Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 6, 1993 TAG: 9306060132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's doubtful that any group in Timesland ever had a better season. The Blacksburg girls won Group AA state championships in cross country, basketball and track.
The volleyball team made the Group AA state tournament and lost to eventual state champion Gretna 15-11, 15-12 in the first round.
Only the girls' tennis team failed to distinguish itself in state competition. However, the Indians even had a big victory in that sport, upsetting Radford 5-3 to win the New River District championship. That triumph by Blacksburg ended Radford's 12-year domination of girls' tennis in the New River.
The basketball team finished unbeaten and will welcome back three starters next season.
In volleyball, Meredith Braine returns after making second team All-Timesland, so that squad should again be strong.
In cross country and track, freshman Sarah Hendricks is back. Hendricks was second to senior teammate Lynn Price in the Group AA state cross-country meet and just missed winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at the state track meet.
The track team will have to find a new coach. Part-time coach Cecile Newcomb is leaving.
Overall, the school had a great year, with the boys' soccer team playing Saturday in a Group AA state semifinal and the boys' tennis team playing in the state tournament during the past week. Individually, Marek Pfeil won the Group AA singles tennis title by beating 1992 champion Brandon Davis of Harrisonburg.
Blacksburg has won three team state titles as a school. Overall, heading into softball and baseball play next week, Timesland had only eight other champions - Salem (Group AA boys' tennis), William Byrd (Group AA golf), Gretna (Group AA volleyball), Glenvar (Group A boys' tennis), Pulaski County (Group AAA Division 6 football), Jefferson Forest (Group AA Division 3 football), North Cross (state independent schools basketball) and George Wythe (Group A track shared with Strasburg).
Also of note, the North Cross boys had a great year in the Virginia Independent Conference. The Raiders won VIC titles in football, basketball, tennis, golf and soccer (spring). Only the wrestling, baseball and track teams failed to win a VIC title. The Raiders don't have a track team.
\ DISAPPOINTING COACHES: The most disappointing group of coaches might be those who guide baseball programs at the schools in and around Roanoke.
Last year, the Roanoke-Salem Hall of Fame started an award to honor the memory of the late Ray Bellamy by picking the outstanding high school player from a seven-county region.
Of the 22 schools eligible to nominate a Bellamy award winner, only six coaches bothered to return nominations. That's a drop-off from last year, when eight coaches submitted nominations.
Each coach in the area is asked to nominate a player, and the board of the Hall of Fame selects three finalists and the ultimate winner.
This year's nominees are: senior third baseman Nicky Coleman of Franklin County, senior shortstop-pitcher Kelly Dampeer of Northside, junior shortstop-pitcher Al Holland Jr. of William Fleming, senior first baseman Donnie Meador of Lord Botetourt, senior infielder Jerry Padgett of Liberty and senior catcher-pitcher Kevin Saunders of William Byrd.
Schools that didn't nominate a player are Auburn, Blacksburg, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Craig County, Floyd County, Glenvar, James River, Jefferson Forest, North Cross, Patrick Henry, Radford, Roanoke Valley Christian, Salem, Shawsville and Staunton River.
The winner will be announced July 15 at the annual Roanoke-Salem Hall of Fame night at Municipal Field, before the Salem Buccaneers' Carolina League baseball game with Winston-Salem.
The fact that 16 coaches failed to nominate a player is all too typical of the way some men and women who direct high school sports programs conduct themselves. While many are very cooperative, a growing number each year do not respond to requests for information on their athletes. Other seemingly must have an act of the state legislature passed before they'll report their team's games.
When calling in games or furnishing information, many don't have full statistics or first names for players. Some of these coaches then wonder why high school sports don't receive more coverage. Before they point fingers at the media, they should first look in the mirror and start with the 16 coaches who didn't take the time to send in a Bellamy nomination in baseball.
\ MIGHT RETURN: Pfeil, who won the Group AA state boys' tennis title, is a junior academically. But he is a senior in athletic eligibility because of a transfer of courses from classes he took outside the United States.
Pfeil, who would qualify for another year of eligibility under all other Virginia High School League rules, plans to appeal.
Either way, he'll return to complete his high school education at Blacksburg, where his younger brother, Mike, will lead an Indians team that should contend for another Group AA state crown.
by CNB