THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503230183
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
THE NORTHEASTERN High School baseball program, expected to have a young team when the season began, has staked its hopes on perhaps the best three-four combination in the Big East Conference.
Jerrell Carver, a senior first baseman, and Aaron Soodek, a sophomore catcher, both won games for the Eagles with homeruns in the opening days of the season.
Carver, 6-3, 240 pounds, homered in Northeastern's opening day loss to Hertford County, but came back for a game-winner that most players only dream about. With Northeastern trailing 2-1 with a runner on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Carver poled a 2-and-2 outside fastball over the left field fence to end the game. It was an unusual opposite field homer.
``I was looking for the curveball,'' Carver said. ``It was a high outside fastball. I knew I hit it good but I didn't know if it was going to go over.''
Carver also smacked three hits in Northeastern's 9-5 rematch win over Hertford County. In the same game, Soodek smashed a grand slam to left in the fourth inning on a first-pitch curveball he was fooled on.
``I attribute that homerun to weight room work,'' said Northeastern head coach David Brinson. ``He was fooled on the curve but was still strong enough to hit it out.''
``I work out in the weight room anytime there's not a game,'' said the 6-1, 230-pound catcher. ``I could hit it out last year, but I was young and just wanted to hit the ball.''
Brinson is expecting a lot out of his third and fourth hitters this season, and so far they have not disappointed. Carver, the No. 3 hitter, has shown his leadership at the plate. Soodek had seven hits in his first three games.
``I come out and I try to lead by example at the plate,'' said Carver, who was also a starter on the football and basketball teams. ``Sometimes I'll speak up, but I'm not much of a talker.'
Soodek, who said he was surprised to be hitting cleanup, has changed his stance to provide more power.
``He's opened up his stance and he pulls the ball more now,'' Brinson said. ``He was hitting the ball to right field more last year. We're expecting a whole lot out of him and he's produced so far. Aaron is probably the strongest man on the team.
``I'd say those two are about as good as anyone's three and four hitters,'' Brinson added. ``Carver is the class of the league, and if Aaron continues he'll be up there, too.'' by CNB