THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100636
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
John Simon considers himself an outdoorsman.
The Ocean Lakes High sophomore loves to hunt. And fish. In fact, his version of a good day includes hunting and fishing.
He's so smitten with hunting that he's been known to stop in the middle of baseball practice and level an imaginary shotgun at the occasional wandering deer.
And when sitting down to discuss his selection as The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star male athlete of the week, Simon was applying aloe to his severely sunburned legs and feet, the result of a fishing accident. It was a perfect day Sunday, and Simon went bass fishing in Back Bay with his dad, minus protection from the sun.
But the burn didn't seem to hurt much. Simon was still riding the adrenaline rush caused by bagging The Big One.
For when Ocean Lakes, a first-year expansion high school in Virginia Beach, knocked off previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Green Run last Friday, it was Simon who pulled the trigger.
In the top of the fourth inning, the third baseman robbed Green Run's Chip Basnight of what appeared to be a certain base hit with a diving stab and throw to first.
Simon topped that by stealing home in the bottom of the fourth with two out.
Finally, he came on in relief in the sixth, striking out three in 1 2/3 innings as the Dolphins pulled off the 4-3 upset.
For Simon, who turned 16 Tuesday, it was the sweetest of victories. He played for Green Run's junior varsity last year. Ocean Lakes coach Gary Spedden coached Green Run's varsity last year. And Ocean Lakes had absorbed a 18-2 drubbing the first time they met the Stallions this season.
Simon stole home when pitcher David Abbott chose to pitch out of a full windup.
``I was just waiting for Coach Spedden to give me the steal sign,'' said Simon, who has eight stolen bases. ``I didn't think I got a good jump, but I slid underneath the tag (of catcher John Defere). From then on, it lifted us a lot.''
The Dolphins have seemingly mastered the art - it was their third successful swipe of home this year. Probably the last.
``I don't think anyone will pitch out of a windup against us again,'' Spedden said.
As for Simon's stint on the mound, Spedden said he's the Dolphins' closer-in-training. Simon had to survive the meat of Green Run's lineup to earn the victory.
``I've put him in that position in a couple of games,'' Spedden said. ``It's a roll I usually try to groom someone for. And he's the logical candidate.'' ILLUSTRATION: ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
John Simon
Ocean Lakes by CNB