THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9505310161
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Southampton's William Brown, who did a little bit of everything for the Indians' baseball team this season, was named the Bay Rivers District player of the year by the leagues coaches.
On Monday, the junior was also named the Region I co-player of the year, Southampton coach Randy Jessee said.
Brown, Southampton's leading rusher in football, hit .551 for the Indians this year with 18 RBI, seven doubles and four homers. But it was in the field when he truly distinguished himself. An excellent defensive third baseman, Brown shifted to first midway through the season and turned out to be the Indians' best there as well, Jessee said.
Brown also went 4-0 as a pitcher with three saves, and he did the catching whenever William Jones was on the mound.
Brown's versatility was necessary for the Indians, who played shorthanded through much of the season. Because of Jessee's desire to let his young players get experience on the junior varsity and the mid-season dismissal of two players for disciplinary reasons, Southampton played the core of the year with only 11 players.
Even so, Southampton finished second in the district (14-5 overall), then won the district tournament. Jessee gives Brown a lot of credit for Southampton's finish.
``I'm really proud of all the kids, and William's been a very steadying figure for us,'' said Jessee, who is currently trying to land Brown a spot on the Virginia Commonwealth Games team.
Joining Brown on the first all-district team from Southampton are outielder Chris Drake and second baseman Brad Davis.
Davis, the leadoff hitter, batted .383, knocked in 10 and led the team with 22 runs. He also displayed tremendous range and a rifle arm at both second and shortstop.
Jessee said Davis' knowledge of the game was so keen the junior would sometimes politely question his coach's idea of where to play certain hitters.
``More often than not, he was right,'' Jessee said.
Drake, a senior rightfielder, hit .358 with three homers and 18 RBI, numbers made all the more impressive by the fact they were compiled despite Drake having to endure a painful back injury.
Regular-season champion Nansemond River each placed a league-high four players on the first Bay Rivers District baseball team. Pitcher Grayson Craun, shortstop J.C. Caperton, outfielder Donald Turner and first baseman Jason Taylor headed the team for the Warriors, who opened Region I tournament play Tuesday against Park View.
Craun, a junior lefthander, emerged as the Warriors ace, compiling a 8-0 record. The speedy Turner, an all-state defensive back in football, led the team in steals and proved to be an ideal leadoff man.
Taylor made all the plays at first and also served as a quality pitcher, logging a 4-0 mark during the regular season. Caperton solidified the infield defense as he made just one error all season.
Nansemond River coach Phil Braswell, who led the Warriors to the district regular-season title, was named coach of the year.
York, which won a playoff to get into the district tournament then fell to Southampton in the semifinals, had two players take up three spots on the all-league team. Brian Carbone made the squad as both a pitcher and outfielder, along with second baseman Brad Davis and catcher Thomas Strachan. ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
ALL BAY RIVERS DISTRICT TEAM
[For a copy of the roster, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB