THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406030276
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: Medium
The other holdover is Wilson's William Herndon and he was the MVP last year.
{REST} The 12-player squad was picked by Currents upon recommendations of the city coaches.
The team includes five players from Wilson, three from Churchland, two from Norcom and two from Alliance Christian.
It has seven seniors, three juniors and two sophomores.
Smith pitched and played at second base and shortstop for the Presidents, gaining the All-City utility position. Herndon, a shortstop, won an infield berth. He was the utility pick in 1993. Smith was picked as a pitcher last year.
Also picked from Wilson were first baseman Bruce Green, third baseman Daniel Forbes and outfielder Vernon Carney.
Churchland placed pitcher Brian Williams, catcher Blaine Morgan and outfielder Aaron Bailey.
Rod Richardson, an infielder, and outfielder Deon Boone were chosen from Norcom. Alliance placed pitcher Mike Howard and Tad Mellish, an infielder who was picked as the designated hitter.
Smith had a 4-2 pitching record for Wilson, striking out 38 in 43 innings and posting a 2.60 earned run average. As a hitter he carried a .366 average with one home run, one triple and three doubles. He stole 12 bases. He made only four errors, none as a second baseman - three at shortstop and one as a pitcher.
``He's been an outstanding player for the past three years and a very deserving choice as MVP,'' said Wilson coach Joe Ladisic. Two years ago he was a second-team All-City selection.
Morgan batted .333 and drove in 15 runs. ``He hit .438 with runners in scoring position,'' said Churchland coach Carl Rhodes, pointing out his value as a clutch hitter.
Williams had a 3-1 record on the mound for the Truckers with a 3.31 earned run average. He was a second-team choice on the All-City last year at second base.
Howard won six games for Alliance and had a 2.05 earned run average. ``He averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning,'' said Alliance coach Charlie McKay. ``He also played first base and hit .383.''
Howard was on last year's second team as a pitcher.
Richardson headed the infielders, carrying the top batting average in the city with a .446 mark. He had two home runs and five triples and was especially dangerous as a runner, stealing 29 bases.
Herndon batted .278 and smacked two home runs. Green and Forbes were exceptional fielders and each made only two errors all season. Green batted .289 and Forbes hit .240.
Churchland's Bailey paced the outfielders with a .400 average. Bailey and Boone were the sophomores on the first unit.
Boone, younger brother of former Manor and Norfolk State star Antonio Boone, batted .383. He stole 10 bases. ``Next year I expect we will move him to the mound and into the infield,'' said Norcom coach Leroy Williams.
Carney was Wilson's leading hitter with a .378 average. He blasted two home runs and drove in 20 runs. ``His slugging average was over .600,'' said Ladisic.
Mellish was Alliance's leading batter with a .404 average.
The second team listed only two seniors, Norcom pitcher Billy Stone and Churchland infielder Ryan Fly. Six juniors, two sophomores and a pair of freshmen were chosen.
The juniors are Churchland's Brent Sivils, Gary Denette and Dale Heely, Norcom's Richard Deberry, Wilson's Joe Tuck and Alliance's Scott Turner. The sophomores are Norcom's Lennie Wilson and Churchland's Otis Jones. The freshmen are Brad Ragland of Wilson and Nick Honeycutt of Alliance.
``Keep an eye on Ragland,'' said Ladisic. ``He is going to be one of our blue-chip players in the future.''
Fly was a second-team selection for the second straight year.
by CNB