THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
One after another, the baseballs drifted over the fence at the Bud Metheny Complex.
It was only batting practice, but Old Dominion third baseman Ron Walker was drilling home runs. And he was in a groove.
Just as he was recently when he earned Collegiate Baseball magazine's national player-of-the-week award.
Or last season, when he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year.
Or in high school, when he was The Courier Post (Cherry Hill, N.J.) 1994 All-South Jersey baseball Player of the Year.
But for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore, those accomplishments are just steppingstones for the ultimate climb - reaching the major leagues.
``A lot of guys thought I had the ability to get drafted out of high school and play pro ball,'' the Indian Mills, N.J., native said. ``But I never got drafted out of high school.''
Instead, he has punished college competition.
``He's one of our best hitters, probably one of the best power hitters that has ever played at Old Dominion,'' coach Tony Guzzo said. ``He's an outstanding defensive player at third base and he's one of our best pitchers.''
Through it all, Walker maintains a level head.
``He's not cocky. He's down to earth,'' senior outfielder Mike Henderson said. ``And we make sure of that.''
Just the same way Walker makes sure the Monarchs (20-7), who play at 14th-ranked N.C. State (24-4) tonight, have a good chance of winning each time they step on the field.
Walker leads the team in home runs (9), RBIs (35) and is second in batting average (.415). Those numbers were greatly encouraged by a recent power surge.
In each of ODU's three games against William and Mary two weekends ago, he homered - once in both games of a doubleheader and twice the next day. In the second game of the doubleheader, he also recorded his fourth save of the season.
For those feats, he was named CAA player of the week to go along with his national honor.
``I thought it was unbelievable,'' Walker said of the week in which he was 6 for 13 at the plate. ``I've never done anything like that in my life before.''
Two years ago, Walker wasn't sure he would be doing anything in an ODU uniform. He was recruited by Pat McMahon, Guzzo's predecessor, and after a visit to Norfolk, Walker was sold on ODU. Then he heard McMahon was leaving to become an associate coach for Mississippi State - where Walker's younger brother Mathew attends school.
``I had no idea he was going to leave,'' Walker said before a recent practice. ``I thought about possibly getting out of the contract, but coach Guzzo called me over the summer. He sold me back on the idea of coming here.''
In high school, Walker's father had thoughts of his own about his son's future. He thought Ron, a standout punter in high school, should consider one of the many football scholarship offers on the table.
``One of his dreams was to see his son out there kicking and wearing a Rose Bowl ring or winning the national championship,'' said Walker, who was recruited by Penn State and Nebraska. ``I had that chance, but I didn't want to play football anymore.''
So when classes began in the fall of 1994, Walker was here. And late in the winter, he was out on the diamond.
``Last year, he kind of struggled at first,'' said senior outfielder Brian Fiumara, Walker's roommate and close friend. ``But as the year went along, he made a few adjustments.''
By settling down and getting accustomed to the competition, Walker finished his rookie campaign with a .314 batting average, five homers and 47 RBIs. And, he compiled a 6-5 pitching record with a 3.15 ERA. The numbers were good enough for him to earn honorable mention on Collegiate Baseball's freshman All-American team.
But there was still work to be done. Walker played summer league ball for the Coutuit Kettleers in Cape Cod and was then invited to tryouts for the U.S. National Olympic team.
``He has improved in every facet of his game this year,'' Guzzo said. ``He's a much more consistent defensive player. Offensively, obviously he's shown more power this year than he did last year.''
The second-year player is also displaying more patience and confidence.
With more than 30 games left in the season, Walker is just five home runs short of breaking the school record of 13 held by Sean O'Hare and Matt Quatraro. And, he has struck out only 14 times this year compared to 34 last season.
``When you think about all the things he does, it's scary,'' Guzzo said. ``If something happened to him it would be like losing three people. He does such a good job in everything he does.''
But losing Walker before he reaches his senior year is a possibility. NCAA athletes are eligible for the major league draft following their third year of eligibility or after their 21st birthday. Walker turns 21 on Dec. 29.
With that in mind, Guzzo is working with the slugger to accommodate his goals.
``We're hoping not to pitch him at all during his junior year,'' Guzzo said of Walker, who has a 2-1 record and four saves as ODU's closer. ``So he'll be in a stronger position to show what he can do every day in the field.''
And whatever the situation is, Walker awaits his opportunity.
``I'm thinking next year is the year because I want to get out there as soon as possible,'' said Walker, who is undecided on a major. ``I would have liked to have gone out of high school, but that wasn't an option.''
Once June 1997 arrives, he should have options: whether to accept a professional offer and play minor league baseball, or to remain a Monarch and continue to hit homers out of Bud Metheny Complex. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Old Dominion third baseman-pitcher Ron Walker can run, throw and -
you'd better believe it - hit. He has a .415 batting average.
Photo
BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Ron Walker recently was named Collegiate Baseball magazine's player
of the week for his three-home-run spree against William and Mary.
by CNB