THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608110080
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 130 lines
William Creef knows his history.
The manager of Dare County's entry in the 1996 Babe Ruth World Series is well aware that only one host team has won the championship of the league's senior division.
``Stamford, Conn., 1968,'' he said, naming the winner in the first tournament ever held.
``There's a first time for everything, and there's always `again,' '' Creef added with a wry smile.
Dare County steps to the plate against history at 7 p.m. Saturday, when it faces Coos Bay, Ore., in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.
Coos Bay won the Pacific Northwest region to earn a spot in the tournament. The Coos Bay-Dare County matchup gives the series a bi-coastal flavor from the get-go.
``I don't know anything about them,'' Creef said. ``We'll just go out and play.''
Dare County's players, selected from throughout the Albemarle region, say they aren't intimidated by the Stamford Factor. Many on the host team have previous World Series experience, playing last year in the 16-year-old World Series in Jamestown, N.Y.
Dare County lost two close games and was eliminated. Del Rio, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio, both came from behind in the last inning to knock Dare County from the tourney.
``We're not really worried,'' said Doug Leary of Camden. ``We were in every game last year at the tournament in Jamestown. We led in both games and they came from behind and beat us. I'm almost positive we'll do better than we did last year.''
Leary, whose cousin is Joe Seymour, a member of the Softball Hall of Fame, said the team learned a key lesson from the Jamestown experience.
``We found out that we were as good as anybody else, if not better, as an area,'' Leary said.
The first baseman says he has a secret weapon.
``I'd like to keep my goatee for intimidation,'' he said. ``Last year, a lot of guys grew them for the tournament, but some of them couldn't grow one.''
Leary's confidence is mirrored throughout the team. Second baseman Brock Nixon says the team has a blue-collar bent.
``We're going to have to work hard and give 110 percent to win.''
Nixon says the presence of pro scouts from all the major league clubs, along with college scouts, will be a minor distraction.
``It makes me a little nervous,'' Nixon said. ``But you've just got to relax and go with it.''
Nixon's Perquimans County High School team had a pre-game ritual, placing Mountain Dew soft drink bottles on car antennae in route to road games.
``That was school ball,'' he says.
Asked if the Babe Ruth World Series is more serious than prep baseball, Nixon replies: ``All ball is serious.''
Right fielder Wade Temple of Elizabeth City says the team will be ready come opening day. Asked about host team difficulties in the series, Temple says, ``I hope we'll be the second one. I think we're a good-looking team. The problem is, we don't know what the other teams are like.''
Like most of the others on the squad, Temple has no pre-game rituals. He said if a goatee movement sweeps the team, he'll pass.
``I won't go with that,'' he said. ``But I will keep my moustache. My girlfriend kinda likes it. I do say a little prayer when I get to the plate, though.''
Third baseman Johnny Fuller of Currituck acknowledges that there will be pressure playing in front of the homefolks.
``I'm sure that since we're the home team, there'll be a lot of pressure. It'll be something to see. But it's just a ball game.''
Ken Simmons of Moyock says the home-field advantage can be a motivating factor.
``Once we start, we have to step it up to another level,'' Simmons said. ``It doesn't make me nervous. It give me motivation to win it. Since we played in the series last year, we should be veterans. We know what to expect.''
But even veterans like Shaun Barrera of Wanchese admit to some pre-series butterflies.
``You want to play well in front of your family and friends,'' said Barrera, a centerfielder on Manteo High's Class 2A state championship team. ``I'm still going to be nervous.''
Barrera says the home-field advantage may have other benefits. Six team members - Barrera, Brandon Butler, Foye Minton, Rico Pagan, Ted Toler and Gerald Crawford - played on the field as part of the Manteo team.
Shortstop Simmons has a special dream for the series' championship Aug. 24.
``The tying run is on third with two outs, and there's a grounder hit into the hole,'' he said, eyes glistening. ``I dive and get it, come up, and throw the guy out. Game over. I love defense.''
Dreams aside, the Dare team appears ready to go to work.
``I'm sure we'll be tense,'' Temple said. ``But after the first couple of innings, we'll loosen up. We'll be fine.'' MEMO: The Babe Ruth World Series for 16- to 18-year-olds will be
Aug. 17 to 24 at Manteo High School. Tournament family passes are $50.
Individual tournament passes are $35 and daily passes are $10. For more
information, call (919) 480-1422.
DARE TEAM
Here is the Dare County roster for the 1996 Babe Ruth World Series:
2 - Justin Burk, SS, Elizabeth City
3 - Brock Nixon, 2B, Hertford
5 - Mike Weatherly, 2B, Shawboro
7 - Foye Minton, P/CF, Wanchese
8 - Brian Willoughby, LF, Coinjock
9 - Michael White, CF, Windsor
10 - Doug Leary, 1B, Camden
11 - Ken Simmons, SS, Moyock
12 - Wade Temple, OF, Elizabeth City
14 - Joseph Brantley, P/SS, Windsor
15 - Shaun Barrera, OF, Wanchese
16 - Gerald Crawford, C, Kill Devil Hills
18 - Darren Cottle, LF, Colerain
20 - Ted Toler, P/3B, Wanchese
21 - Brandon Butler, 1B, Manteo
22 - Clint Eley, P/SS, Hertford
23 - Rico Pagan, 1B/3B, Nags Head
29 - Johnny Fuller, P/3B, Currituck
Manager William Creef, Manteo
Coach Ronnie Meekins, Manteo
Coach Tony White, Windsor
Scorekeeper, Tony Creef
Batboy, Alfie Wheeler ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by DREW C. WILSON, The Virginian-Pilot
BUSY ARM: Joseph Brantley goes through a cart of balls Thursday
night pitching batting practice for the Dare County team.
NEW THREADS: Infielder Rico Pagan checks out the jersey he'll wear
during the Babe Ruth World Series at Manteo High School.
BENCH PRACTICE: Dare County players take a breather during practice
Thursday night on a newly made bench at the field that will host
the series. by CNB