Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 7, 1990 TAG: 9004070029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
"If someone would have told me after 20 games we'd be 18-2, I'd have taken it," Naff said. "But now comes the real meat of the schedule. We play March to get ready for April."
Ferrum begins its Dixie Conference schedule today with a doubleheader at home against Christopher Newport. Also in the Dixie are defending NCAA Division III champion North Carolina Wesleyan, ranked No. 2, and fourth-ranked Methodist.
"We have four teams in our conference that play baseball," Naff said. "Three of them are ranked in the top 10. I'd say that's a pretty tough league."
Christopher Newport isn't ranked, but four of its five losses have been to Division I or Division II schools.
"One of the goals we set at the beginning of the season was to win the Dixie. If we do that, we'll definitely get a regional bid," said Naff, whose team finished 24-10 last season and missed a trip to the Division III College World Series by one game.
The Panthers have 14 games left on their schedule, including three each with Christopher Newport, North Carolina Wesleyan and Methodist. The Panthers also will face defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Bridgewater, arch-rival Lynchburg and Guilford, which handed the Panthers one of their two losses this year.
"We have a good record, but we've tended to play to the level of competition," Naff said. "That concerns me some. You can't keep letting a team with less talent stay in a game with you, because then they start thinking they can beat you. Baseball is the type of game where you can beat or be beat on any day. Our being ranked just motivates our opponents more."
Given Ferrum's recent history, it isn't surprising that the Panthers are performing so well. It's the way they're doing it that's unusual.
Naff's teams traditionally have relied on beating opponents into submission with a high-scoring offense. The attack still is there - Ferrum has scored 10 or more runs in eight games - but pitching has been carrying the Panthers.
Last year, with a staff made up almost entirely of freshmen and sophomores, Ferrum didn't have a pitcher with an earned run average under 4.11. The team ERA was 5.69.
After 18 games this year, Ferrum's team ERA was 2.45. The Panthers had four shutouts and had given up more than four runs just three times.
"The question wasn't their talent, but their inexperience," Naff said. "The young pitchers gained valuable experience against a tough schedule. We have the same staff with more experience, and we've seen a tremendous amount of improvement."
The ace of the staff has been junior right-hander Darren Hodges, who is 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA and 51 strikeouts. Hodges has attracted the attention of major-league scouts, who have been flocking to Ferrum to see him.
"It really began over the summer after I went to a [Pittsburgh Pirate tryout camp at Municipal Field in Salem] and had a good showing," said Hodges, whose fastball has been clocked in the high 80-mph range. "I think I've got a real good shot [at being drafted]. It'd be a dream come true. I've always wanted to play baseball. June 1 is the major-league draft; I'll find out then."
Reliever Scott Clawson has three saves, a 0.51 ERA and averages better than a strikeout an inning.
"In Clawson, we have something most Division III programs don't - a true closing relief pitcher," Naff said.
Naff's biggest question about his team was answered early.
Because of graduation losses, the infield had to be rebuilt. Three freshmen - first baseman Jerald Smith, second baseman Eric Owens and third baseman Jeff Smith - are starting, along with sophomore shortstop Jeff Lamie, who played third last year.
All but Jeff Smith (.806) have fielding percentage of better than .900.
"We're starting three freshmen and a sophomore," Naff said. "After [20] games, they've become pretty good baseball players."
by CNB