ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 7, 1994                   TAG: 9407070102
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


SUMMER SPORTS IN FULL SWING

Summer means different things to different people as a wide range of activities are going on. So without any delay, here is the lowdown on what's happening in the New River Valley.

CYCLING AROUND: The New River Valley Bicycle Club has filled July with rides several days a week.

Helmets are required for all riders as well as lights for nighttime rides. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult and have a waiver signed by a parent.

The club's monthly meeting is July 19 at 7 p.m. in the Blacksburg Branch Library.

The ride schedule for early July appears below.

Saturday is the "Maggie Ridge (Revisited)," a 65-mile ride through Sinking Creek and John's Creek valleys. Meet at the Newport Community Center at 8 a.m. The ride leader is ALAN JOHNSON (552-4315).

Sunday is the "Training Ride To ... ???" Meet at the Virginia Tech Chapel in Blacksburg at 8 a.m.

July 16 is the "Cruise to Elliston," a 40-mile trek through Ellett Valley. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 9 a.m. The ride leader is RICHARD BURTON (552-5563).

July 17 is "Kicks on Rt. 42," a rolling 50-mile trip through Sinking Creek Valley. Meet at the Newport Community Center at 9 a.m. The ride leader is PAUL SMITH (951-7825).

Every Wednesday is the club's "Social Ride." Meet at the Tech Chapel at 6 p.m.

Thursday is a "Time Trial" on a hilly, 14-mile course. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Lick Run and Mt. Zion Road west of Blacksburg. Call ERIK GRONNING (953-2495) for more information..

MORE CYCLING: Blacksburg Parks and Recreation is sponsoring an 18-mile mountain bike outing along the New River State Trail on July 23.

The cost is $10 for riders with their own bike and $22 for those who rent one.

Registration ends July 18. There is a pre-trip meeting July 21 at 6 p.m.

For more information, call ERIC HILL (961-1135)..

A-HIKING WE WILL GO: Blacksburg Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a hike through Jefferson National Forest on July 16.

Hikers should bring lunch and a small pack to carry personal items.

The cost is $5. The registration deadline is Monday.

For more information, call TED MILLOY (961-1135)..

SUMMER SWIMMING: The Blacksburg Sunfish finished second in a tri-meet in Roanoke last week.

The host Elks Club, the defending league champion, won with 1,397 points, followed by the Sunfish at 818 and Bush Valley at 157.

EUNICE KIM won the Girls ages 9-10 50-meter butterfly (36.49 seconds) and the 100-meter individual medley (1:25.86) in the Gold Division (the highest) and set team records in both for the second straight week.

Other double winners for Blacksburg in the Gold Division were WHIT HUGHSTON (Boys 15-16, 50 butterfly and 100 IM); SARAH CLEMENTS (Girls 17-18, 50 butterfly and 100 IM) and JAMES WOLFE (Men 25-39, 50 butterfly and 100 IM).

In the Silver Division, double winners were LORENA DE LA GARZA (Girls 7-8, 25 butterfly and 100 IM), CARSON SAUNDERS (Boys 17-18, 50 butterfly and 100 IM), MAGGIE ONEY (Women 19-24, 50 butterfly and 100 IM); CHRIS BAUSHER (50 butterfly and 100 IM) and KAYE KRIZ (50 butterfly and 100 IM)..

GET IN SHAPE: Aerobics classes have started for the summer at the Blacksburg Community Center. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The cost is $12 for eight classes ($12 for 13 classes for seniors).

Fall classes will begin after Labor Day in September.

For more information, call the community center (961-1135)..

GOLF GATHERINGS: The Jerri Phillips United Way Golf Tournament is July 29 at the Draper Valley Golf Course in Pulaski County.

The entry fee is $50 per person or $200 per four-person team and includes lunch. The registration deadline is July 22.

For more information, call the United Way of Montgomery County (381-2066) or DARRYL J. GILLESPIE (382-4913)..

YOUNG BATTERS: The Yankees, Astros and Giants came up winners in the Pulaski Parks and Recreation post-season Dixie Baseball tournaments.

The Yankees (7-6) were the surprise winners of the Dixie Majors tournament (ages 11-12). They beat the Mudcats 10-5 in the title game.

MARK WILSON went 4-for-4 with a triple while MATT BURTON and MIKE SANTOLLA had three hits each and JOSH BOWLING belted a home run to lead the Yankees.

The Astros (11-1) got a no-hitter from CHANCE RATCLIFF as they blanked the Astros 13-0 in the finals of the Dixie Minors (ages 9-10). Ratliff struck out15 as he threw his third no-hitter of the year. ROCKY ANDERSON provided the offense, going 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBI.

The Giants (11-1) got a strong pitching performance from BRAD ANDERSON, who struck out 13, as they blanked the Reds 4-0 in the championship game. MIKE CROCKETT provided the offense with a two-run double in the first inning.

The Pulaski Sox of the Dixie Majors (ages 15-18) are off to an 8-5 start.

CALEB HURD has been one of the squad's standouts. He is 5-1 as a pitcher and has four multi-hit games. JOE JARRELLS has had three straight multi-hit games as the Sox have run off a three-game winning streak. He had three hits in an 11-0 win over Montgomery County. And KEITH DEHART has had a pair of three-hit games for the Sox.

The Sox record could even be better; three of their losses have been by a single run.

The Pulaski Dixie Youth team (ages 15-16) has been almost unbeatable, winning 13 of its first 15 games.

SHANE CALLAHAN leads the offense with five home runs and more than 20 RBI.

Other offensive standouts include L.A. WOODS, who won a game with a two-out, two-run double in the last inning, and KENNY AKERS, who has also whacked a home run.

On the mound, left-hander BRIAN DALTON is 5-1, STEVE OWEN is 3-0 with a one-hitter in which he struck out10, and RONALD BRANCH is 2-1 with a no-hitter and a 10-strikeout game as his two victories..

SULTANS OF SOFTBALL: Athletes Choice and Golden Corral remained unbeaten in the Pulaski Men's Softball League.

A.C. got two shutouts from CONLEY HICKS as it beat Pulaski Hospital 15-0 and LEP Profitt 23-0. Hicks has a league record 32 shutouts.

DAVID ALDERMAN ripped two home runs in the win over LEP. MATT DEAN went 4-for-4 in the victory over Pulaski Hospital.

Golden got 23 runs in the sixth inning as it swamped the Swamp Rats 29-7. And BRIAN GOLDEN lifted it past Sonic Drive In 11-8 with a late-inning two-run homer.

Elsewhere around the league, ED LEWIS of the Outlaws became the 16th player to reach the 100-home run plateau for his career. Lewis hit a grand slam to key a 20-3 win over Xaloy.

M.J. Dougherty covers racing and community sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.



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