Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 22, 1991 TAG: 9103210224
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ 1. The one Carroll County is in.
\ 2. The one occupied by everybody else.
"The district looks pretty balanced," Radford coach Wayne Pridgen said. "That is, everybody but Carroll County.
Not so fast there, said Carroll County coach Bill Worrell.
"We hadn't won a game yet," he said last week, "and we went 0-3 in our own jamboree."
Indignities, indignities.
But that's what some would have you believe the Cavaliers are poised to heap on the heads of its fellow league members.
"We could be good," he said. "But all it takes is a sore arm or a bad hop. . . ."
Then there's the current configuration of the district, he said. With just four teams, anything can happen.
"With four teams, you're just playing one game per week," Worrell said. "With that kind of schedule, all you need is one pitcher. That makes everybody a contender."
So with three quality arms to work with, what does that make the Cavaliers? Compared to everybody else in this little league, it make them loaded.
Still, there are questions. The most important one deals with right-hander Matt Montgomery's ability to bounce back from an elbow problem that hampered him a year ago. Montgomery played plenty behind the plate - Worrell says that he's one of the best catchers the Cavs have ever had - but his mound duties were limited to 15 innings.
He averaged a strikeout an inning. Montgomery also hit .417 with 25 hits and 19 RBI.
Also in the rotation is junior Daniel Easter, another right-hander who saw limited duty because of an injury. His was a broken hand, the product of off-field brawling.
"I thought about putting him out of his misery," Worrell said.
Perhaps Worrell will be glad he restrained himself if Easter pitches as he's capable. When he was available, Easter went 3-2 with a 3.13 earned run average and 45 strikeouts in 31 innings.
More pitching will come from James Phillips, dinamite in relief a year ago as a freshman. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder had a 4-2 record, four saves, a 0.79 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 35 innings. At the plate, he can hit it a long way if he gets a hold of one.
Elsewhere, the Cavaliers aren't as experienced. Outfielders Dennis Cobler (.302) and Richard Bowman (.250) and infielders Chris Leonard (.261) and Kevin Lindsey (.461) are the veterans.
\ Christiansburg is coming into the season with three-straight district championships. If the Blue Demons are to snare a fourth, they're going to have to come up with some pitching.
Scott Lucas is the only proven performer on the mound , if 15 innings work constitutes being proven. In two starts and two relief appearances, Lucas compiled a 5.70 ERA. Lucas' hitting resume is more extensive: .393 with 11 RBI.
"If what I've seen so far in the preseason is any indication, then he's going to have a good season," Litton said. "He's looked really good."
Another formidable bat is wielded by Toby Akers (.386), a junior making the switch from designated hitter to catcher. Second baseman Mike Sweeney, a good glove man, will have to prove he can swing a bat as well as he does leather. Sweeney will also get a chance to show what he can do on the mound.
Right fielder John Gunter (.133) has a lot of room to improve at the plate. Of course, he only had 15 at bats last year. Richard Shaver and Willie Sabo split time at third last year and will do so again. Sabo, one of the team's most versatile athletes, will play elsewhere in the field when Shaver mans third.
Ryan Trueblood, who came up to varsity at midyear in 1990, will be the shortstop and Shaun McGuire, ineligible a year ago, figures to be in center.
John Porter will play first and, in a jam, serve as a left-handed pitcher.
Right-hander Jason Basham is a sophomore whose future is considered bright.
\ Blacksburg's future could be bright if its players turn out to be.
"This is a talented group and I'm excited about them," second-year coach Steve Price said. "It'll be up to the coach to get it out of them, though. Last year, we lost about seven games by one run and most of those from ignorance."
Price found himself constantly stressed out as players threw to the wrong base, missed cutoff men, and ran the team out of big innings. Honoring the fundamentals will be the key to this team's success, Price believes.
As he said, the athletic ability is there. Matt Smith will be a key figure is he makes a successful transition from second base to shortstop or third. Smith also figures to pitch. Last year, Smith hit .341 with 14 runs scored, five extra base hits, and 10 RBI.
C.B. Linkous' development behind the plate is also considered pivotal. Linkous ought to be able to produce at the plate (.271 in 1990) but he needs to handle pitchers better and improve as a pitch caller, Price said.
Two good hitters reside in the outfield in Dean Price (.385) and Ronald Mitchiner (.343).
Year in and year out, Blacksburg seems to be long on hitters and short on pitchers. If that is to change, then Walter Smith (4-0 before being hurt in 1990) must come through. If he and one or two others emerge, then the Indians will be in the title chase.
\ Radford has talent, but it may be stretched too thin.
"We lost a lot of power [to graduation]," Pridgen said. "It looks like we're going to be hitting some singles and trying to steal some bases."
And trying to get as much mileage as possible out of left-hander Chad Phillips, who struck out 68 batters last year, the sixth-highest total in Timesland. Phillips will also serve at first base.
Aside from Phillips, seasoned players are few. Brodie Smith, the shortstop, is the team's best hitter. Matthew Saunders, at second base, ought to be the team's primary long-ball threat. Outfielder Chris Learn is a solid outfielder.
Wayne Lineburg is coming up from the junior varsity and will be expected to anchor the No. 2 spot in the rotation. Learn will be called on to pitch, too, as will Richie Delaney, also a designated hitter.
Radford has 15 players with varsity experience, but only four of them as starters.
by CNB