THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120594
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Norfolk State baseball coach Marty Miller lost most of his pitching staff from last year's team. He lost two-thirds of his outfield. He even lost his home field.
But even after the Spartans got off to a slow start this year, Miller never lost faith.
``A lot of people thought I was crazy,'' Miller said. ``I told them this was going to be one of my best teams, but no one could see it.''
They can see it now. With a 13-9 victory over Elizabeth City State Tuesday, the 23rd-ranked Spartans extended their winning streak to 16 games, longest in school history. Norfolk State (22-6) has not lost since it split a doubleheader with Shippensburg March 18.
``When we started working this year, I could really see the talent,'' Miller said. ``We played a lot of nationally-ranked teams coming out of the chute, with a new ballclub.
``When we went down south we played a lot of teams that had already played 10 games. It was a matter of us coming together.''
Like many baseball winning streaks, Norfolk State's started with hitting.
``We had been holding teams down with our pitching and defense, and once the hitting came around, we got in a groove,'' rightfielder Antone Brooks said. ``Everything began clicking.''
Through 25 games, the latest for which statistics were available, the Spartans were hitting .316. Brooks, No. 3 in the order, was at .382, while cleanup man Eric Waters, the second baseman, was at .397. The two players at the top of the order, centerfielder Wilbert Terry and leftfielder Omar Venable, were hitting .363 and .344, respectively.
``There's not a weak spot in the order,'' said third baseman Lawrence ``Kirby'' Holmes. ``Everybody's contributing.''
While the hitting took a while to come around, the team's pitchers had to be sharp from day one. With the Spartans' on-campus field undergoing renovations this year, home this year is an Azalea Garden Little League field, where the fences are a cozy 325 feet from home plate.
``This field will make you learn how to pitch,'' said senior James Harris, 6-1 with a 2.10 earned run average over the first 25 games. ``It's a little scary sometimes.''
A little fear has done the Norfolk State staff good, Miller says.
``This to me is an aid,'' said Miller, gesturing toward the outfield fence. ``You make a mistake, you pay. This is a teaching point.''
Harris, a Green Run graduate, has emerged as the staff ace. But it's Brooks who is drawing attention from pro scouts.
The transfer from Francis Marion College just arrived this year and isn't expected to stay long. With a fastball that's been clocked at 91 mph, Brooks (3-1) is expected to go high in the June draft.
Joining Harris and Brooks in the rotation is senior Johnnie Harrell. Miller is also breaking in freshmen David Ellison and Charles Mussina. Stephen Clark (3-1) has been effective in relief.
Trying to develop some additional depth in the staff, Miller started Venable against Elizabeth City Tuesday. He was chased in the sixth inning, and Miller was forced to empty the bullpen, using six pitchers in all before the Spartans could nail down the win.
But when things are going well, you find a way. The win left Norfolk State 16-0 in CIAA play.
The Spartans are looking to reclaim the CIAA title they lost last year for the first time in eight years. And Miller is hoping the team can land a spot in the 24-team Division II tournament.
``This is probably one of the better teams I've ever had,'' Miller said. ``The best one I've had since '91, when (major league prospects) Terry Bradshaw and Melvin Wareing were together.''
The Spartans go back to the campus field next year, but for now Azalea looks pretty good to Miller.
``It's been a blessing,'' he said, laughing. ``It might not be a bad idea to stay here, if we play like this.''
In Tuesday's game, Terry went 3 for 4 with a triple, three runs scored and two stolen bases, Waters was 2 for 3 with a bases-empty home run, his 10th of the season, and two RBIs and Flowers belted his fourth of the year with none on.
Elizabeth City State (12-15, 8-6 CIAA) got 13 hits.
Norfolk State plays at St. Paul's today. ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by TAMARA VONINSKI/
First baseman Swindell Flowers gets congratulations for his home run
Monday in the Spartans' school-record 16th straight victory, a 13-9
win over Elizabeth City State.
Photo
Norfolk State's Deon Eaddy is out on this pickoff play against
Elizabeth City State. But the Spartans went to 16-0 in the CIAA.
by CNB