THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9605310171
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 75 lines
No sooner had Greenbrier Christian won its fifth straight VIS Division I baseball championship last week than the subject turned to next season?
With six regulars and two of the top three pitchers returning from a team that finished 27-3, coach Gary Lavelle could have his best edition ever in 1997.
Lavelle won't say that, at least not directly. But when he discusses the pieces to the puzzle, the big picture quickly comes into focus.
Tom Keiper and Nick Honeycutt won 14 games between them this season and are the cornerstones of another outstanding staff.
Keiper is a power pitcher who has been clocked at 86 mph and will be the target of intense recruiting interest. Honeycutt, who doubles as the team's shortstop, lacks a dominating fastball but can spot three different pitches anytime he wants.
If there is a concern, it's that neither has been the No. 1 pitcher on a varsity staff. Nick James filled that role this season, going 10-1 with a 0.32 ERA. James has signed with James Madison.
``It's hard to replace a dominant pitcher like that,'' Lavelle said, ``especially from the left side.''
Help is on the way, however. Lavelle says a sophomore right-hander from North Carolina has enrolled for the fall semester.
Offensively, Greenbrier returns the top five hitters in the batting order, led by second baseman Ross Robertson.
``Ross will be recruited heavily and has a chance to get drafted,'' Lavelle said.
Robertson led the Gators in batting at .430 and committed only one error this spring. Other offensive leaders were sophomore outfielder Keagan Broussard with 25 RBIs, junior third baseman Jon Lantrip with 31 runs scored and Huneycutt with 14 stolen bases.
INDIAN RIVER REVISITED: Indian River coach Steve West said he closely monitored Keith Reynolds as his pitch total passed 150 in the Braves' 10-inning loss to Denbigh in the Eastern Region quarterfinals.
But Reynolds' velocity remained good - his fastball was clocked at 85 late in the game - and he cruised through the eighth and ninth innings. He got two quick outs in the 10th and then went to 3 and 2 on Denbigh leadoff hitter Keith Windle.
But he lost Windle - one of his 10 walks to go with 15 strikeouts - to put runners on first and second.
``When Keith didn't get that guy you could see him deflate,'' West said. ``He was done.''
West considered making a change then, but decided to stick with the senior over a sophomore or a freshman.
The Patriots scored two runs to win the game 7-6 and Reynolds finished with a pitch count of at least 175.
``I was worried about that,'' West said, ``but he's a strong kid. I asked him how he felt the next day and he said, `I'm still young, coach.' ''
Reynolds has drawn some recruiting interest from Old Dominion, Radford and Longwood, but no offers yet.
``I think that will change before June is out,'' West said.
EARLY FAVORITE: Great Bridge should be an overwhelming favorite to repeat as Southeastern District champion next year. The Wildcats return the top position player - shortstop Mike Cuddyer - and pitcher - John Curtice - in the district and won't lose any rising seniors to Hickory.
The parents of Brian Anderson, a sophomore third baseman and pitcher who batted .393, are trying to sell their house and move back into the Great Bridge zone.
Cuddyer finished the season with a .532 batting average, 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. Curtice was 7-1 with a 1.02 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 48 innings. ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Staff photo by HUY NGUYEN
It was another season to celebrate for Tom Keiper, far right, and
the Greenbrier Christian baseball team, which won its fifth straight
Virginia Independent Schools Division I state title. by CNB