ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: STAFF REPORTS
Jay Heaps, a midfielder for the Roanoke RiverDawgs and the 1995 Soccer America Freshman of the Year from Duke University, has decided to return home to Massachusetts for the remainder of the USISL season.
Heaps, a rising sophomore at Duke, said he decided he needed to spend time with his family before returning to school in August. Heaps plays both soccer and basketball for the Blue Devils.
Heaps typed a written statement for the team on Friday and played his final game on Saturday. In the statement, he thanked the organization and said his decision to leave was ``completely personal.'' The RiverDawgs said they supported Heaps' decision.
Heaps had two shots and an assist in three games with the RiverDawgs.
In other sports in the region:
* Radford University's Melissa Pickel was named the Division I Virginia state player of the year by the state's sports information directors.
Pickel, a sophomore shortstop, led the Big South Conference in home runs (12) and runs batted in (56). Pickel also was the Big South player of the year after batting .420 with 13 doubles and three triples.
Others selected to the team included Radford pitcher Sheree' Fletcher, Virginia Tech second baseman Christine Tunnell and Virginia outfielder Jamie Hahn.
Fletcher, a junior, set school records for wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and lowest earned run average. She was 20-10 record with a 1.82 ERA and had 119 strikeouts in 173 innings. Fletcher also made the all-Big South second-team.
Tunnell was 13th in the Atlantic 10 with a .302 batting average. A freshman, she led the Hokies in runs scored with 23.
Hahn, a senior, was all-ACC and made the GTE academic all-district team. She was voted the team's most valuable player after leading the Cavaliers with a .424 batting average.
Liberty University's Paul Wetmore was named coach of the year in his third season with the Flames. Liberty's program was reinstated in 1994 and had 36-18 record this season.
* Cyndi Justice, a former Virginia Tech women's basketball player, was named assistant women's basketball coach and assistant softball coach at Bridgewater College for the 1996-97 school year. Justice will be joining new basketball coach Jean Willi, who will take over for the recently-retired Laura Mapp.
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