THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507280201
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
MOST BASEBALL TEAMS that played Windsor High this season had mixed emotions if Parker Ramsey came to bat in the six or seventh inning. He could hurt them with one swing, but it also meant his last at-bat.
Unfortunately for a lot of teams, when the Dukes took the field the next half inning the 6-4, 235-pound junior was brought in to pitch as Windsor's closer.
``He was definitely an imposing figure on the mound,'' assistant coach Tommy Austin said. ``I know if I was in the batter's box and somebody that big was throwing hard at me, I'd be intimidated.''
Ramsey intimidated opposing pitchers, too. The third baseman batted .548 with five home runs and 42 RBIs.
``I had no idea he would do what he did,'' coach Tex Murray said. ``He started with the first game and didn't stop. His average was only below .500 for one or two games.''
Added Austin: ``He crushed everything they threw at him. He hit for average and power.''
The rest of the league agreed and made Ramsey the Tri-Rivers District player of the year.
``There are so many other good players around the district so I was happy,'' Ramsey said of the honor. ``I never dreamed I'd be player of the year. I was in disbelief and didn't expect it.''
Murray did. ``Parker was clearly the player of the year,'' he said. ``I was surprised (other teams) continued to pitch to him. You've got to pitch around somebody like that. If I coached against Windsor, he wouldn't swing the bat too many times.''
Murray said most of the times Ramsey swung the bat came in pressure situations, which the big fellow welcomed.
``I tend to do better under pressure and I don't mind having all the attention on me,'' Ramsey said. ``If I don't get it it's no big deal, though, because I'm out there to help the team.''
Ramsey helped his team do something the Dukes had never done before this year. Windsor had made the regional semifinals 12 straight times, but had never made it to the state tournament. This year, the Dukes made the state playoffs and lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Brentsville.
``We had a young team with kids that should still have been playing JV,'' Austin said. ``Parker provided a big part of the leadership that we needed.''
After his freshman season, however, Ramsey didn't convince too many people that he would become one of Windsor's leaders.
``He definitely didn't start out gangbusters,'' Murray said. ``He only hit about .100 his freshman year and led the team in strikeouts. He probably struck out in almost half of his at-bats.''
Said Ramsey: ``Yeah, it was pretty bad.''
The Oklahoma City native credits American Legion baseball for his turnaround.
``An extra month of baseball during the summer really helped me,'' Ramsey said. ``I learned a few changes that made a world of difference. I started spreading out my stance and kept the bat off my shoulder and started hitting the ball.''
Ramsey doesn't plan to take his rapid improvement and player of the year award for granted.
``There's always room for improvement,'' he said. ``Next year I need to improve my on-base percentage and get better in the field.''
But individual honors don't interest Ramsey.
``The team always matters more,'' he said. ``I'd give up player of the year any day to go to a state championship.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Parker Ramsey ``was definitely an imposing figure on the mound,''
said the Dukes' assistant coach, Tommy Austin.
by CNB