Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Peter Bucklin took a break from American Legion baseball action Wednesday.
Bucklin was in Hampton while his New River Valley Post 68 teammates were playing back home.
Bucklin didn't desert his teammates for a seaside vacation; he pulled on his Floyd County High uniform one last time and took his place on the West squad in the Virginia High School Coaches' Association East-West All Star baseball game at Peninsula War Memorial Stadium.
``To you tell the truth, I didn't even know about this game until I was told I was invited,'' Bucklin said.
The reason for Bucklin's invitation was simple. Each of the past two years, the catcher has had more base hits than outs. As a junior, Bucklin hit .515; as a senior, he hit a ``disappointing'' .508 while helping the Buffaloes reach the Group A Region C playoffs for the first time in a decade.
``I'm not surprised [about the hitting],'' Bucklin explained. ``I thought I was going to have a better year that I did.''
Bucklin's high school coach, Skip Bishop, had high expectations, too.
``He is just a great contact hitter,'' Bishop said. ``He doesn't try to do too much. He's got a simple stroke - he doesn't try to hit home runs. And he hits the ball solid. ... He doesn't strike out; he puts the ball in play. If you do that in high school, you are going to be a .400 or .500 hitter.''
When Bucklin arrives for his at-bats, he already knows what he wants to do. And he wants to do it quickly.
``I like to hit the first pitch, I guess,'' Bucklin said. ``I go with the pitch - that's what I try to do when I get to the plate. At the same time, I wait for my pitch. If it's outside, I just wait for the next one.''
Bucklin's approach to hitting was evident in the All Star game. Bucklin went 2-for-2, with a single and a double. In his first at-bat, Bucklin took the first pitch from Group AA Player of the Year and Old Dominion recruit John Snyder of Courtland. It was high and inside. The next pitch was a strike, and Bucklin delivered a bad-hop infield single.
The second time up, Bucklin again didn't waste much time.The result was a shot to the right centerfield gap for a double. The victim: Andy Lee of Kecoughtan, the East's MVP and a University of Virginia signee. It was the hardest ball hit off Lee in three innings of work and one of only two hits he allowed.
In the field, Bucklin handled his chances flawlessly. He played right field in the late innings.
``We have five catchers and two outfielders,'' Bucklin said about his switch in defensive assignments. ``I play there [the outfield] in Legion, so I'm used to it.''
Overall, Bucklin looked to use the game as a springboard for the rest of his summer and the rest of his baseball career.
``This will let me know how I stand,'' Bucklin said before rapping out his two hits. ``It will let me see how I stand against the best players in the state.``
Right now, Bucklin is playing against the best players in the region in American Legion.
``It's going pretty well. We're about 8-4,'' Bucklin said. ``I'm hitting in the high .300s, low .400s. [The level of competition] is better.''
When summer is over, Bucklin hopes to continue playing baseball against the best level of competition. However, he doesn't know where that will be. Bucklin wants to go to college and major in business, but isn't sure where.
One thing is certain: Wherever Bucklin plays next, he will hit.
by CNB