Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 13, 1993 TAG: 9305130336
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Cave Spring's Roger White had a very long list.
First, he needed a pitcher to step in and take over for not one but two starters who had graduated.
Then, he had to have a No. 4 or No. 5 hitter to put in the lineup behind senior Will Goodman, one of the team's few experienced players and only proven slugger.
Next on the list of had-to-haves was some youngsters, prospects on which to build the Knights future.
Many coaches would be pleased to have one or two of his wishes work out. White got the full slate.
As a result, the sneak-up-on-'em Knights have been the surprise of the Group AAA Roanoke Valley District at 9-3 overall, 7-1 in the league going into last Friday's games.
"Conceivably, we could be undefeated," White said just before the Knights walked into a William Fleming piranha pool and were chewed up 11-5.
Before that, the only blemishes were two losses at Halifax to open the season: the first 13-11, the second 7-6 after Cave Spring had led 6-3 in the seventh inning.
So what's gone right for this group?
Naturally, it got the pitching it needed. Kevin Vineyard stepped up after being the third or second starter last year to start out 5-0 with a 1.47 earned run average. Vineyard, a junior, won't overpower many people, but he does have a tricky sidearm delivery that seems to give a lot of people trouble. Vineyard is pitching considerably better now than he did a year ago, and he was pretty good then.
"I guess it's the confidence," he said. "I have a lot of it. We have a lot of good hitters on this team and they score us a lot of runs.
"I tell the hitters to go score me a run or two, and I'll make that lead stand up."
The strong bat behind Goodman also materialized in Kevin Davis, a junior outfielder who has produced a .368 average, two homers and a team-leading 22 RBI, which also was tied for the lead in Timesland. Davis batted fifth before a hot stick in the first two games got him shoved up in the cleanup slot and Goodman to third.
"I like batting there," Goodman said. "With the guys we have in the first three spots, there are always guys on base to drive in."
The young guys came through as well. White kept six sophomores and a freshman, more underclassmen than any time during his tenure.
"The younger players have pushed the older players, and the older players have given the younger players the leadership they'll need so that they can be good in the next couple of years," White said.
The most prominent of the newcomers has been leadoff man Robert Kaczmarek (.455, 20 runs scored) and pitcher Robey Caldwell, the No. 2 starter.
The seniors have been getting it done, too. Scott Fayed leads the team in hitting with a .486 average and no strikeouts. Goodman, at third base, hits for average (.452), power (two home runs, 12 RBI), and has two saves to show for the manner in which he executes his stopper's role.
Goodman helped himself by playing American Legion ball last summer as well as hitting off the tee in his basement, sometimes taking 100-150 cuts per night.
"I felt like I had to be a team leader," he said. "That's what's expected of the returning players."
Despite the loss to Fleming, Cave Spring is still in the driver's seat of the district title chase. The Knights already have beaten Franklin County, the preseason favorite, twice.
Cave Spring was fortunate that the Eagles did not have their best pitcher, left-hander Phil Bowles, in either of their games. Davis, for one, isn't interested in alibis on Franklin County's behalf.
"There was some luck there - luck always plays a role in sports," he said. "But we've played very well, too."
by CNB