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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 28, 1995                   TAG: 9504280040
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COSMO TRIALS TODAY AT SALEM, GLENVAR

Powerful Christiansburg will make its first appearance in the meet. The Blue Demons are regarded as a strong challenger in the boys' and girls' high school divisions. Patrick Henry is the favorite in the boys' division, and while William Fleming , Franklin County and Christiansburg might put on quite a show in the girls' division.

For the first time, there also will be three divisions of finals run at one site, Saturday at Salem. Last year, three divisions - varsity, junior varsity and junior high - were split between Salem and Glenvar.

The use of an automatic timing device for the first time in Cosmo history will save enough time on deciding close races so that finals in all three divisions can be run at Salem starting at 9 a.m. with field events.

Running events begin with the 3,200-meter relay at 11:30 a.m., with award presentations scheduled for approximately 5 p.m.

Varsity and junior varsity trials will be held at Salem High School at 3 p.m. today. The middle school trials are scheduled at Glenvar at the same time.

In other sports news in the region:

Garth Spendiff scored the winning run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning as second-seeded Georgia Southern rallied to defeat VMI 4-3 in the Southern Conference baseball tournament in Charleston, S.C.

With the scored tied at 3, the Eagles loaded the bases on singles by Spendiff and Donnie Coe and a walk by Mark Hamlin. Chad Fussell then drew a walk off Keydets reliever Billy Goodright to force in Spendiff with the game-winning run.

Ryan Glynn took the loss for VMI, which will face Appalachian State at 10 a.m. today in an elimination game.

Glynn and Keydets teammate shortstop David Groseclose were selected to the first team of the All-Southern Conference team. VMI second baseman Chris Cofer was chosen for the second team. Glynn has 13 home runs and 49 RBI this season. Groseclose batted .319 and stole 32 bases.

Steve Wilson of Georgia Southern was named Player of the Year and Fred Jordan of The Citadel was chosen Coach of the Year.

Meredith Newby led Virginia Tech's first-day performances at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Newby tied for 10th in the women's hammer throw with a best heave of 146 feet, 5 inches. Michelle Smith was 13th in the discus with a top toss of 142-5. Erin Graham was ninth in the fastest heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute, 5.80 seconds.