THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250384
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Gary Lavelle found the recent major league Baseball strike, negotiations and season delay troubling.
Lavelle, who was named the Virginia Beach Sports Club's sportsman of the year at its 42nd annual jamboree Monday, played pro ball for 14 years.
He believes players should worry less about their own financial interests and more about promoting the game.
Lavelle revels in giving back to the game that gave him so much.
``Unfortunately, the game is a business at (the pro level),'' said Lavelle. ``This is where it's at, at this level.''
Lavelle pitched for 10 years for the San Francisco Giants, two with the Toronto Blue Jays and one for the Oakland A's.
In seven years as Greenbrier Christian Academy coach, he has built a 117-23 record and won the last three state private school baseball championships.
``I get more satisfaction out of coaching and seeing the kids reach their goals,'' said Lavelle, 46.
Other award recipients were:
Mike Pishioneri, Kempsville: outstanding Virginia Beach high school athlete; Kirsty Hale, Cox: outstanding female athlete; Ray Gatlin, Princess Anne: outstanding male athlete; Kristy Redmon, Cape Henry Collegiate, Jamie Lynn Cornish, Kellam, and Amy Zimmerman, Tallwood: John A. Tucker Awards for excellence in women's athletics; Mark Dixon, Salem, and Faline Phucas, Kempsville: Dr. L. Curtis Hall Jr. Award for excellence in athletics and scholastics; Ryan Morrow, Cox: Skip Wilkins outstanding physically challenged athlete; Frank Webster, First Colonial: male coach of the year; Patricia Bullock, Bayside: female coach of the year; and Laura Snelling, Kempsville, and Matthew Berdy, Ocean Lakes: directors award for combined excellence in sports, scholastics and community service. ILLUSTRATION: Gary Lavelle, a former major league pitcher for 14 years and
then later a highly successful high school coach, was troubled by
the recent baseball strike.
by CNB