DATE: Friday, May 23, 1997                  TAG: 9705220225

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DOUG BEIZER, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

ATLANTIC SHORES' DRISKELL BUDDING PITCHING PROSPECT

WHEN BRYAN DRISKELL was on the mound throwing fastballs for Atlantic Shores Christian High School this season, his harshest criticism didn't come from his coach, teammates or opposing players.

It came from himself.

But the senior pitcher didn't allow that self-scrutiny to become a negative. He used it as an impetus to improve his game. By perfecting his fastball and adding a change-up and a curveball, Driskell won his first five starts this season and finished with a record of 6-1. He recorded 17 strikeouts against Rock Academy and 15 against Tabernacle Baptist.

With some offensive help from his teammates, Atlantic Shores finished with a record of 12-8-1, just missing the playoffs.

What is even more impressive about Driskell's record is that this was the first full season of baseball he had played since eighth grade.

``I played baseball in Ohio growing up,'' he said, ``but when I moved to Virginia Beach I stopped playing because I wanted to concentrate on football.''

Then, last season, Atlantic Shores baseball coach Maurice Jones suggested Driskell try out for the baseball team. After pitching only a couple of games his junior year, Driskell moved to Florida for a few months and was forced to give up the sport again. He returned to Hampton Roads last July.

Driskell went into his senior year at Atlantic Shores still focused on football. After a disappointing 3-7 record as the team's quarterback, he turned his attention back to baseball. With virtually no preseason preparation, the righthander stuck with his basic power as much as possible once the season started.

``My best pitch is obviously my fastball,'' he said. ``The teams we've played against this season haven't really been able to hit it. I'm still working on my mechanics to get fundamentally sound. That's why I struggled against Norfolk Christian (his only loss). But if I'm on and I'm throwing the ball hard, usually teams can't hit me.''

Driskell said another key to his success has been run support from his team. But, he also helped himself. He batted .370 with seven doubles, two triples and two home runs. He also stole 18 bases.

But pitching is where Driskell had the biggest impact.

``I've been working on my other pitches, and I use them if I have to,'' he said. ``The way I look at it, if they can't hit my fastball I stick with it. But in the later innings if they start getting down on it, I try to throw them off with a change-up.''

Driskell said he uses three different grips on his fastball to move it around the strike zone. One drops, another rises and the third one trails off. He likes using the trail-off pitch against lefthanders.

According to Jones, Driskell is also one of the Seahawks' top infielders.

``He's played every infield position this season,'' said the Atlantic Shores coach. ``He's really my shortstop, but I have to use him at other positions in particular situations.''

Now that the season is over, Driskell and Jones hope to catch the eye of college baseball scouts.

``We want him to go to Division I baseball,'' Jones said. ``He can play baseball whereever he goes to play football, but we don't want him to do that. It's not too late. People just need to see him. He's going to make someone at some college a nice pitcher.''

Jones said it was hard to attract scouts to Atlantic Shores' games because the school doesn't have a home field yet.

Driskell has offers to play football for Elizabeth City State University and Methodist College. He said he'll attend one of those schools if he can't find a Division I baseball school this summer.

``I plan on working out hard this summer,'' said Driskell. ``Regardless of what happens with baseball, I still want to play football next year unless a big school wants me to just devote myself to baseball. I'm hoping I can take the summer to get my mechanics to where it just feels normal.

``People are telling me now, `Hey you can play baseball,' so I want to give it a try and see what happens.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Bryan Driskell has football offers from Elizabeth City State and

Methodist College, but he is now seeking a baseball grant.

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