THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9506300243
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
ASK THE Bennett's Creek Little League Orioles what makes a team successful and you'll get several different responses.
``Practice every day,'' Travis Gilbert said.
``A good coach makes a good team,'' Johnathan Bagley said.
``A lot of heart and time devoted to the sport,'' added Brian Hollowell.
Whatever the reason, things have worked for the Orioles.
Since 1993, including fall seasons, the Orioles have gone 58-0 and won two league and two fall ball championships in the eight-team major league 9- to 12-year-old division.
Coach Charlie Hardie has a few reasons for the team's success.
``A lot of kids play youth baseball because their neighbors play it or their cousins play it,'' Hardie said. ``These kids come out for baseball because they love to play. If you like to do something and you practice, you'll keep getting better.''
Practice or play six days a week has played a big part in making the Orioles a good team, according to Hardie.
``Unlike a lot of kids, these boys don't mind practice,'' Hardie said.
The practice has paid off. Nine of the twelve players made the all-star team this season.
Team members said Hardie helped more than anything.
``Charlie worked with us everyday,'' Michael Cosby said. ``Everyday he taught us something.''
Even after so much practice and coaching, a successful, even winning, season can't be predicted, said Hardie.
``I don't think you ever get to the point where you believe you'll win 50 games,'' he said. ``You don't even expect an undefeated season because this is a competitive league.''
Which makes the Orioles proud of their accomplishment.
``It's really special,'' Gilbert said. ``We know no other team has ever done it.''
There were a few teams that put the streak in jeopardy this season.
The Rangers gave them a scare near midseason.
After 5 1/2 scoreless innings the Orioles came to bat in the bottom of the sixth. Charlie Hardie, the coach's son, started the inning with a double. Eric Spencer then singled to drive in Hardie and the streak was saved.
``I was real worried during that game,'' Cosby said. ``If we lost we would have felt a lot of pressure.''
A week after the Rangers game, the Marlins came close to upending the Orioles.
``We call the first inning the Oriole inning because we try to score five or six runs and get the other team down in the hole,'' Hollowell said. ``We didn't do that against the Marlins and almost lost.''
After giving up three runs in the first inning, the Orioles rallied to tie it in the fourth.
Hardie scored the game-winning run in the fifth, after stealing third and home. The Orioles pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
``We finally picked it up in the last few innings,'' Hollowell said. ``We hadn't scored in the sixth, so we knew we had to hold them to win.''
``When they were down I knew there was a lot of pressure on them,'' Hardie said. ``They were determined to win and the pressure never showed on their faces. I was probably a lot more worried than the players were.''
Other teams in the league weren't the only ones to put pressure on the Orioles, according to Hardie.
``People showed up at our games just to see if we'd get beat,'' he said.
Hardie added team members took their accomplishment seriously and remained humble.
``Even when they clinched the championship and the season was over, I told them to celebrate and they never did,'' Hardie said. ``They just lined up to shake the other team's hands and told them good game. They showed a few smiles every now and then but just came out here and did what they had to do.''
Keeping the win streak alive through next season won't be easy. The Orioles will lose eight 12-year-olds - Bagley, Cosby, Gilbert, Hardie, Hollowell, Spencer, Matt Balsor and Russ Darwin - to the 12-15-year-old league.
``It will almost be a brand new team next year,'' assistant coach Doug Cosby said. ``I don't know that they'll be as good, but they'll have a good nucleus to build from.''
``The kids who are returning are good ballplayers,'' Hardie said. ``It will be very difficult (to continue the streak), but we've got enough coming back to be very competitive.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Key members of the team are, left to right, Brian Hollowell,
Jonathan Bagley, Michael Cosby and Travis Gilbert.
by CNB