Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Christiansburg High 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior has big hands, better to grip the red raised seams of a baseball.
Gates has a big arms, better to swing a bat with.
Gates has big bristly hair, better to present a menacing mien to those who would oppose the Blue Demons team.
Gates also has the numbers that establish him as a bona fide big boy in New River Valley baseball circles.
Earlier in the year, Gates was more of a complete menace than he is now to Christiansburg's opponents. That was back during the time that he had pitching in his arsenal. But during a game several weeks ago, he felt something funny in his elbow.
``I don't think I was warmed up right and I tried to throw it too hard,'' he said. ``The doctor told me that I had strained something.''
The prescription has been a month's worth of rest, then a return visit for another examination. That should put him back in the doctor's office just before the New River District tournament is to start.
``If they say he can pitch then, fine,'' Christiansburg coach Chris Lucas said. ``If not, then we'll do without him. No way am I pitching him until then.''
Gates' contributions with the bat have been hefty enough and those will still be forthcoming.
``I can still hit the ball,'' he said. ``There's no problem there.
It had been a difficult year for Gates even before he felt the tug in his elbow. After returning to the football team for the first time since he was a sophomore, Gates got gypped for playing time there, too. During practice one day, a teammate rolled up on his knee during drills and put him out of commission for five games. Gates came back as a a tight end and defensive end before the campaign ended, but it still wasn't much of a season.
Now that he's been shelved (at least partially) during baseball as well, you might get the idea that Gates has an excellent opportunity to develop an extremely bad mood.
``I'm not really frustrated,'' he said. ``I can't be.''
Why not?
``Byron is the team leader of this team,'' Lucas said. ``Everybody on the team looks up to him.''
So there's more to this than personal feelings.
``I can't let the guys see that I'm frustrated and down,'' Gates said. ``I don't want to pass that on to them.''
Appearances sometimes are everything with regard to leadership. Gates is the kind who doesn't have to say anything to make a point. That's the way it goes when you can hit it farther and throw it harder than anybody on the team.
``Ask anybody,'' Lucas said. ``He throws hard.''
Nobody really knew exactly what Gates was capable of before this year. Gates more or less hung around in the background during the 1994 season while now-graduated Denny Self was serving as team stud on both the mound and at the plate.
Now it's Gates' turn to be leading the parade. Gates is checking in with a .554 batting average, six home runs, and 17 runs batted in. He's also reaching base with an .818 frequency, thanks in no small part to 15 walks.
Before his right elbow started acting up, Gates went 4-1 with a 2.01 earned run average and 51 strikeouts in 301/3 innings.
``I've had my best pitching year,'' he said. ``I think It's because I'm seeing some good competition now. Last year, Denny was getting all the big starts. Now I am.''
Until his arm improves, he'll being spending his time at third base, his regular position.
``I didn't start playing third until I was a sophomore,'' he said. ``It's a hard position to play. You have to have soft hands because you get some hard shots playing there.''
Gates is a college prospect. Most of the interest has been coming from small schools such as Virginia Intermont (where Self is now) for right now, although William and Mary has been in touch. Lucas thinks other state schools might take a look, too.
Arms like Gates has always merit a look.
``Byron can bring it,'' Lucas said.
by CNB