THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250624
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
If Ron Walker had opted to play football, he could have spent the holidays basking in the Florida sun preparing for the Orange Bowl. Or he might have been playing in the Rose Bowl.
National champion Nebraska wanted the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder. So did Penn State.
One look at Walker - the broad shoulders, muscular thighs and thick neck - and the thoughts begin. Was he an outside linebacker? A fullback?
People get a kick out of the answer.
``Punter,'' Walker grins, fully recognizing the humor. ``I was a punter/placekicker. When I tell people, they usually give me a big smile of disbelief.''
Walker averaged 42 yards per punt as a senior at Shawnee High in Indian Mills, N.J., and once kicked a 72-yard field goal in practice. He regularly booted kickoffs into the end zone.
But first impressions aren't too far off. When he wasn't kicking, Walker played running back, linebacker and free safety.
Still, he chose to kick aside a football career.
Instead the freshman will man third base for Old Dominion University today when the Monarchs open play in the Atlantic I Regional NCAA tournament. ODU (37-18) meets the University of Mississippi (37-20) at Florida State in Tallahasseeat 3 p.m.
ODU baseball coach Tony Guzzo has never seen Walker kick a football, but said, ``after watching him hit enough baseballs and with his explosive power, I can only imagine.''
Able to break into a lineup loaded with veterans on a team that made last year's NCAA tournament, Walker will carry a .307 average into the postseason. Hitting in the third spot in ODU's lineup, Walker has five home runs and 46 runs batted in.
But the mileage ODU has squeezed from Walker doesn't end there. With the Monarchs strapped for pitching due to injuries, Walker has been ODU's third starter, posting a 6-5 record with a 3.19 earned-run average. He started the Colonial Athletic Association championship game and went seven innings in a 15-7 victory over Richmond.
Walker was a clear-cut choice as the CAA's rookie of the year.
It's hard to imagine what the Monarchs would have done without Walker. But that almost became a reality.
After signing with the Monarchs in November of his senior year, Walker was thrilled about the opportunity to play for ODU coach Pat McMahon. He'd turned down offers to LSU, N.C. State and Georgia.
Then McMahon bolted for Mississippi State at the completion of ODU's season. The timing couldn't have been worse.
When it had become obvious to pro scouts that Walker was intent on playing college baseball for McMahon and/or that his signing price might be too high, they stopped scouting him. He was passed over in the major league amateur draft.
Walker considered going to junior college for a year, after which he could transfer to Mississippi State or go in the draft. Scouts were telling him a position change to catcher might help his professional chances.
The scouts' interests in him reignited, particularly after he played in the Carpenter Cup, an all-star game involving high school players from the Philadelphia-South Jersey area. Walker stroked two home runs at Veterans Stadium, going 3 for 4 and driving in four runs.
Guzzo, McMahon's replacement, was left doing the two-step to keep Walker. He couldn't mask the fact that he wasn't McMahon. The problem has come up a few times with other players as well this season.
``A couple of guys thought about transferring because they liked McMahon so much,'' Walker said. ``Any guy who's around him three years grows attached. It's nothing against Guzzo.''
Said Guzzo: ``I'm trying not to fight it. I never said it wasn't hard following a guy like Pat McMahon. We told Ronnie and his dad that if he wanted to catch, he'd be given the opportunity.''
According to Walker, scouts were telling him he might not be quick enough to play third base at the highest level. But Walker has displayed enough quickness in the field and on the base paths - he has eight doubles and two triples - to quell those beliefs for now.
``He runs exceptionally well for a guy his size,'' Guzzo said. ``And if not, he's going to hit the ball enough when it's all said and done to play first base.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON/
Strapped for pitching due to injuries, ODU has used Ron Walker as
its third starter. He's 6-5 with a 3.19 earned-run average.
by CNB