Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 17, 1994 TAG: 9403170157
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Dunavant was coaching at old Dublin High and he had his club in the Group AA Region IV final against powerful Virginia High. The Dukes had a big left-hander by the name of Freddie Akers on the hill, and the kid had been flat brilliant, fanning a staggering 26 batters through 13th innings.
But then there was a catastrophe. Akers, whose best deliveries were brutal for anybody to handle, whether they be batter or catcher, uncorked a wild one. And that's how the Bearcats scored the winning run in a 3-2 stomach-turner.
Fabulous game despite the unhappy ending, right?
``Yes it was,'' Dunavant said.
That was Dunavant's valedictory as a baseball boss. Or was it?
After 20 years of blissful retirement, Dunavant is back at a new post in the dugout, this time for Pulaski County High. So long was he away that one of his predecessors as Cougars coach was the same Freddie Akers.
Dunavant said there isn't much difference in players now and then.
There is one difference in the current Cougars and those Dukes of yore, although he didn't mention it: Pulaski County's chances at a berth in the postseason are not what those of Dublin were that year.
The Cougars are rebuilding from the sod up in a district prowled by sharks such as Cave Spring, Franklin County, and Cave Spring.
But what better man for the Pulaski County job than a highly-respected man of 58 who had, among other resume entries, 12 years of successful coaching not to mention a stint as the assistant principal at Pulaski County before retiring to his hunting, fishing, and gardening?
``When John Bowler [last year's coach] decided to get out of it, some people asked me if I'd be interested in doing it,'' Dunavant said. ``At the time, I wasn't. But I thought about it some more and changed my mind.''
The resulting task at hand involves one senior, eight juniors, nine sophomores, and four freshmen. There will be a completely new infield, a completely new outfield, and a pitching staff with just a gloveful of prior innings pitched. Sounds like a return to the fundamentals is at hand.
``That's exactly what we're doing,'' he said. ``All we're working on is throwing, running, pitching, and hitting.''
The most experienced player is catcher Tim Davis, who started as a freshman and batted .243 last year as a sophomore. The other veterans are Chris Heidt, a third baseman-pitcher and Jason McNew, a shortstop converted from the outfield.
The leading candidates in the outfield appear to be juniors Michael Rupe and Christopher Ratcliffe and freshman Shane Callahan, who is likely to land in center field because he among the team's fastest players.
As for the infield, take your pick between Matt Hill and Keith DeHart at first; between Brian Roop or L.A. Woods at second; between sophomore Jeremy Almarode and McNew at short; and among Caleb Hurd, Rudge Arnold, and Heidt at third.
The pitching?
``Probably by committee,'' Dunavant said.
Sounds like a long-term project we have here.
``I plan on being here at least four years,'' Dunavant said. ``I want to see the freshmen I start with finish. Then we'll see what happens after that.''
Elsewhere among the baseball teams in the New River Valley:
Blacksburg needs reliable pitching to challenge favorite Carroll County for the New River District crown; the Indians will be able to whack it well enough to contend if the pitching holds up.
Coach Jim Shockley has adequate firepower in right fielder Jay Safford (.358, 18 runs batted in, four doubles, three triples), center fielder Greg Shockley (.282, 14 RBI, 10 steals as a Timesland Sizzling Sophomore), outfielder Michael Donohue (.396), second baseman Jim Hensel (.278), and first baseman Clay Scott (.250).
Safford, Shockley, and Hensel all have limited pitching experience, but they're going to have to learn quick. Right-hander Brian Smith and Travis White and lefty Patrick Martin also could help.
Christiansburg has a new coach in Chris Lucas, who succeeds Kirk Litton.
Lucas thinks he has a couple of standout pitchers in southpaw Denny Self (0-2, 2.20 ERA) and right-hander Byron Gates to go with a good looking prospect in lefty Eric Anderson, who last toiled for the junior varsity.
The defense will be anchored by two-year starter Donnie Tawney at short.
