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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 22, 1995                   TAG: 9506220038
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BOYS' SOCCER PUTTING ITS BEST FEET FORWARD

It has been in the planning stages for a couple of years, but finally, the Virginia High School Coaches' Association will include an East-West soccer game as part of its all-star and clinic week July 10-13 in Hampton.

Shelley Blumenthal, whose Blacksburg teams have won three Group AA titles including the 1995 crown, won't have the honor of coaching in the first game. But he will be smiling when the game kicks off July 12 at Darling Stadium.

``I think this is quite a chance to showcase the sport and bring some credit to the players who have worked hard,'' said Blumenthal, who helped plan the inaugural game. ``The [VHSCA executive] committee has worked hard to get it off the ground.''

Blumenthal will make the trek to Hampton with two of his players - Timesland player of the year Mark Decker and Jon Freeman - who will play for the West. He will be part of the second game as a coach next year. He was left out this year because coaches are selected on the basis of the 1994 season for spring sports. Martinsville's Pete Scouras, whose team was the Group AA runner-up, was the highest-ranked West coach.

``To satisfy the committee, we had to keep the costs down by finding a sponsor'' to provide uniforms, Blumenthal said. ``We figured we could have it Wednesday night opposite baseball. Each sport would have its following. We'll only have one night of housing [players]. We can have two practices on Tuesday and one or two more Wednesday.''

There is no girls' soccer game because the VHSCA has a rule that no sport may be included that doesn't have more than 50 percent participation by Virginia High School League member schools. Fewer than 50 percent of the VHSL schools field girls' soccer teams.

The seven-game East-West series, which starts July 10 with the boys' and girls' basketball contests at the Hampton Coliseum, features a number of top athletes from Timesland. Decker was the player of the year in boys' soccer.

Timesland's athletes of the year - Glenvar's Nick Varney (boys) and Floyd County's Leigh-Ann Pursifull (girls) - will be in the basketball games.

In football, to be played July 13 at Darling Stadium, Giles' Raypheal Milton (offensive player of the year) and Pulaski County's Eric Webb (defensive player of the year) will be on the West roster. However, Milton is on the team as a defensive back.

Franklin County's Susie Wilson (volleyball), Franklin County's and Chad Foutz (baseball) and William Byrd's Tracy Doupnik (softball) are other Timesland players of the year who will be on the West squads.

Ed Scott, the Patrick Henry football coach, is a late addition to the West staff. He replaces Dick Adams, coach of two-time Group AAA Division 6 champion Annandale. Adams is not a member of the VHSCA and, therefore, ineligible to coach.

The clinic, which will be held in conjunction with the games, has one of its top speakers in recent years, with Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson scheduled to address the members.