THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1994                    TAG: 9406280133 
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON                     PAGE: 14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: By CAROLE O'KEEFFE, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: 940629                                 LENGTH: Medium 

THIS LONGTIME NAVY SHORTSTOP STAYS IN THE GAME AS A COACH \

As a teenager in New York, DeRosa was being courted by five major league baseball teams - most seriously by the Mets - until a car accident changed all that.

{REST} When he recovered, he joined the Navy a day before his 20th birthday.

The military gave him an opportunity to play ball once more, this time fast pitch softball on the intramural and varsity levels.

When he tried out for the All-Navy team 10 years later, he was considered too old to make the grade. He was the last person to tryout for a shortstop position.

And then there were seven others - all younger.

``Once the dust settled, I learned I had become the starting shortstop and (the others) all had plane tickets home,'' the 42-year-old said.

That year, the team won the interservice softball championship featuring the best of the Navy, Air Force, Marine and Army teams.

That was the last time the Navy would win the gold. But it wouldn't be the last time DeRosa established himself as one of the best softballers in the Navy.

And it wouldn't be long before another one of his setbacks.

Last year, when DeRosa was on the All-Navy team for the seventh time, he tore a muscle in his left calf.

``I was on crutches for a week,'' he said. ``I decided it was time to move on.''

So now he is the team's coach.

``Thousands are eligible. Only 15 make the team,'' DeRosa said.

``This is amateur,'' DeRosa said. ``But this is as good as it gets.''

DeRosa's enthusiasm for ball came in his youth.

He started playing Little League when he was 8.

``I have been blessed with skills in softball,'' he said. ``I had the benefit of good coaching in my youth and I learned to play with a real competitive fire.''

DeRosa is scheduled to retire from the Navy in October 1995 after 22 years' service, planning to attend law school at William and Mary - furthering a long association with college life.

While in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and is working on a master's in public administration.

\ As for softball, tryouts for this year's edition of the All-Navy squad will be held at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base beginning July 23.

After a couple weeks of intense training, the lucky 15 go to the Army Base at Fort Indian Town Gap in Pennsylvania Aug. 16-21 where the Navy will seek to recapture the gold.

The tournament winner will then play against a state champion class A team - a military-civilian world series of sorts.

Interested players should contact their athletic officers or call 363-4820.

Or they can call DeRosa, a submarine service master chief torpedoman's mate at the Norfolk Naval Brig at 444-5215 for try-out and play times, locations and gate pass information.

by CNB