After that, it gets iffy. The only real solid bats belong to Self (.400, two home runs) and Gates (.280).
``You can win with defense and pitching and that's what we're going to have to do early because I think we may have trouble scoring runs,'' Lucas said.
Radford is recovering from a hangover left from a 4-14 1993 campaign.
The most exciting news out of the Bobcats camp is the return of Mark Franklin, ineligible last year but a .385 hitter as a freshman. Franklin will fit into what Coach Wayne Pridgen thinks is going to be a solid pitching staff that also includes right-hander Ryan Brittle, who earned three of the team's four victories, Matt Linkous, and Foster Ridpath.
Derek Englehard at short and Hart Fowler at second started last year as freshmen.
As at Christiansburg, runs may be hard to come by, but Pridgen thinks it's unlikely to be as tough as last year.
``It was almost like we had to tell our pitchers to go out and pitch a shutout,'' he said.
Giles received harsh news when Sizzling Sophomore shortstop Raypheal Milton turned up with a bum shoulder that will require surgery.
But if anybody could handle such a devestating loss, it's the Spartans. One reason is pitching, which will be as deep as any in the Mountain Empire District with left-hander Mitch Reed (3-0, 3.10, 37 strikeouts in 30 innings), lefty Jason Dunn (who is trying to shake off a sore arm), and Josh Stephens of the JV, yet another lefty.
The pitching will hold the fort while the bats come around, as Spartans coach Bruce Frazier is reasonably certain they will.
Billy Martin will be moving behind the plate after serving at designated hitter last year. Marty Smith (.937 fielding percentage) is likely to move from second to short. Patrick Steele, J.C. Riggs, and Shannon Pyles will be a highly-competent outfield.
Giles will be a leading contender in the Mountain Empire District.
Narrows, too, will be in the MED hunt.
The Green Wave has one of the top two or three players in Timesland in center fielder Whitey Blankenship (.587, 7 doubles, 7 home runs, 30 RBI, 16 of 17 steal attempts). Additionally, Narrows have such heavy hitters as catcher Brett Mosely (.390, 7 HR, 17 RBI), outfielder Jarrett Rhodes (.361, 12 steals), and Cory McGlothlin (.343), and outfielder Brandon Hollie (.294).
The pitching is a little more problematic. Jeff White (4-2, 1.40 ERA, 44 strikeouts in 35 innings) has the most innings. McGlothlin has no experience, but he's going to get the ball. Nor does youngster Ronnie Spicer, a left-hander. Narrows coach Rick Franklin has high hopes for Spicer.
Floyd County has six starters back from a team that tied for third in the MED last year.
The Buffaloes will hit with the likes of catcher Peter Bucklin (.428, 18 RBI), third baseman Josh Howery (.356, 19 RBI), outfielder Tosha Chantal (.353, 10 RBI), and Charles Blackwell (.319, 12 RBI).
The pitching will fall to Phillip Marshall (4-3, 4.00 ERA as the No. 2 starter last year), who doubles as a sophomore; right-hander Sammy Burton; and 6-foot-5 Robert Favre.
Auburn is flush with players for the first time in a long time, having 43 in the program in grades 8-12.
Among the best are shortstop Bradley Hudgins (.396, 4 HR, 13 RBI), catcher Terry Millirons (.364), designated hitter Steve Francis (.323), and center fielder Danny Dickerson.
Hudgins, Millirons, and John Lytton will handle most of the pitching.
Shawsville, as always, will be sound on the mound.
Drew Smith (6-4, 3.89), Tony Maxey (2-2, one save, 2.31 ERA), and newcomer Jason Smith, all have four piches, change speeds, and throw strikes. Smith is the left-hander of the trio and Coach Billy Wells has high hopes for him.
Handling all that pitching will be catcher Ben Basham (.383, 3 HR, 17 RBI), an All Region C choice who set a school record with a .990 fielding average. Shorstop Mark Akers hit .327 with 16 runs and 12 steals last year as a sophomore.
by CNB