THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506210169
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
EVEN BEFORE THE American Legion baseball season started, Chesapeake Post 280 found itself at a loss.
Gone was head coach Gary Lavelle, a highly-respected former major league pitcher who directed Post 280 to the American Legion state final in 1994.
Gone were standout players David Bailey, the Southeastern District Player of the Year, and Eddie Byrum, lost when redistricting took Indian River High School out of Post 280's talent pool.
Although the team added several players from Eastern Region participant Great Bridge and private school state champion Greenbrier Chrisitian, Post 280 has lost three games before the calendar flips to July.
Last year, they lost two games the entire season.
Whatever ails Post 280, the team will face one of its biggest challenges of the season when Bedford Post 54 - which defeated Post 280 in the state final - comes to town Sunday for a doubleheader at Greenbrier Christian Academy. Bedford also plays Princess Anne Post 113 - made up primarily of players from Green Run's state championship team - Saturday at Greenbrier.
The rematch ``was their idea,'' said Post 280 coach John Knight. ``They wanted to know if we wanted to play them because it was such a great game in the championship. The kids are looking forward to playing them again.''
The two teams actually met three times in the American Legion state tournament. In the first meeting, Bedford pounded out 19 hits in humiliating Post 280, 20-9.
After playing out of the loser's bracket, Chesapeake got a bit of revenge and handed Post 54 its first loss of the season, 9-8.
That victory set up a winner-take-all final for the state championship. Chesapeake started David Ellyson against Post 54 ace Brandon Inge, and the result was a pitcher's duel. Ellyson held Bedford to seven hits but lost a 2-1 decision, with the winning run unearned.
Post 280 (2-3) returns just four starters from last year's 19-2 team - Ellyson, catcher Mike Hoskins, outfielder Derek Riebel and infielder Darryn Bettis - and the early report is that although pitching has been a bright spot, the team's offense is lagging behind.
``Our hitting hasn't lived up to expectations yet, and we've had some miscues and errors on defense that have hurt,'' said Knight. ``Our pitching has been above average, although if we had Bailey we'd be sitting a lot prettier.''
All three losses this year have been by one run. Pitcher Nick James, an all-conference pick at Greenbrier Christian, has lost two three-hitters.
Another hurdle for Post 280 has been adjusting to the loss of Lavelle as head coach. According to Knight, it hasn't been an easy process.
``That was rough,'' Knight said. ``I talked to the players and told them I don't expect to get the same respect as Gary, because he's a 14-year pro. But I do expect them to respect themselves enough to give 100 percent.''
Apparently, that hasn't always been the case. Knight says that several players have bad attitudes, and some are spending too much time playing in other leagues.
``I'm probably going to have to cut some players,'' he said. ``There are guys who are playing 2-3 games before they come to us, and they're tired. I want players who will give (Post) 280 100 percent.''
If Knight's replacements are anything like Brian Anderson, Post 280 will be in fine shape.
Anderson, a Great Bridge junior varsity player who just turned 15 on June 11, recently went 5-for-7 in a doubleheader and has earned a spot in Chesapeake's starting lineup.
``He's already 6-foot,'' said Knight of Anderson, who can play any position on the field. ``He's got a quick bat, and he's lefthanded.''
After losing such formidable hitters as Mike Floyd, Tony Linhardt, and Shawn O'Dell, one big question mark for Post 280 before the season was power. Enter Alton Todd.
Todd, a Great Bridge graduate, has solid power to left field. Earlier this season at Cascade Park, Todd hit three foul balls into the trees beyond the left field fence.
``He's been a pleasant surprise with his power,'' Knight said. ``I was concerned earlier because I didn't know who was going to take Linhardt's place'' as the team's designated slugger.
Riebel, the team's third-leading hitter in the state tournament with a .476 average and an All-Tidewater pick this season, starts in centerfield after a successful senior season at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
Hoskins, who has been starting at third lately due to illness, should be back at catcher for the first game against Bedford, which is fortunate because ``we need his defense and leadership behind the plate,'' said Knight.
Bedford Post 54 returns seven players, including Inge and hulking pitcher/first baseman Patrick Muncher.
``He's too big,'' said Post 54 head coach G. R. Wiley of Muncher, a graduating senior who is 6-5, 230 pounds.
``We've got more speed than last year, and a better defensive outfield,'' Wiley continued. ``Our pitching is deeper, and we'll miss (Ryan) Gilliland, but our hitting will be more consistent down the lineup.''
Gilliland, Bedford's former third baseman, hit over .300 this past season as a freshman at Virginia.
It's been a test for Knight to get Post 280 back to the level it enjoyed last season, something that's even tougher to do when you've got little more than your starting lineup to work with. Last week only 12 players showed up for Post 280's game, down from 20 on the roster, but Knight thinks all his players will be in attendance on Sunday.
``I hope so, because we'll need them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Catcher Mike Hoskins, left, and pitcher David Ellyson are two of
only three returning players for American Legion Post 280's team.
by CNB