THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 21, 1996 TAG: 9606200154
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL SPORTS
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 68 lines
It took a while for Nick James to find a home in the Tidewater Conference. But once he did the Greenbrier Christian lefthander turned it into his castle.
James, who lives in Western Branch and played his first two varsity seasons at Nansemond-Suffolk and Norfolk Collegiate, went 8-1 with a 0.40 ERA in leading the Gators to a sweep of the regular-season and tournament championships this spring.
That dominating performance made him the top vote-getter on the All-TCIS team and earned him a scholarship to James Madison University.
James' only loss was to Hampton Christian, ranked No. 1 in the Virginia Independent Schools Division I poll. James allowed only two hits, struck out 16 and picked threw runners off base that day, but lost on a pair of unearned runs.
James credits Greenbrier coach Gary Lavelle, a former major league lefthander, along with the nurturing atmosphere at Greenbrier for his athletic and academic success.
He's compiled a 3.9 grade point average in his two years at Greenbrier and scored 1,140 on the SAT.
``I came to Greenbrier because the baseball opportunities were good and I've always wanted to play college ball,'' James said. ``Coach Lavelle is the best pitching coach in the state and has made me a lot smarter.
``Last year I just threw the ball by people. This year I've learned to change speeds.''
James is joined on the all-conference team by teammates Nick Huneycutt, a pitcher/shortstop, and Ross Robertson, a second baseman.
Huneycutt was 7-0 with a 0.51 ERA and batted .333. Robertson led the Gators batting at .421 and committed only one error.
Nansemond-Suffolk, which finished second in the regular-season and the tournament, is represented by pitcher Mike Johnston and catcher David Putnam.
Johnston was 5-1 with a 1.83 ERA. Putnam, a Western Branch resident, batted
Norfolk Academy also placed two players on the first team. Tommy Van Hoose, a pitcher/outfielder, was 5-2 with a 1.66 ERA and batted .511 with a slugging percentage of 1.000. Chip Cutchins, an outfielder, batted .463 with 19 RBI.
Completing the first team are Catholic's Jeff Alberts, Norfolk Collegiate's Nick Jacovides and Cape Henry's Andy Tilhou.
Alberts, a shortstop, batted .425 and led the Crusaders in hits, runs, doubles and RBIs.
Jacovides, a third baseman/pitcher/catcher, batted .423 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
Tilhou, a pitcher/first baseman, was 5-2 with a 1.60 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 45 innings. He batted .350. ILLUSTRATION: PRIVATE SCHOOLS BASEBALL
Nick James, MVP
Greenbrier Christian senior
Tommy Van Hoose
Norfolk Academy junior
Jeff Alberts
Catholic sophomore
Andy Tilhou
Cape Henry sophomore
Chip Cutchins
Norfolk Academy senior
ALL-TCIS BASEBALL
[For a copy of the list, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB