THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506050111
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Throughout his baseball life, Jamie Booth has been called ``that little lefty.''
But the reality of his stature didn't sink in until his official recruiting visit to Radford last fall. The Highlanders coaching staff had been high on Booth for some time. The players were a different matter.
His campus escorts were members of the team's pitching staff. They all stood a good four or five inches taller than Booth.
And their message was clear.
You're going to help us? Kid, I hope you've got more than just a fastball.
He does.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder will display the curveball, changeup and sliding sinker that have made him First Colonial's all-time winningest pitcher when the Patriots visit Mills Godwin on Tuesday in the state Group AAA baseball quarterfinals.
Booth, despite his diminutive stature, has put up big numbers - he's 24-3 in three seasons - as he nears the close of his high school career.
Until Indian River scored three runs against Booth in First Colonial's 4-3 victory in the Eastern Region quarterfinals a week ago, Booth had gone 22 consecutive innings without giving up a run, earned or unearned.
In that mix was a no-hitter against Tallwood in the Patriots' final game of the regular season and a two-hit shutout vs. Kellam in a victory which put First Colonial in the Eastern Region tournament.
Booth's fastball has been clocked in the low 80s, which is average at best for a college-bound pitcher.
``But he's sneaky fast,'' First Colonial coach Norbie Wilson said. ``He's so deliberate in his motion and he hides the ball until the last second. And that curveball he throws . . . when I played we called that a drop ball. There's nothing flat about that curve.''
Booth hits, also lefthanded, for himself and fills the designated hitter spot when he's not pitching. Although he's batting a respectable .351, he's the smallest, least powerful cleanup hitter in First Colonial's rich history.
``My teammates call me Ric Flair,'' Booth said. ``And it's not because I have power. It's because most of my hits I flare over the shortstop's head.
``I've never hit a home run in high school baseball. I once hit one in practice and my teammates stopped practice to razz me.''
Booth realizes that when his high school career ends, his career as a batter will likely end as well.
``Radford didn't recruit me to hit,'' he said. ``I won't get to bat at the college level, and I'm not a position player. But I feel I'm ready to pitch at the college level right now.''
Booth was ready for the high school level when Wilson gave him the chance. He went 8-0 for First Colonial as a sophomore when the unbeaten Patriots won the state championship.
He struggled at times as a junior, however, going 7-2.
``I was worried about him last year,'' said First Colonial pitching coach Hugh Hallinan. ``His confidence was a little down. I told him he was like a wounded animal. Pretty soon wounded animals get killed. He had to snap out of it.''
He did, ironically in a losing effort. Booth limited eventual state champion Clover Hill to one run in the state quarterfinals, but his teammates couldn't manufacture one of their own.
This year, Booth is 9-1 with a 1.09 earned run average. And for someone with an ``average'' fastball, he is quite a strikeout artist, fanning 91 batters in 66 2/3 innings while walking 19.
His only loss was to Green Run during the regular season. There is a chance the Patriots could play Green Run again in the state semifinals. But then it wouldn't be Booth's turn in the pitching rotation. He says it's just as well.
``They've been a little more successful against me than I've been with them,'' Booth said.
He 24 victories are two better than Brian Augusburger's previous school record, set from 1979-81.
The record, according to Booth, means little.
``I just want the ball on June 6th (the state quarterfinals),'' Booth said. ``And if we're still alive, I want it again on June 13th (the state final).'' ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
First Colonial pitcher Jamie Booth hit .351 this year, but he won't
do much batting in college. ``Radford didn't recruit me to hit,'' he
says.
by CNB