THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 7, 1995 TAG: 9506070602
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Nansemond River's Cody Flowers throws ``junk,'' barely hits his weight and comes out of the bullpen in part because his coach isn't sure he wants to see what hitters do to the bespectacled sophomore's offerings the second time around.
That Flowers is a key member of a regional championship team speaks volumes about this year's Nansemond River Warriors.
``We don't have any standouts, but everybody contributes,'' second baseman Kevin McCormick said of the Warriors, who nailed down their first Region I title Thursday with a 5-3 victory over Southampton. ``We've just got a really balanced team.''
Balance, along with some timely hitting and solid pitching, has driven the Warriors to a 19-5 record heading into their Group AA state quarterfinal game against Louisa County today at 4 p.m. at Nansemond River.
Like this year's edition of the Boston Red Sox, the Warriors seem to prevail with a different hero every game. Speedy leadoff hitter Donald Turner has turned games around by scoring on a walk, two stolen bases and J.C. Caperton's squeeze bunt. John Drames saved the day in the regional final with a spectacular, run-saving catch in rightfield. And then there is Flowers, the straight-change and curveball artist who has four saves and twice has pitched out of bases-loaded, no-out jams.
``I don't have anyone who throws 85 miles and hour or anyone who can hit the ball out of the ballpark any time they want to,'' coach Phil Braswell said. ``But everybody knows their role, and so far, everyone's been coming through.''
Besides, the Warriors know having star players doesn't guarantee anything. Last season, Nansemond River was led by Brett Craun and Brian Elms, two All-State performers who did the bulk of the pitching, hit over .460 and would often carry the club.
But if Craun and Elms weren't on, the Warriors struggled. Their postseason run lasted one game, a disappointing 5-4 loss to York in the Bay Rivers District tournament.
With Craun (William and Mary) and Elms (Radford) both moving on to Division I college ball, observers saw this as a rebuilding year for Nansemond River.
The Warriors, on the other hand, saw it as an opportunity.
``Not having (Craun and Elms) gave a lot of guys a chance to step up and prove what they could do,'' Nansemond River's Lee Parks said.
Parks, a sophomore transfer from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, came in and solidified the catching position. But he's provided an even bigger lift with his bat, according to Warriors coach Phil Braswell. Parks hit well over .400 and was so disciplined at the plate, Braswell made him the No. 2 hitter until he realized that Parks was also second on the team in RBIs. Parks now hits third.
Meanwhile, another Craun, Grayson, has assumed the dominant pitching role. By effectively spotting a low-80 mph fastball, Grayson Craun has run up a 9-0 record with an ERA under 1.00 while pitching his way onto the All-Region I team. Jason Taylor and Brad Little have also emerged as effective Nos. 2 and 3 starters, and the Warriors had a team ERA of 1.74 through district play.
This pitching has offset a sometimes spotty offense that is adept at manufacturing runs but has had to do without many big innings. The Warriors are hitting over .300 as a team, but it's a bit of a ``soft'' average as Nansemond River has negligible power (four home runs all season) and sometimes struggles to put hits together. The Warriors managed only six hits in the district and regional finals combined.
``That's still a bit of a concern,'' Braswell said. ``But if get the hitting, I think we're going to do all right''. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Cody Flowers' straight change and curve have produced 4 saves.
Catcher Lee Parks, a transfer student, has provided a lift with bat,
mitt.
by CNB