THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603200200
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
IT'S GOING TO BE tough to keep up with the Joneses in Southeastern District baseball this spring.
Robert and Otis Jones are two of Churchland's three returning first-team all-district players and a big reason why the Truckers are favored to win the championship.
Robert Jones is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who limited opponents to 24 hits in 48 innings last year and has already signed with William and Mary. Otis Jones is a pitcher and outfielder and batted .372 with 19 runs and 10 stolen bases.
Also returning for Churchland is left-handed pitcher Chris Kelley, whose 6-0 record and 1.25 ERA has earned him a scholarship to William and Mary, giving the Truckers the only staff in the area with two Division I pitching signees.
Perennial contender Great Bridge should grab the district's second region bid with Indian River, Western Branch and Oscar Smith also being competitive.
Elsewhere in South Hampton Roads:
Beach District: First Colonial and Cox have 20-win material. The key will be pitching. The Patriots have a pair of proven veterans in Ed Manley and Steve Johnson. Cox counters with Jason Dubois, who tossed three no-hitters last season.
Eastern District: Booker T. Washington has the most returning starters. Maury has the best player in shortstop Aaron Ambrose. Lake Taylor has two returning all-district players, but no seniors. Take your pick.
TCIS: Defending champion Greenbrier Christian has won four straight state titles in the small school division. Nansemond-Suffolk will chase the Gators.
A team-by-team look at the Southeastern District:
CHURCHLAND
Coach: Ray McGinley
1995 record: 12-9 overall, 10-4 in district
Key performers: Robert Jones (Sr., P-1B, 4-3, 0.73 ERA); Aaron Bailey (Sr., OF-1B, .361 BA); Otis Jones (Sr., OF-P, .372 BA); Chris Kelley (Sr., P-OF, 6-0, 1.25 ERA); Jason Lawson (Sr., 3B); Jeff Bristow (Sr., OF-2B); Pete May (Sr. C); Brian Ragland (Jr., P-SS-C).
Outlook: Robert Jones gives the Truckers that rarest of commodities, a true staff ace. Otis Jones and Aaron Bailey can hit and have the speed to torment opponents on the basepaths. Ragland, a transfer from Wilson, is a versatile player who should have an impact. Ray McGinley, a former head coach at Wilson, has succeeded Carl Rhodes as head coach.
DEEP CREEK
Coach: Scott Hughes
1995 record: 9-10-1 overall, 4-9-1 in district
Key performers: Tony Moore (Jr., IF-P); Richie McLamb (Sr., IF-P); Nick Cuffee (Jr., P-1B); Jason Dunaway (Jr., C); Wes Barnett (Sr., OF).
Outlook: Five starters return, including three with pitching experience. The defense should be sound, but offense is a question mark.
GREAT BRIDGE
Coach: Martin Oliver
1995 record: 16-7-1 overall, 10-3-1 in district
Key performers: Mike Cuddyer (Jr., P-SS, 5-1, 1.63 ERA, .364 BA); Zach Younce (Sr., DH-3B-C, .298 BA); Bill Baber (Sr., 3B, .150 BA); Shaun Todd (Sr., 2B, .146 BA); Chris Gibson (Jr, P); John Curtice (Jr., P).
Outlook: Cuddyer and two newcomers, Gibson and Curtice, should provide solid pitching. Cuddyer also put up big offensive numbers last year, but got little support. Oliver, 327-186 in 30 seasons, expects more production throughout the lineup this year. Younce, a first-team all-district pick, is a clutch hitter. This is Oliver's last year as head coach as he becomes athletic director at Hickory in the fall.
INDIAN RIVER Coach: Steve West
1995 record: 14-7 overall, 11-3 in district
Key performers: Skip Harrison (Sr., C); Keith Reynolds (Sr., P-OF, .429 BA); Brent Linhardt (Sr, 2B); Doug Basnight (Jr., SS).
Outlook: Hitting and defense should be improved, but the Braves must replace the top two pitchers, including district player of the year David Bailey. Reynolds is a first-team all-district performer. Three freshmen could start.
NORCOM
Coach: Leroy Williams
1995 record: 2-15 overall, 2-12 in district
Key performers: Kevin Jones (Fr., C-P-SS); Michael Fiala (Fr., 3B-P); Ryant Carr (So., P-C-SS); Belton Taylor (Jr., 2B); Daniel Holland (Jr., OF-U).
Outlook: Williams is surprisingly upbeat for a coach who lost all his starters. That's because he's rebuilding around two talented and versatile freshmen, Kevin Jones and Michael Fiala. Jones is the Greyhounds' best hitter, pitcher, catcher and shortstop. Fiala is a fastball pitcher and infielder.
OSCAR SMITH
Coach: Ernie Rogers
1995 record: 5-15, 3-11 in district
Key performers: Mark Caudell (P-1B, 3-6, 2.20 ERA, .387 BA); Jason Hand (Sr., SS-P, .322 BA); Brian Lewis (Sr., OF); Jamar Lewis (Sr, OF, .205 BA); Jeff Ryder (Sr., 3B, .210 BA).
Outlook: Caudell could be the top left-handed pitcher in the area and also hits well. But the Tigers lack pitching depth and catching experience.
WILSON
Coach: Billy Kline
1995 record: 5-13 overall, 3-11 in district
Key performers: Scott Parker (Jr., P-OF); Paul Connolly (So., OF); Jason Morgan (Jr., P-C); Nate Anthony (So., P-3B).
Outlook: It's another building year for the Presidents. Kline, the junior varsity coach last year, is counting on several underclassmen and must develop a pitching staff.
WESTERN BRANCH
Coach: Jim Stanko
1995 record: 16-5 overall, 11-3 in district
Key performers: Pat Cusick (Sr., 1B); Doug Brennan (Sr., 1B-P, .439 BA); James Fticsar (Jr., SS-P); Cory Bauswell (Jr., C-P, .348 BA, 25 RBI); Jonathan Tinkham (So., P).
Outlook: The Bruins are finally rebuilding and the results will be most obvious on the mound. Scoring runs won't be as big a problem with first-team all-district picks Brennan and Bauswell and second-teamer Cusick in the lineup. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Pitcher Mike Cuddyer put up big offensive numbers last year but got
little support at Great Bridge.
by CNB