ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Modest but confident. That's how Shawsville High School coach Billy Wells describes his two ace pitchers, Mark Akers and Jason Smith. In fact, until Akers' pitching streak of 38 2/3 consecutive shutout innings appeared in The Roanoke Times Saturday, he wasn't even aware there was a streak.
"I hadn't even thought about it because I didn't know about it until I read it in the paper," Akers laughed. "We set team goals, not individual ones."
This year's team goals for the Shawnees are to win the district and advance to Group A Region C action. Off to an 8-0 start behind the arms of Akers and Smith, Shawsville is right on track.
"They're not overpowering pitchers," Wells said. "They won't come in and throw the ball right by you consistently, but they're intelligent. They both throw four pitches and they can change the speed on all of them - that's why they're so effective."
Akers is a four-year starter at shortstop for the Shawnees when he's not on the mound, and also started on the school's basketball and football teams. In addition to his consecutive shutout innings pitched, Akers hasn't allowed a walk or run in 23 innings and has tossed five consecutive shutouts.
"Mark has been a very skilled player since his freshman year, but as a pitcher he's made a lot of improvement," Wells said. "He's the best defensive shortstop I've ever had and I could say that when he was a freshman. But as a 14-year-old his arm wasn't strong. We were just glad if he could beat the runner to first.
"But now he's one of the strongest throwers on the team which has helped his pitching because he's increased his velocity."
Smith has been starting for the orange and blue for three years, alternating between center field and pitching. The southpaw says his most memorable baseball moment came in his first meeting against district foe Giles.
"The first game I played against Giles I gave up a triple that lost the game," Smith said. "I learned then just to keep my head up when things weren't going my way or when we were losing."
"I've watched Jason physically mature over the last three or four years," Wells said. "Jason worked really hard the winter before his junior year and improved himself tremendously through weight training from his sophomore to junior year."
As good as Akers and Smith are pitching this season, Wells said they will be the first to tell you they wouldn't be enjoying the success they are this year without catcher Dewayne Yopp. Yopp set a school record last season with a
"They're very lucky to have a great catcher," Wells said. "Dewayne is a fantastic defensive catcher. Hardly anyone steals on Dewayne so they don't have to worry about that when they're on the mound, and no loose balls get by him."
Akers and Yopp serve as co-captains for the Shawnees, and Wells said they bring both experience and leadership to the field. The two have been with the program since their eighth-grade year on the junior varsity team.
"I can actually take them and they can teach skills in drills to not only the varsity but to the JV team too," Wells said. "They've heard me say it so many times they can almost repeat instructions verbatim. Having them is like having two extra assistant coaches."
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff Shawsville is off to an 8-0 start withby CNBpitchers Mark Akers (left) and Jason Smith. KEYWORDS: BASEBALL