THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507130513
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Nick Ardagna, Old Dominion's catcher of the future, showed Wednesday night that he might be ready to play sooner.
That's a good thing since ODU starter Matt Quatraro has expressed an interest in transferring and the Monarchs have granted him his release.
Ardagna, from Western Branch, had two of the East's five hits, including a majestic bases-empty home run, in an 8-4 loss to the West in the Virginia High School Coaches' Association's all-star game at War Memorial Stadium.
Ardagna is monitoring the situation and would welcome the opportunity to compete for a job if Quatraro transfers.
``But I'll still have to work hard,'' he said. ``If I do that I'm sure I'll get to play a little bit.''
Ardagna provided one of the few bright spots on an otherwise lackluster night for the East. He walked in the first, singled to shortstop in the fifth and homered in the ninth.
``I got a fastball and swung as hard as I could,'' he said. ``I knew I hit it good.''
Green Run's Chris Elmore also played well. The Group AAA Player of the Year didn't allow the ball out of the infield in two scoreless innings.
``I got it done,'' Elmore said. ``But I would have liked to have a better showing.''
Elmore was 0 for 2 at the plate as was his Green Run teammate David Abbott, who played shortstop. Abbott walked and stole a base.
First Colonial's David Winter, the starting centerfielder, was 0 for 3 with a stolen base, and he scored a run. He also threw out a runner at the plate and would have had another assist if third baseman Jason Hughes hadn't dropped the throw.
``I take pride in my defense,'' Winter said. ``That's the favorite part of my game.''
Winter's best bid for a hit came in the fourth when he flied deep to left.
``Warning-track power,'' he said with a smile.
Kecoughtan's Andy Lee was the MVP for the East. He pitched three scoreless innings and stroked a two-run single.
Mike Lewis of Halifax County was MVP of the West. He pitched two scoreless innings and had a two-run single in the first.
West 200 015 000 - 8 13 4
East 000 000 301 - 4 5 2
Cook, Lopez (3), Lewis (5), Berry (7), Alley (8), Inge (9) and Alley, Sererano (4), Gauch (8); Champagne, Elmore (3), Snyder (5), Nuckols (6), Lindsey (6), Lee (7) and Ardagna and Snoddy (5). W-Cook. L-Champagne. HR-Ardagna. by CNB