Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992 TAG: 9203190386
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, Vida Blue, Steve Carlton, Juan Marichal. The kid's been blessed."
The elder Holland didn't drop his own name, but he could have. A long major-league pitching career gave him superior teaching credentials of his own.
Both Hollands figure to give perennial second-division William Fleming a real boost in the Roanoke Valley District. Holland Sr. provides instruction and is a fireballing batting practice pitcher as assistant coach. Holland Jr., a sophomore, contributes an 80-mile-per-hour fastball, a nice bat and savvy at shortstop.
"There's a lot of emotion going around right now," said Holland Jr.
The change in atmosphere is already apparent.
"We're as far along right now as we were at midseason last year," said Head Coach David Spangler.
The Colonels, who finished last in the Roanoke Valley District in 1991, have All Timesland outfielder Tommy Page back to go with fellow veterans Phillip Palmer at catcher, pitcher Travis McLaughlin, outfielder Eddie Jones, second baseman Mike Souma, and left fielder Brian Turner.
The Hollands are reunited for the first time in three years as coach and player.
"He's like any other coach," said Holland Jr. "He stresses discipline, fundamentals, and he treats everbody the same. Well, he's always going to be a little tougher on me."
Each seems eager to get on with it.
"It's going to be a great challenge, but I believe we have the personnel to turn things around here," Holland Sr., said.
Elsewhere in the Roanoke area:
\ CAVE SPRING: The Knights, the Metro area's most consistent team for many years, have been to the Group AAA Northwestern Region the last three seasons and will be contenders again.
Roger White's team will build around a core of good hitters including first baseman Mark Schwartz (.469, two home runs, 25 runs batted in), catcher Reid Herskovitz (.346, 12 RBI), center fielder Mike Ergle (.318), and second baseman Tony Russell (.343, one HR, 10 RBI), a converted designated hitter.
Much is being asked of pitchers Steve Hawks (3-1, 2.79 earned run average) and Kerry Whitt (4-0, 2.10).
\ CRAIG COUNTY: Of 15 players, eight are freshmen, which means new coach Dallas Fisher and shortstop David McPherson have a lot of leading to do.
\ GLENVAR: The Highlanders, 14-4 a year ago, have good reason to believe they will challenge Pioneer District favorite Covington for the league title.
Glenvar is led by a group of sophomores including 6-foot, 180-pound left-hander Jason Anderson (4-2, three saves, 2.07 ERA, 77 strikeouts in 44 innings, .406, 24 hits), catcher Joey Hutton (.367), center fielder Timmy Carroll (14 of 16 steals), and third baseman David Henderson (.387).
\ JAMES RIVER: The Knights will struggle because of a lack of pitching depth. However, James River ought to be in some interesting games because of the hitting of players such as second baseman Doug Mundy (.444 last year, .380 career), infielder Brian Sink, and outfielder Ryan Shotwell.
\ LORD BOTETOURT: The Cavaliers will battle all the way for the district crown, which they have won each of the last two years.
Bobby Prince (8-2, 2.23 ERA) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a regional game with Tunstall last year and may be the best big-game pitcher around. The offense is in the capable hands of outfielders Matt Edwards (.319) Timmy Meador (.279, three HR), first baseman Donnie Meador, and catcher Ben Taylor, a transfer from Northside by way of Georgia.
\ NORTH CROSS: The Raiders could be a year away. Shortstop/pitcher Ryan Shaver (3-3, 4.30 ERA, .358), third-baseman Aaron Lange (.410), shortstop-pitcher Jason Davis, and first-baseman-pitcher Dieter Oelschlager are all underclassmen. Outfielder Marcus Cardwell and designated hitter Wally Saunders have good speed, and Ben Shockley adds versatility and senior leadership.
\ NORTHSIDE: The Vikings assure that the Blue Ridge will be one of the most highly competitive districts in the state.
Northside, under new coach Greg Booker, is strong at the top of the order with free swingers Kelly Dampeer (.563, three HR, 21 RBI, 19 runs), Chris Hatcher (.450, 32 hits, four HR), and Scott Manning (.304).
Right-handers Mark Freeland and Allan Christian also will provide some experienced pitching. The Vikings may get a boost from right-hander John Baker, who has been away from baseball a year but throws hard and is expected to be used out of the bullpen.
\ PATRICK HENRY: The youth movement is on for the Patriots, who barely stayed out of the Roanoke Valley District cellar last year. Seven of the 15 team members have never played varsity baseball. But two sophomores - shortstop Gary Johnson and catcher Brad Wright - look to be on the way to promising careers.
\ ROANOKE VALLEY CHRISTIAN: The Eagles, by contrast to fellow Virginia Independent Conference member North Cross, will have a veteran team.
Pitcher/infielder Chris Taylor, catcher Bob Apjok, third-baseman Jerry Burke, and first-baseman Aaron Slocomb figure to be the marquee attractions.
\ SALEM: The Spartans, who won six straight to open 1991 and then lost their last 12, need to find some consistency, particularly with the bats.
During the first six games of 1991, Salem hit .427 collectively; thereafter it was .132. This year, right-hander Corey Epperly represents stability on the mound. Tracy Butt and Daniel Johnson (23 walks) will lead the offense.
\ WILLIAM BYRD: Experience, strong pitching, and a win-one-for-the-Gipper attitude make the Terriers a leading Group AA Blue Ridge District contender.
The pitching of Brian Young (4-2, 3.27, 54 strikeouts in 40 innings), Matt Reynolds (4-0, 1.32 ERA, 47 strikeouts in 31 innings), Andy Dewease (2-0, two saves, six relief appearances), and left-hander Chris Woolfolk is the team's strength. Catcher Josh Herman (.417, four HR, two strikeouts in 110 at bats) and Reynolds (.377, four HR, 24 RBI) can whack the baseball with the best of them. Another possible factor in the Terriers' favor is that this is Coach Gary Walthall's last year, and there could be strong motivation to send him out on a good note.
Byrd's main liability: zero speed.
by CNB