DATE: Thursday, June 12, 1997               TAG: 9706110171

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

CUDDYER WINS PLAYER-OF-YEAR HONORS IN SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT

The honors keep coming like base hits for Great Bridge's Mike Cuddyer.

Cuddyer, a senior shortstop and pitcher, was named the Southeastern District Player of the Year for the second straight year in voting by the coaches.

He also was a first-team, all-district pick for the fourth year in a row. Cuddyer, who was drafted ninth overall Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins, was picked as a shortstop and a pitcher.

He was .batting .500 with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs entering the state tournament and was 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA.

Cuddyer is joined on the first team by teammates John Curtice, a lefthanded pitcher who was the 17th player taken in the major league draft, and outfielder Bradford Tibbs. Curtice and Tibbs made it for the second consecutive year.

Nansemond River placed two players on the first team: third baseman Randy Burden and outfielder Roger Carpenter.

Western Branch, the regular-season and tournament runner-up, is represented by catcher Cory Bauswell, first baseman Kevin Pearson and outfielder Lynnwood Shackelford. Bauswell made the team as a third baseman two years ago.

Deep Creek has two players on the team and Oscar Smith has one.

Greg Jennings of Great Bridge and Jim Stanko of Western Branch shared coach of the year honors.

A brief look at the first-teamers:

John Curtice, Great Bridge, LHP, Sr.: A first-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox, he was 9-0 this year going into the state tournament with an ERA of 0.81. Curtice struck out 94 batters and walked 22 in 51 2/3 innings.

Bradford Tibbs, Great Bridge, OF, Sr.: The Wildcat senior batted .273 and stole 20 bases. Tibbs walked 19 times and scored 40 runs. He did not commit an error.

Cory Bauswell, Western Branch, C, Sr.: Batted .473 with 4 home runs and 30 RBI and threw out 50 percent of runners attempting to steal in the regular-season. Added a double and a triple in upset of First Colonial in the region semifinals. Signed with VCU.

Kevin Pearson, Western Branch, 1B, Jr.: Batted .471 with a home run and 19 RBIs and played outstanding defense.

Lynnwood Shackelford, Western Branch, OF, Sr.: Batted .314 with three home runs.

Tony Moore, Deep Creek, UT, Sr.: Batted .522 with .643 on base percentage. Twelve of 27 hits were for extra bases, including 6 home runs. Scored 16 runs and knocked in 25. Signed with James Madison.

Jeremy Carroll, Deep Creek, 2B, Sr.: Batted .410 with .504 on base percentage. Scored 19 runs and stole 16 bases.

Randy Burden, Nansemond River, 3B, Sr.: Batted .429 with a .699 slugging percentage. Led the team in hits with 27, including 3 home runs and 8 doubles.

Roger Carpenter, Nansemond River, OF, Sr.: Hit safely in 18 of 21 games and batted .385 with a .740 slugging percentage. Led the team with 4 home runs 22 RBI and set a school record with 11 doubles.

Mike McCann, Oscar Smith, DH, Jr.: Batted .364 with a .435 on base percentage. Had 20 hits in 19 games, including 7 doubles.

Curtice was named to the second team as a pitcher. Also on the second team were second baseman David Powders, pitcher Jamie Fticsar and DH Brad Deafenbaugh of Western Branch; third baseman Ray Long and catcher Brian Anderson of Great Bridge; shortstop Craig Sizemore of Hickory; outfielder George Miller of Deep Creek; outfielder/pitcher Chip Runyon of Nansemond River; and outfielder Justin Castelloe and utility player Kevin Chambly of Indian River.

Honorable mention picks included Rick Stephenson of Hickory, Claudell Clark of Great Bridge, Rob Ainsley of Western Branch, Franco Nigro of Oscar Smith, Doug Basnight of Indian River, Lee Parks of Nansemond River, Bill Collins of Lakeland and Tim Griffin of Deep Creek. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Burden

Carpenter

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