
DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706130209

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   90 lines

PORTSMOUTH'S BIG SPRING DEBUT

Portsmouth schools made a huge spring sports impact in their debut season in Eastern District. Norcom's Missy Banks, the Group AAA shot put and discus champion, was the only district athlete to collect a state title. Wilson's Brandon Todd was the league's co-player of the year in baseball. The softball team went unbeaten in 16 games. And Churchland led a Portsmouth sweep of the district's boys soccer honors, claiming the regular-season and tournament titles while producing the player of the year (Landon Moore), coach of the year (Duke Conrad) and newcomer of the year (Craig Hooker). The lone remaining postseason honor, rookie of the year, went to Wilson's Maurice Morgan.

The following is the first in a series of postseason honors reports on the Portsmouth teams. Boys and girls soccer will be presented in the next issue of The Currents.

SOFTBALL

The dominance of Wilson and Churchland was reflected in the all-Eastern District balloting, as the Presidents and Truckers copped nine of the 13 spots on the first team.

But the coaches begged off on tackling the most anticipated question: Who's the league's best player? Most observers agreed that the two clear frontrunners were Wilson shortstop Amanda Johnson and Churchland shortstop Stacey Hundley. But the issue remains unsettled - for the first time in memory, no player of the year award was bestowed.

College performance could tell the tale. Johnson, a .500 hitter and slick fielder, will attend Chowan. Hundley, equally adept in the field, a three-time Portsmouth city player of the year (no vote taken this season) and the Truckers' offensive leader, will choose between Chowan and Longwood. For what it's worth, Johnson said the Chowan coach has told her Hundley would play the outfield while Johnson played shortstop if both are on the team.

Both players were first-team All-Tidewater selections, as was Wilson second baseman Dee Dee Fox, who led the Eastern Region, and maybe the entire state, in batting average. Earlier this week, it was reported that the junior batted numbers were in, the quick blonde Fox jumped over the .600 mark, checking in at .608.

Junior catcher Nikki Goral also hit over .500 for the Presidents, which might cause some to wonder about Wilson's stat-keeping methods. Wilson coach Cornell Gordon bristles as such speculation.

``We averaged 13 runs a game,'' Gordon said. ``You want to see my book?''

Other local first-teamers: Wilson centerfielder Paula Miller, a defensive whiz; Wilson pitcher Amanda Adams (15-1); Churchland slugging catcher/first baseman Blanca Vazquez, a Norfolk State signee; Churchland sophomore catcher Melissa Betts and Churchland junior outfielder Kayt Keefer.

BASEBALL

Wilson, which confounded preseason prognosticators by rocketing into first place and staying there until the season's final game, placed three players on the first all-district team.

Leading the way was Brandon Todd, the senior third baseman who earned co-player of the year honors along with Granby junior pitcher Heath Cataulin.

Wilson coach Joe Ladisic said Todd's soft hands, quick release and strong arm made him an outstanding defensive player. Todd was even more potent at the plate, where he hit over .500 with a homer and 18 RBI while leading the Presidents in runs scored.

As his average suggests, Todd was a consistent hitter. He got hits in all but three of the Presidents games the last two years, and had hit safely in 19 straight games heading into this season's final week. Ironically, it was Cataulin who snapped Todd's streak.

Senior second baseman Matt Christianbury, a transfer student from Lakeland, hit .360 for the Presidents and, when moved to the leadoff position, reached base in better than half his plate appearances. Ladisic described him as a scrappy, hard-nosed type and probably the team's most mature player.

Senior centerfielder Scott Parker didn't make an error until the final two games and had seven outfield assists. He also batted over .500, socked two homers and led the Presidents with 35 RBI. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Amanda Johnson

Stacey Hundley

Nikki Goral

Matt Christianbury

Dee Dee Fox

Paula Miller

Blanca Vazquez

Melissa Betts

Brandon Todd

Graphic

[For a complete copy of THE PICKS for Baseball and Softball, please

see microfilm.] KEYWORDS: EASTERN DISTRICT REVIEW