THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995 TAG: 9504200613
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
With a .593 batting average and a perfect fielding percentage, Booker T. Washington shortstop Sharon McClannan should expect her phone to be ringing off the hook with college offers.
But last week, the call came from a producer of the Montel Williams show, who wanted to fly her to New York for a guest spot. The topic: Cheating Boyfriends and Their Naive Girlfriends.
``At first I thought it was a prank,'' McClannan said. ``I got the message and I was like, `Nah.' I didn't call back. But later that night, they called me again.''
So, Wednesday, McClannan flew to New York, caught a limo and checked into the luxurious Mayflower Hotel. The next morning, when she was supposed to be at the opening game of the Booker T. Washington Spring Classic, she took a cab to the studio and awaited her two minutes of fame.
Actually she got on for about 14 minutes as the surprise guest who told on her ex's Cheating Heart.
But McClannan's biggest surprise came when she got to meet her host. ``Montel's kind of short,'' McClannan said. ``Watching him on TV, I didn't think he was that short!''
SEARCH IS ON: Athletic director Bill Myers has his pick of candidates for the vacant head football coach position at Oscar Smith.
Thirty applications have come in since news of former coach Charlie Stukes' resignation hit the streets. Many of those candidates are local, but some have found their way to Chesapeake from as far away as Louisiana and Tennessee.
A committee of five has reviewed the resumes in an attempt to whittle down the number of qualified applicants. Myers said that interviewing for the position would begin this weekend, with a May 1 target date for selecting a new coach.
BACK-TO-BACK: In 1938, Johnny Vander Meer threw back-to-back no-hitters in the major leagues. Now Cox sophomore Jason Dubois has accomplished the feat at the high school level.
Dubois no-hit Maury in a 14-0 victory last week, striking out 15. Then he no-hit Bayside Tuesday, striking out nine in a 10-0 victory.
In virtually no time, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound righthander has become the most talked about young pitcher in the area. His fastball has been clocked in the mid-80s and his curve is becoming more effective with every start.
``His curve's too slow to suit me right now,'' Cox coach John Ingram said. ``But after that fastball, his curveball looks like a changeup. I want that hard, down-breaking curve that only goes 59 feet. But, hey, he's just learning to pitch.''
Dubois showed promise in his first two varsity starts, but took tough losses against the area's top-ranked teams, 6-2 to No. 1 First Colonial and 4-1 to No. 2 Green Run.
``It probably brought out more of my skill,'' he said of the losses. ``I had to concentrate and pitch around them as best as I could and I learned to pitch more effectively.''
While he's been unhittable, his own bat has been lively. He's hitting .480 for the ninth-ranked Falcons, playing first base or rightfield when not pitching.
HORNETS TO HAMPTON: On Tuesday, Hampton University track coach Mike Costa ventured across the bay to pay visits to four of Deep Creek's boys track athletes. Although Costa didn't make it to Dee Harrell's house until after 11 p.m., he wasn't too late to receive a commitment from the two-sport star.
Harrell, a sprinter for the Hornets, signed a letter of intent with Hampton in part because it was close to home. But the Pirates' recent move into Division I football competition was also a factor.
``I plan on going out for the team my second year,'' said Harrell, who turned down a full football scholarship from Virginia Union for a three-quarter ride at Hampton.
Costa dropped in on three other Hornets.
Sprinters Damone Perry and Lawrence Claiborne got letters-of-intent but have not yet signed. Claiborne is said to be leaning heavily towards committing to the Pirates and will make a visit today.
Jason Waters also received a visit from Costa, but according to Deep Creek track coach Richard Cox, Waters' interests lie to the south.
``He's 90 percent sure he's going to Tennessee. They've already sent a letter-of-intent,'' Cox said. Waters will visit Knoxville May 6.
According to Cox, Harrell, Claiborne, and Waters have all qualified academically. Perry is waiting for SAT scores.
NOTES: Granby is looking for a new boys basketball coach. The coaching contract of Jim Harvey, who was replaced at midseason on an interim basis by assistant principal Tim Sweeney, will not be renewed. Harvey was suspended for unspecified personnel reasons pending an investigation by Norfolk Public Schools. . . . Tallwood's Jake Lovelace, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward, has signed a letter-of-intent with NAIA-member Lee College in Cleveland, Tenn. Lovelace averaged 9.5 points and 8 rebounds as a senior. . . . Ocean Lakes linebacker Don Lauzon has signed a letter-of-intent with Division II Mars Hill (N.C.) College. . . . Tallwood offensive tackle William Reid and Indian River defensive back Antonio Persons said they will play for the Newport News Apprentice School. MEMO: Staff writers Rich Radford, Julie Goodrich and Lee Tolliver
contributed to this story.
by CNB