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

DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994                   TAG: 9412020044
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD LOSES BASEBALL COACH TO VMI

Scott Gines, the Radford University baseball coach since 1988, has sent a letter to alumni baseball players saying that he has resigned that post to take the head coaching job at VMI, his alma mater.

He said in a letter dated Nov.30: ``It is not often that one has such an opportunity to go back and to coach where he played, and I feel honored that they have pursued me and chosen me for this task.''

Radford started its program in 1985 and never had a winning season until after Gines arrived. The first winning season was in 1989. His first recruiting class produced right-hander Phil Leftwich, who is now a pitcher for the California Angels.

Gines is taking over for Chris Finwood, who resigned at VMI earlier this year to accept an assistant coaching position at Auburn.

The Danville Braves have announced that Max Venable will be the team's manager for the 1995 season.

Venable, a former player for the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds, will be assisted by pitching coach Mark Ross and hitting coach Angel Morris.

Venable managed last year at Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League. He had coached there the previous year.

nJoey Beard, one of the most celebrated basketball players to come out of Virginia in recent years, plans to transfer from Duke to Boston University, several sources confirmed.

Beard, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from South Lakes High in Reston, is recovering from a bout with mononucleosis and has not played for the Blue Devils this season. He played in only 17 games last year, when he averaged 1.2 points and 0.5 rebounds.

Beard, a McDonald's and Parade All-American in high school, will join first-year Boston University coach Dennis Wolff. Wolff was an assistant at Virginia when the Cavaliers finished second to Duke for Beard in the fall of 1992.

by CNB