ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 13, 1994                   TAG: 9408050015
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


ODU HIRES RIVAL'S COACH FOR BASEBALL

Old Dominion hired Virginia Commonwealth's baseball coach, Tony Guzzo, on Tuesday to direct its program.

Guzzo, a Norfolk native who took over the VCU program in 1983, guided the Rams to a 329-300-1 record. Virginia Commonwealth finished 30-25-1 in 1994.

He led Virginia Commonwealth to a Metro Conference regular-season championship and the final of the NCAA Central Regional in 1992. The Rams won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title in 1988, when they made their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Before taking over at VCU, Guzzo guided North Carolina Wesleyan to a 106-66 record, including trips to the NCAA Division III World Series in 1981 and 1982.

``Tony's priorities include placing a strong emphasis on the academic performance of his players, and I am pleased with his emphasis on `off-the-field' performance values,'' said Jim Jarrett, Old Dominion's athletic director.

In other sports in the region:

Clemson forward Devin Gray, who suffered a heart attack April 4, is taking classes and says he thinks he can play basketball again.

Gray, 22, said he had been released by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to continue his rehabilitation in Greenville, S.C.

Bobby Robinson, Clemson's athletic director, said he had asked Clemson's lawyers to look into legal and insurance problems if Gray were cleared to play again. A decision on whether Gray will play probably will not be made until practice begins.

``He's given the impression that if he's cleared, he wants to play,'' said Tim Bourret, Clemson's sports information director.

Gray led the ACC in field-goal percentage last season and averaged 14.4 points, more than twice as many as any other returning player for the Tigers. He has scheduled a teleconference today to discuss his situation.

Nick Varney of Salem won two matches in the 20th Annual Bobby Bowers Memorial Junior Golf Tournament at Springfield Golf and Country Club.

In his first match, Varney defeated Francis DeSouza of Clifton on the 20th hole. In his second match, Varney ousted Mark Rottman 2-1. Today, Varney will play Phillip Welke in the round of 16 of the 16-17 division.

Michael King of Roanoke was defeated 4-and-3 by James Forehand of Lynchburg in the first round of match play in the 16-17 division, and Scott Griffin of Troutville was beaten 4-and-3 by Carey Bliley of Hanover.

George Pickral defeated Bedford's Lee Fisher 2-up in the boys' 14-15 division, and Roanoke's Jason Orlando advanced with a 5-4 victory over Marshall Biddington.

Lee Shirley of Roanoke shot a first-round 89 at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in Edmond, Okla.

Ann Pohira of Winter Park, Fla., leads the golf event, played at Oak Tree Country Club, with a 73. The tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, continues today.

The Cave Spring American Little League all-stars defeated Covington 14-6 to win the District 12 tournament.That's it for them; no state play.

Eric Jones led the way for Cave Spring, pitching a complete game and going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Bill Trent and Lynn Collins went out with a victory in their last game as coaches for Cave Spring.



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