
DATE: Friday, May 9, 1997                   TAG: 9705070174

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  121 lines

WILSON'S ON A ROLL, RISES IN BASEBALL POLL THE PRESIDENTS' SUCCESS IS NO SURPRISE TO THEM AS THEY COME TOGETHER AND RUN LIKE ``A PACK OF DEER.''

Sure, Wilson's improved defense, hitting and pitching explains a lot about the Presidents' seven-game winning streak and surprising - albeit not to themselves - rise to No. 7 in The Virginian-Pilot area Top 10 poll.

But to understand the real secret of the team's success, the players say, is to understand the story of ``a pack of deer.''

The Presidents insist coach Joe Ladisic's impromptu nature lesson, given when the team was struggling to find winning form, was the trigger that set off their recent winning ways. And the fact that this is what they believe, Ladisic pointed out, is all that really counts.

``This group of guys has really come together,'' Ladisic said, ``and that's why we are where we are.''

The Presidents stood in a three-way tie for first place in the Eastern District when the week began, an eye-opening position considering the group was picked to struggle against all but the weakest opposition. ``The Presidents aren't strong enough to be a darkhorse,'' came the analysis, ``but they could surprise some people when facing second-line pitching.''

``We've used that article for motivation many, many times,'' Ladisic said.

The biggest motivational boost, however, came in mid-April, when Ladisic gathered his team after it had lost three of four games in the Nansemond River tournament and explained the laws of nature.

When you look at nature, Ladisic told his players, a herd of deer is a strong unit. But if there's one straggler, or one that goes off ahead by itself, it'll get eaten by wolves.

From this day forward, the Presidents' wolf would be Ladisic. And after watching his team stumble through its first seven games, the wolf announced he was starting to become as hungry as one.

``We've got some quitters on this team,'' Ladisic told his stunned charges. ``And to prove my point, I'm going to cut someone today.''

He told them they would run until he got tired. The first straggler, or individual to bolt ahead of the group, would be asked to turn in his gear.

For about 20 minutes, the Presidents ran without anyone breaking ranks. And by the time Ladisic called off his drill, Wilson was a new team.

``We took him seriously because we knew he was serious,'' Wilson's Dennis Self said. ``That's the way he is.

``Plus, I think we all wanted to win.''

Winning is all the Presidents (9-5 overall, 8-2 Eastern) have done since Ladisic's nature rap. The streak includes victories over co-district leaders Maury and Granby, and the seven wins they've reeled off represents one more victory than they compiled last year, when the Presidents went 6-9.

Ladisic, hesitant to compromise his team-first philosophy, is reluctant to discuss who might be the stars of the group. But a look at the stats reveals a few strong candidates:

Self, the freshman shortstop who the coach said may be considered among the area's all-time best prospects by the time he's done;

Third baseman Brandon Todd and centerfielder Scott Parker, both of whom are hitting over .560;

A pitching staff by a committee of Self (2-0), Nate Anthony (2-1), Aaron Short (3-0), Parker (1-1) and Laurice Parham (1-1) that has allowed Ladisic great flexibility in his rotation without a subsequent loss in ability.

The players say Ladisic has inspired them just by his presence on the field. He missed last season while waging a successful battle with cancer.

``He takes everything seriously, but he never fusses at us,'' Self said. ``You do what he tells you, everything's fine. He's just a straight-up good coach.''

The group is also the product of the developmental prowess of the Olive Branch, Charles Peete and Wilson Little Leagues, all of which have sent players to Ladisic.

``The coaches there deserve a lot of credit,'' he said.

Ladisic conceded that Presidents' success in the Eastern District a year after struggling in the more powerful Southeastern District speaks a bit to the difference in quality of the two leagues. But he added that the Presidents were usually able to compete with and even beat the powerful teams on occasion in years past. Last year, for example, they shocked a strong Indian River team, 11-1, after which the team bus pulled up to Ladisic's house and presented their bed-ridden coach with a signed game ball.

The difference this year, Ladisic said, is they've found the consistency to produce that kind of performance on a regular basis.

The question now is, how long can the Presidents' winning ways continue? According to Ladisic, as long as the Presidents believe they can.

``Baseball is a simple game,'' the coach said. ``The ball comes over the plate, you hit it. Field the ball, step and throw. Simple. But it's like anything else. You stop doing what you're supposed to do, you're going to lose.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by PAUL WHITE

After watching his team struggle, Wilson coach Joe Ladisic, above,

gave his charges a telling demonstration of teamwork. At left,

Dennis Self, a freshman shortstop, is proving to be a team leader.

Graphic

AROUND THE HORN

A positional rundown of the first-place Wilson Presidents, with

comments from head coach Joe Ladisic:

First base - Kelsey Carr, So. ``Outstanding defensively. Hasn't

made an error. Hitting around .430.''

Second base - Matt Christenbury, Sr., ``Transfer from Lakeland,

where he played shortstop. Has made only two errors. Is hitting

.360. Stole home legitimately twice in one week.''