DATE: Saturday, May 10, 1997                TAG: 9705100581

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

AROUND THE AREA, SOME FIELDS OF DREAMSLOCAL TEAMS POURING FUNDS (AND CONCRETE) INTO UPGRADING BASEBALL FACILITIES.

When First Colonial baseball coach Norbie Wilson planted winter rye over his dirt infield in the fall of 1991, he had no idea he was sowing the seeds of a baseball renaissance in South Hampton Roads.

There were no grass infields or enclosed dugouts in the Beach District at the time, and few outfield fences. Irrigation was a code word for rain.

``You can say we were pioneers,'' Wilson said from inside the Patriots' new indoor practice facility.

The 3,200-square-foot building is made of corrugated metal and arches 18 feet above the leftfield foul line. When complete, it will house two portable batting cages, weight training equipment and lockers.

Wilson estimates the construction material - paid for through fund raising and donations - cost $35,000. Baseball parents, community members and Wilson provided the labor over 14 weekends.

The ``Norbie Dome'' is the last in a series of improvements Wilson began in 1989 with the sinking of a lone well. Over the next eight years he added the dugouts, sodded the infield, completed the fencing, installed an electric sprinkler system and added an electric scoreboard.

Less than two years after the upgrades began, First Colonial won its only state championship in 1993.

The Patriots now have all the amenities but a press box, which wouldn't serve the players' needs, and lights, which Wilson said would produce an unacceptable amount of stress on the playing surface.

Even without those features, First Colonial set a standard that raised the bar throughout the area. Today, all 10 Beach District schools are completely fenced and seven have grass infields.

Cox coach John Ingram was the first to copy the Patriots' model.

``I told John, `Your parents aren't going to let their kids play on a third-rate facility,' '' Wilson said. ``So I gave him my notes and some contacts.''

Cox, which won last season's state title, has spent nearly $50,000 in upgrading its field and has plans to add a large electric scoreboard, pop-up sprinklers in the outfield and new bleachers behind home plate, Ingram said.

Princess Anne, which is enjoying its best season in years, raised $10,000 and put in new dugouts and a grass infield this spring.

The emphasis on quality isn't confined to Virginia Beach.

Nansemond River's combination of aesthetics and utility makes it the Oriole Park of Hampton Roads.

Greenbrier Christian boasts a playing surface that puts some pro teams to shame. Ongoing improvements - a new press box this spring - make it one of the top three area spots in South Hampton Roads to watch a game.

Oscar Smith has everything a player could want and lacks only an irrigation system to make it a showplace. Western Branch opened a new field this year; it lacks a grass infield but has lights and an electric scoreboard.

Lakeland has an outstanding playing surface and Ocean Lakes continues to make strides; the blue plastic covering on the Dolphins' outfield fence is a nice touch and helps depth perception.

Nansemond River coach Phil Braswell has always been ahead of the curve as a groundskeeper. He cultivated a grass infield at John Yeates High in 1985 and took advantage of school consolidation in Suffolk to secure needed funds for Nansemond River.

The most striking feature of the Warriors' field is a 28-by-11-foot electric scoreboard with ``Nansemond River'' spelled out in huge block letters across the top.

The Warriors installed lights last year and added a 784-square foot press box/concession stand/dressing room this spring.

``We've dumped more than $100,000 in here over the past three years,'' Braswell said. ``Half from donations and half from the city.''

Of all the design improvements, Braswell is proudest of the wide expanse of foul territory down the lines and behind home plate. It is 57 feet from plate to backstop.

``That's what makes this a baseball park,'' he said. ``It's about the same as Camden Yards and you have to change your pitching philosophy.'' ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

First Colonial's indoor baseball practice facility looms beyond the

leftfield foul line.

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