THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606050181
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 99 lines
THERE WAS LITTLE that Jerome Ricks didn't do this season for the Windsor baseball team. The senior shortstop broke a single-season school record with eight home runs, had 24 RBIs batting in the leadoff spot and anchored the Dukes' infield. So there was little question who would be named Tri-Rivers District player of the year, voted on by coaches last week.
Ricks, who recently signed to play at Norfolk State, batted .458 and was a unanimous choice for the award.
``He does not have a weakness,'' Windsor coach Tex Murray said of Ricks, who missed last season with an injury. ``He's got great range, real good speed, he's a good leadoff hitter and he's a team player. He does everything.''
Four other players - Cory Herrala, Matt Brock, Jason Leonard and David Szymanski - joined Ricks on the first team for Windsor, which won the district regular season and tournament titles before being upset 6-5 in a Region A semifinal by Rappahannock. Herrala, a junior pitcher, went 8-0 with a 1.17 ERA, while Brock, a sophomore catcher, hit .404 with 20 runs scored. Leonard, a sophomore at second base, batted .364 and Szymanski, a sophomore outfielder, hit .352.
Others on the first team were: first baseman Melvin Ellis and third baseman Brad Thorpe of Sussex Central; pitcher Tommy Wilson, outfielders Eric Moore and Stephen Slosjarik and designated hitter Kevin Chisenholl of New Kent; and Charles City's Irving Bradby, a utility player. Murray was named coach of the year.
ALL-DISTRICT SOFTBALL: Two Windsor softball players - Susan Frank and Casey Ford - earned first team All-Tri-Rivers District honors. Frank, a freshman pitcher, went 5-8 with 89 strikeouts, 26 walks and a 2.40 ERA. She also hit
Sussex Central, which rolled through the regular season undefeated, placed five players on the first team. Pitcher Denise Reagan was named player of the year for the second consecutive season. The senior was 14-0 with 146 strikeouts and a 0.17 ERA. Senior first baseman LaTaya Hilliard (.488), sophomore second baseman Katie Lewis (.510), junior third baseman Sandy Poole (.409) and junior outfielder LaSheka Hill (.500) were other Tigers named to the first team.
Others on the first team were: Catcher Amy Kaloski (.444), outfielder Sarah Gainer (.489) and utility player Suzanne Ellyson (.282) of New Kent; and shortstop Angie Chappell (.422) and designated hitter Courtney Daniels (.361) of Surry County.
All Tri-Rivers baseball
First team
1B - Melvin Ellis, Sussex Central; 2B - Jason Leonard, Windsor; 3B - Brad Thorpe, Sussex Central; SS - Jerome Ricks, Windsor; OF - David Szymanski, Windsor, Eric Moore, New Kent and Stephen Slosjarik, New Kent; P - Tommy Wilson, New Kent and Cory Herrala, Windsor; C - Matt Brock, Windsor; U - Irving Bradby, Charles City; DH - Keven Chisenholl, New Kent
Player of the year: Jerome Ricks, Windsor
Coach of the year: Tex Murray, Windsor
Second team
1B - Patrick Barnes, Surry; 2B - David Barker, Sussex; 3B - Parker Ramsey, Windsor; SS - Terrence Bain, Sussex Central; OF - Jamie Brown, Charles City, Brian Fendrick, Sussex Central and Robby Tew, Windsor; P - Irving Bradby, Charles City and David Szymanski, Windsor; C - Jamie Hudson, New Kent; U - Terrence Bain, Sussex Central; DH - Tarvis Taylor, Sussex Central
All Tri-Rivers softball
First team
1B - Lataya Hilliard, Sussex Central; 2B - Katie Lewis, Sussex Central; 3B - Sandy Poole, Sussex Central; SS - Angie Chappell, Surry Co.; OF - LaSheka Hill, Sussex Central, Casey Ford, Windsor, and Sarah Gainer, New Kent; P - Denise Reagan, Sussex Central and Susan Frank, Windsor; C - Amy Kaloski, New Kent; U -Suzanne Ellyson, New Kent; DH - Courtney Daniels, Surry Co
Player of the year: Denise Reagan, Sussex Central
Second team
1B - Katie Mitchell, New Kent; 2B - Sarae Sibilia, Windsor; 3B - Michelle Charity, Charles City; SS - Denise Mountcastle, New Kent; OF - Brooke Baber, Charles City, Trisha Baldwin, New Kent and Misty Davis, Surry Co. P - Scharnelle Moton, Surry Co.; U - Noelle Peerey, Windsor ILLUSTRATION: Jerome Ricks, Windsor
player of the year
Cory Herrala, Windsor
First team, all-district
Matt Brock
First team, all-district
Jason Leonard
First team, all-district
Susan Frank, Windsor
First team, all-district
Casey Ford, Windsor
First team, all-district
David Szymanski
First team, all-district by CNB