THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 1995 TAG: 9506200093
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
LAST SUMMER, with the opening of Ocean Lakes High just weeks away, it appeared the promising Green Run baseball team would be splitting up.
Stallions coach Gary Spedden had accepted the coaching position at the new school and several of his players contemplated making the move with a leader who had guided them out of the Beach District cellar and to the district title in one season.
Hopes of a state championship for the Stallions seemed to be falling by the wayside.
But after conversations with Spedden, a meeting with new Green Run coach Jeff Ballance and an incredible amount of soul-searching, the Stallions decided to stick together and make a run for the dream of a lifetime.
Last Wednesday, at Old Dominion University's Bud Metheny Baseball Complex, the dream was realized. The work had paid off. The decision to keep the team intact had been rewarded.
Behind the magnificent pitching performance of Chris Elmore, Green Run defeated the Halifax Comets 3-1 before a crowd of 1,292 to take the title.
``Oh man, this is unbelievable,'' shortstop David Abbott said. ``This is something I've dreamed about since I was in Little League.''
Spedden has kept an eye on his former students throughout the season. He was watching quietly from the wings Wednesday night as they pulled it together.
``It's a great thing that they won the title. I always knew they had what it took,'' he said. ``Naturally, I was having second thoughts (about leaving Green Run), but I'm happy with the decision. Opportunities have to be taken when they come.
``But I'm very happy for these kids. They deserve this. They worked for it.''
When Ballance was applying for the Green Run job last summer, he invited several of the returning seniors to sit in on his interview.
``They peppered me with questions,'' he said. ``I think they liked most of the answers.
``I told them that coaching a state championship baseball team had been a lifelong dream of mine. I told them I had all kinds of respect for Coach Spedden. He had done a tremendous job with them. I told them I was bringing in a couple of guys who had professional baseball experience and that it was still their team and we weren't out to really change anything.''
After he got the job, Ballance had to weather the wait - hoping all the while that the team would stay together.
``It was a big relief when I found out that they were all staying,'' he said. ``I had told them that whatever they decided to do, I would be behind them 100 percent.''
Ballance first got the feeling he was being accepted by the players during football season. As an assistant coach, he worked with several of the players.
It was mostly Abbott, Ballance said. ``We had a great relationship and it told me he and the guys were glad they stayed. They told me they were looking forward to baseball season.''
But Ballance had a tough act to follow. Spedden had taken a 4-13 team to a 21-3 season that included the Beach championship and an Eastern Region appearance.
``Jeff was in a brutal situation,'' Spedden said. ``He loses and it's all his fault. He wins and the kids get the credit. They deserve it, though. They stayed together and worked hard. I know Jeff did things that helped.
``It worked out for everybody.''
Ballance, like his players, realized a lifelong dream in his first season - one filled with plenty of sweat on his part. ``It was one of those situations where if you win, you were supposed to. If you loose, you haven't done your job very well,'' Ballance said. ``We knew we had a great team and we had great talent. But I've been nervous about this all year.
``I'm very happy for them. This is their team. They won this title. It's just a good feeling to be a part of it.''
While the Stallions were feeling great, the Comets were miserable.
All night they had to endure the pitching excellence of Elmore, a senior bound for the University of North Carolina.
Elmore, who amazingly didn't think he had his stuff working before the game, finished with 17 strikeouts and had the Halifax players wondering just what was happening to them.
In fact, Green Run catcher John Defere had the pleasure of listening to their comments all night.
Defere said he heard muffled comments throughout from the Comets, but none equaled that of Halifax third baseman Carlos Richardson, a Norfolk State signee.
Defere said he clearly heard Richardson say, ``That's the nicest changeup,'' as he walked back to the dugout a three-time strikeout victim.
Elmore admitted that his change-up was probably the winning pitch, but his curve and drop curve had the Comets bewildered also.
``We knew he had a great breaking pitch,'' Halifax coach Scooter Dunn said. But they came into the game thinking mostly about Elmore's fastball - that flies at more than 80 mph. ``Striking out 17 against us is an accomplishment. That hadn't been done,'' Dunn said.
Added Comets pitcher Michael Lewis, ``We were helping him out. We weren't swinging the bats. And when we swung, it wasn't much of a swing.''
Green Run centerfielder Joe Clark had a good seat to watch Elmore's stuff all night.
``He was untouchable,'' Clark said. ``Those guys were on their front foot all night. His changeup completely disrupted their timing. They really looked lost.
``I faced Chris maybe once or twice in Little League, but I haven't hit against him since. I don't think I could hit that curve. From centerfield, it's got a lot of bite. It's downright nasty.''
The Stallions victory came just two days before the end of the school year - making it a nice graduation present for the team's seniors.
Green Run principal Donald Stowers watched the awards ceremonies from the sidelines, beaming with pride.
``Is this great, or what?'' he said. ``I can't stand it, I'm just so proud of these kids. They've worked so hard for this and they got it.
``Isn't this a great way to end the school year?'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by L. Todd Spenser [Spencer]
Stallions' dream comes true
Staff photo by PAUL AIKEN
Green Run pitcher Chris Elmore and a teammate show their elation
after the Stallions' victory over the Halifax Comets in the state
championship game last Wednesday at Old Dominion University's Bud
Metheny Baseball Complex.
Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Green Run High School student Billy Higgins holds up a sign
supporting his team while David Tate throws his hands up in the air
in excitement over a good play during the state championship game.
Staff photos by PAUL AIKEN
Green Run pitcher Chris Elmore finished with 17 strikeouts.
Green Run player Jason Healey throws out a runner at third base
by CNB