THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010220
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Notes on a frayed white cuff. . . .
Billy Kline is going to pinch hit for Wilson varsity baseball coach Joe Ladisic this spring.
Kline, the junior varsity coach at Wilson, will take over the helm of the varsity for one season while Ladisic is recovering from surgery.
Kline was a three-sport standout at Churchland High School and athlete of the year in Portsmouth in 1983. He was an All-Southeastern District pitcher in baseball, leading the conference in strikeouts his senior year.
Athletic director Dave Willett said Steve Cassell, a football assistant, will handle Kline's junior varsity chores.
Joe Langston, who stepped down as Norcom's boys indoor track coach, also is vacating his head coaching job in boys outdoor track.
Langston, Norcom's athletic director, has been the Greyhounds' outdoor track coach since 1974 and compiled one of the area's finest records in dual-meet competition. His teams won 16 consecutive city championships and nine Southeastern crowns, tying for a 10th. His dual-meet record was something in the neighborhood of 125-5.
Robert Jackson will take over the track team. Jackson coached indoor track and is an assistant on Langston's football staff.
Portsmouth schools won both of the sportsmanship awards at the recent Southeastern District basketball tournament.
Wilson was picked as the winner in the girls division. Churchland was selected in the boys division.
It was the first time the Wilson girls had been picked since 1982. The Churchland boys were chosen only once previously - back in 1977.
A look back at Southeastern District basketball tournament games shows another name should be added to the records listed in the tourney program.
Ralph Bullock of Indian River (1972) and Barry Wright of Norcom (1977) are listed as the all-time scoring leaders in a single tournament.
This record was tied by Cradock's Petey Sessoms in 1991 - and Sessoms accomplished the feat while playing in only two games instead of three, as played by the others.
The Virginia High School League is seeking to fill a new staff position for a director of development. This will include corporate fund-raising and relations, grant writing, special events promotion and marketing.
Applicants should contact VHSL executive director Ken Tilley. The deadline is April 1.
Also on April 1 Vic Blue is stepping down as the VHSL clinician and rules interpreter for wrestling. He has held this position for 20 years.
Buddy Sharp, a former athletic standout at Manor High School, is spearheading efforts to build the sports programs in the Cavalier Manor area. Sharp is now president of the Cavalier Manor Civic League.
``We are developing new programs in wrestling, tennis, soccer and track,'' said Sharp. ``Baseball has a good program already.''
Sharp will be a coach in the Cavalier Manor USA Open Wrestling Club, which has eight members signed up and will offer wrestling to youngsters between the ages of 5 through 18.
Rufus Outland will head up a tennis program on the six-court complex at the Cavalier Manor Recreation Center. Steve Pearson will assist in the development of soccer.
``We're awaiting the construction of a legitimate soccer field to be located at William E. Waters Middle School,'' said Sharp.
Sharp said a Youth Against Drugs Track Club will have its first scheduled meet on March 23 at Wilson. After that, the team will compete each Wednesday at Norfolk Academy.
Sharp, Jackson, Norcom girls track coach Vincent Pugh and Arthur Williams of Parks and Recreation will be the track coaches. by CNB