THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 6, 1995 TAG: 9506060375
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
David Abbott doesn't say a lot. Not with words anyway.
But when Green Run's leading hitter digs into the batter's box, he looks like he's squashing the life out of a black widow.
When he grips the bat, the veins in his forearms pop out as if he's trying to leave fingerprints in the aluminum.
And when he cocks his head back and forth, he's not really loosening his neck muscles. He's letting the pitcher know he means business. And everyone in the ballpark knows it.
``When I'm coaching third base, I can hear the other team's infielders chattering,'' Green Run coach Jeff Ballance said. ``And when David steps in, they're always telling teammates, `Be ready. It's coming this way.'
``Is he cocky? Yeah, he's a little cocky. But I've got no problem with that. He's not overly cocky. He just has a lot of confidence and he makes his intentions known.''
Those intentions will be on display tonight when the Stallions, Eastern Region champions, take on Midlothian at 7 p.m. at Old Dominion University in a state Group AAA quarterfinal game.
Abbott, hitting in Green Run's third spot, is batting a team-best .471. He has 13 doubles and has driven in a team-high 41 runs.
And whether he's at shortstop, where his soft hands and strong arm are his greatest assets, or pitching, where he is 8-1 with an 0.88 earned run average, he's one of the area's best.
And yet, the college coaches aren't necessarily knocking down his door.
The whispers among the coaching ranks - ``He's too slow'' - have now become a rap, one that Abbott wants to overcome. His only Division I scholarship offer has come from Virginia Military Institute, and Abbott's not sure a military school is the college experience he seeks.
``I think I'm fast enough to play shortstop at the Division I level,'' Abbott said. ``If it's speed they're looking for, I'll run with a parachute on my back every day to improve it.
``I just want to play Division I. I don't care if it's third base or even first base. People say I can hit good enough and have a great arm. I just hope I get a chance.''
The 6-foot, 185-pound Abbott is just as shocked that no team has recruited him as a pitcher, even though he possesses an 87 mph fastball and the required curve ball and changeup. His fourth pitch is a knuckleball.
``I guess I don't have the wingspan they're looking for,'' Abbott said. ``People today want pitchers who are at least 6-2 or 6-3.''
With his college plans up in the air, he figures there's no better time than the present to make a strong closing argument.
``Cal Ripken isn't that fast and he's been in the bigs for so long,'' Abbott said. ``He's got a sure glove and always gets to the balls. But it seems colleges today are looking for speed first.
``I have to perform with what I have. It's putting a lot of pressure on me. But I live for that kind of pressure. I guess I'm going to have to prove myself in the tournament.''
With a 3.4 grade point average and a 970 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, Abbott is a recruitable commodity.
While his foot speed may be questioned, Ballance said Abbott has ``tremendous bat speed. He likes to pull the ball a lot. But he can hit to the opposite field when he has to. And nobody in the area gets around on pitches like he does.''
Ballance feels blessed by Abbott's presence, particularly since there were a few days last summer when everyone thought Abbott was heading for newly opened Ocean Lakes High School. Abbott's coach his junior year, Gary Spedden, had moved to Ocean Lakes. Abbott lived in the Ocean Lakes zone, but had a senior option to stay at Green Run.
``I kind of made up my mind to go to Ocean Lakes,'' Abbott said. ``But then I started feeling guilty and a gut feeling made me stay.''
He hopes a similar ``gut feeling'' strikes a Division I baseball coach, some time in the next few weeks. by CNB