Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK BULLOCK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Long
Like many who have gone before him, David Groseclose believes the education he has received at VMI far surpasses the academic counseling.
Unlike many, however, Groseclose wouldn't mind going back and starting all over again.
``I wish I had three more years of college to improve,'' VMI's shortstop said before heading off for an organic evolution exam.
He won't play any more college baseball after VMI concludes its season, but it's likely Groseclose will be chosen in major-league baseball's annual draft this summer.
Keydets coach Scott Gines says Groseclose's best days in baseball are ahead of him. That says a lot, considering the former standout at Alleghany High School holds VMI career records for hits (198) and stolen bases (99), is batting .319 this season and has been a second-team All-Southern Conference selection the past two seasons.
But those are offensive statistics, and Gines says Groseclose flashes his greatest brilliance in the field.
``David is without question the best defensive shortstop of all the Division I schools in Virginia,'' Gines said. ``You can spend a lot of time looking for a guy who has the base-running and defensive skills he has, and you won't find him.
``It wouldn't surprise me if he's still playing pro baseball four or five years from now.''
Groseclose thought he could be a good player for the Keydets after making All-Timesland at Alleghany and starring for the Mountaineers in two sports.
``Visions don't always come true,'' he said, but his have. He is a four-year starter, a record-setting player and is a co-captain on this year's squad, which begins play today in the Southern Conference tournament in Davidson, N.C.
``I'm very proud I broke those records,'' he said. ``In doing so, I feel like I've raised the standard for this program. If someone comes along and breaks them, that means the standard has been raised another notch.''
It almost wasn't raised at all, at least not by Groseclose. He threw the first recruiting letter from VMI in the trash, ``because of my own ignorance.''
He knew little about VMI and even less about the military lifestyle and discipline. Furthermore, neither particularly interested him.
``I just knew what they wanted me to know from recruiting,'' he said, smiling. ``I knew more of the positives than the negatives.''
Groseclose did some soul-searching with the help of his parents, and ``they taught me to look at the long term'' benefits of attending VMI.
``I put a lot of faith in them,'' he said. ``I always had faith that it was the right decision, but now I can see it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.''
He says that by reconsidering, ``baseball has provided a way for me to get a tremendous education.'' And not just in the classroom.
``The things that will really help you in life - self-discipline, punctuality, maturity, dedication, responsibility - the intangibles that VMI teaches you is what's going to make you successful in a career. Not that I can solve a linear equation.''
Groseclose is a biology major and someday plans to get an advanced degree in that science. But he would rather put off any career decisions until after the baseball draft.
``There's a possibility I'll be drafted, and if I am, I'll go,'' he said. ``If I don't get drafted, then I'll go out and be successful in the workforce. There will be a day when I'm not good enough to take the next step in baseball, but right now I think I am.''
So does Gines, the former coach at Radford University who has seen the Highlanders' Phil Leftwich and Denny Van Pelt sign professional contracts.
``He brings a great deal of physical talent to the table,'' Gines said. ``He has good instincts and speed. He handles the glove very well. Consistency is his greatest attribute. He gives you a solid performance day in and day out.
``He's just starting to learn what he can do at the plate. I think his best offense is still ahead of him. Combine that with the mental skills he possesses and that's why he won't surprise me if he continues on.''
Groseclose bats leadoff for the Keydets (18-26) and does his job admirably. He has struck out only eight times in 166 at-bats, gets on base almost 44 percent of the time and steals with the nerve of a cat burglar. One theft at the tournament will establish a Southern Conference record for steals in a career.
``He will scratch his way on base and then steal you blind,'' Gines said. But his value to the team goes beyond that.
``David is the embodiment of what VMI is all about,'' the coach said. ``He's a leader, he's very confident and is mature beyond his years. Between his ears and in his heart, he's got what you want.''
by CNB