and western Virginia, will get that chance Saturday. The team will play in the national tournament that runs through Aug. 5 at the Philadelphia Phillies' minor-league complex at Clearwater, Fla.
Brackets have yet to be announced. The 24-team tournament will be divided into four pools of six teams each, with each pool playing round-robin. The two teams with the best records from each pool advance to an eight-team double-elimination medal round.
Under such a system, pitching becomes very important. That's one of the reasons Schwartz likes his team's chances.
"We went to the 14-and-under tournament two years ago and finished second," he said. "We would have won if we'd had a little more pitching. This time, I went out and got six or seven pitchers."
They are: Brian Young of William Byrd; Devin Floyd of Grayson County; Scott Phillips of Shawsville; James Phillips of Carroll County; left-hander Daniel Easter of Carroll County; Matt Montgomery of Carroll County; David Campbell of Alleghany; and left-hander Omari Venable of George Washington of Danville.
Floyd and James Phillips were among a large group of outstanding Timesland sophomores this spring. Scott Phillips threw a no-hitter. Montgomery and Easter were hard-throwing regulars on the Carroll County staff. Venable, 14, beat Cave Spring in the Group AAA Northwest Region playoffs.
The roster is filled out by first baseman/outfielder Mark Schwartz of Cave Spring, second baseman Reid Herskovitz of Cave Spring, shortstop Jamie Stroud of Meadowbrook High in Richmond, and outfielder Chris Hatcher of Northside.
This is a team not likely to be intimidated by national competition. Campbell, Young, Schwartz, Herskovitz, Stroud and Hatcher were members of the 14-and-under runner-up team of a couple of years ago. Campbell, Schwartz, and Hatcher were tapped as AAU All-Americans.
The other coaches are Bob Herskovitz and Butch Hatcher.
Because there was no state qualifier, the team was tendered an at-large bid. Schwartz recruited the players by scouting and through word-of-mouth recommendation.
"We picked these guys on athletic ability but also on attitude," Schwartz said. "They're good kids. I may sound arrogant, but I really think we have a heck of a team here."
by CNB