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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 22, 1995                   TAG: 9506220031
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD DOMINATES THE ROSTER THIS YEAR IN LEGION BASEBALL

The New River Valley Yankees American Legion baseball team, which had its origins in Giles County and is based in Blacksburg, now has a distinctly Radford flavor to it.

Radford High students and alumni form the largest single bloc on the Yankees roster with five representatives. Not by coincidence is it that every member of that quintet is either a pitcher, catcher, middle infielder or some combination thereof.

There are never too many pitchers, catchers and middle infielders on any Legion roster.

It is also helpful that the Radford guys can play a little.

Ryan Brittle?

"Best catcher in the league, I think," said his coach, Danny Evans.

How about Mark Franklin?

"Franklin can play anywhere," Evans said. "He's killing the ball. A ballplayer."

Foster Ridpath, the pitcher?

"Foster is going to play," Evans said.

Hart Fowler and Derek Englehard, the infielders?

"Fowler is really going to help us a lot," Evans said. "Englehard is a real third baseman."

He can also play middle infield, where he was in high school.

The question, as always, is whether there is enough pitching. Robert Favre of Floyd County; Mitch Reed, the rising sophomore left-handed pitcher at Radford University; Travis White from Blacksburg; lefty Patrick Martin from Blacksburg; and Brian Smith of Blacksburg have all pitched on a more or less regular basis both for their high school teams or for this team last year.

Favre has impressed early on with his control and attitude. Ridpath knows how to get people out. Franklin is a good one as long as his arm holds up.

Another one who could have seen duty on the mound is Bradley Hudgins from Auburn. Unfortunately, he developed shoulder problems early in the spring and hasn't been right since.

Hudgins can swing a sweet stick, though, and in that he is not alone on this team. Franklin, Brittle and White are among the boppers on the roster. So is Peter Bucklin, a team veteran who had back-to-back .500 seasons at Floyd County High. Bucklin can catch (so can Billy Martin from Giles), but they're going to have to find a way to fit him in when Brittle is in the lineup too.

"Pete'll play," Evans said. "Pete is an iron man who can play anywhere and give you 150 percent when he does."

Evans likes his possibilities in the outfield, particularly with Giles guys Raypheal Milton and Chris Hutchison. Milton is the football star who'll be able to run down a lot of fly balls. Hutchison can go get them too and although he is a first-year player, Evans is confident in his bat.

"I've seen him grow up," he said. "I know what he can do."

by CNB