THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180847
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Lake Taylor's baseball team has a smart 6-1 record in one-run games and coach Towny Townsend said it's a direct result of the team's academic orientation.
Lake Taylor, 14-4 and ranked fifth in South Hampton Roads, is the only team thus far to qualify for the Eastern Region tournament. The Titans boast 11 players who made the honor roll (3.0 grade point average or better) in the fall semester.
``I used to joke about how other teams stole our signs before my team would pick them up,'' Townsend said. ``But that's no longer the case. These guys pick up the signals the first time and then they execute.''
While the Titans had struggles academically in years past, the five seniors on this year's squad - J.T. Hazelette, Jasan Rodriquez, Steve Clendenin, David Lambert and Jason Dixon - are all academically qualified under NCAA freshman eligibility standards.
Meanwhile, sophomore Chris David is taking part in a gifted-students science program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
``When I got here, I met with seventh and eighth graders who would eventually be at Lake Taylor and told them success is a byproduct of relatively simple things,'' said Townsend, in his fifth year as Lake Taylor's coach. ``Go to class, keep up with class work and homework and prepare for tests. The rest has been relatively easy.
``And the pack always runs at the pace of the lead dogs.''
HOCKEY NEWS: Norfolk Collegiate sophomore Kevin Reid, who plays ice hockey for the Junior Admirals' ages 15-18 team, has been selected for the 16-and-under National Hockey Development Camp in St. Cloud, Minn.
Reid survived a sectional and regional camp to qualify.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Reid has lived in the area for two years after spending five years in Rhode Island.
Reid said that when he discovered his family was moving here - both parents recently retired from the military - he was relieved to learn that the area had a youth program that competed in the Capital Beltway Hockey League. Otherwise, he would have probably landed at a boarding school that had a hockey team.
``I saw it (the Junior Admirals) as an opportunity to further my game,'' said Reid, 16. ``I hoped either they would skate up to my level and help me or I could skate up to their level and help them.''
It's been a little of both. Reid, a forward who can play all three front-line positions, led the Junior Admirals in scoring last year and was third on the team this year.
The national camp might not be the only one Reid attends this year. He is hoping to receive a tryout with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, a major feeder league to the pros.
BASKETBALL JUNKIES: More than two dozen of the area's better high school boys basketball players will be in action this weekend at Virginia Wesleyan College in the Prep Stars Elite Eight, a two-day tournament that will bring in teams from the Washington area, Richmond and Williamsburg.
The tournament mixes graduating seniors with rising underclassmen. ``It gives these guys some experience and keeps them in action,'' said tournament director Marvin Terry. ``So many kids lose out. This is set up for the small schools that can benefit most from this, the junior colleges, Division III and NAIA schools.''
In that vein, Maury's Shaun Jackson and Granby's Toweh Ketter, two senior forwards who have not committed to colleges, will play for the Car Consultant Four Runners.
Cape Henry's Kinte Smith and Indian River's Terry Rouse, both juniors, highlight the Future Stars team. The Posse will be led by Princess Anne sophomore Tracey Corprew and Indian River senior Jamal Creecy.
Her Boys includes Atlantic Shores juniors Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton and Green Run juniors Plaxico Burress and Will Brooks.
The tournament begins Saturday at noon and continues Sunday at 10 a.m. with the championship game slated for 5 p.m. Tickets are $2 per day or $3 for a weekend pass.
STILL STREAKING: Maury's boys tennis team puts its streak of 41 consecutive victories over Eastern Region competition on the line today against Tallwood in the region semifinals at Owl's Creek.
The Commodores, two-time defending region champions, are 13-0. Maury's success this year has surprised even coach John Brinkman.
The Commodores start only one senior, Ben Perry, at No. 2. Rob Brown, a freshman, upset Perry for the Eastern District singles title and his doubles partner, Ross Hoffman, is a sophomore.
MISCELLANEOUS: Tallwood has sneaked into the Beach District playoff picture despite the loss of starting pitcher and No. 3 hitter Steve Cooley, who broke his ankle after falling off the back of a pickup truck three weeks ago. To make up for Cooley's loss, other starter Jeff Gathings has gone eight and nine innings per week while regular position players Miguel St. Anna Maria and Jay Doll have been pressed into pitching duties. . . . Ocean Lakes shortstop Pat Abelon has signed with Virginia Military Institute. . . . Norfolk Collegiate edged Norfolk Academy, 1-0, on penalty kicks to win the TCIS JV girls soccer championship. ILLUSTRATION: Kevin Reid will attend the National Hockey Development Camp in
Minn.
by CNB