Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 4, 1990 TAG: 9005030166
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Ray Cox
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
An exception is Pulaski County High left-hander Tony Powell, who has been among the surprises of the season.
Powell, who is better known for his football kicking than his curve ball, started the week 4-0 with a 1.71 earned run average.
"He doesn't throw hard, but he's done real well for us," Pulaski County coach Fred Akers said. "He doesn't throw it by anybody; we just put him out there and he gives us seven [innings]."
Powell has four starts and four complete games.
A year ago, he was hurt and didn't play, so all this has come as a bonus for the Cougars.
Folks always knew he had a strong leg. Powell is the heir to a Pulaski County kicking tradition that dates back to Mickey Thomas and Chris Kinzer.
In part, his baseball performance makes up for the disappointing season being had by Richard Myers, who in the preseason had been considered the potential staff ace. Myers has been hit hard and has an ERA that tops 6.00.
\ In an unusual development for Pulaski County's baseball team, the Cougars will be playing a double-header at Franklin County at 5 p.m. today. The rare twin bill arose when rain interfered with the schedule.
\ David Mabry, the Narrows High track coach, says discus thrower David Shrader is the best track athlete he's had since high jumper Byron Brown finished second at the Group AA state meet several years back.
Shrader's 147-foot, 6-inch toss is Timesland's best this season.
\ Two former All Timesland pitchers familiar to New River Valley baseball fans have been tapped for the All Southern Conference team.
Former Auburn High right-hander Barry Johnson of VMI was chosen for the second team and Carroll County alumnus Mike Montgomery made the first team.
Johnson, a senior, was the staff ace of a 12-26 team. He went 5-6 with a 3.79 ERA for the Keydets and struck out 48 batters in 71 innings.
\ Radford dedicated its newly spruced up baseball field this week.
Among the estimated $4,000 worth of improvements to what once may have been the poorest facility in the New River District were a new backstop and new brick dugouts. The backstop is 30 feet farther back than the old one.
Most of the money and labor came from community contributions.
Because the Bobcats' scorebook has been lost, Radford players have not been included among the Timesland leaders so far this season. Brandon Smith has five home runs, which ties him for second in Timesland, and Carey Caldwell has four homers. . . . Two of Radford's better players are no longer with the team. Pitcher/infielder Andrew White and third baseman Mike Ervine were let go because of disciplinary problems. White's last official act as a Bobcat was a home run.
\ Harley Johnson of Christiansburg High has been submitted for the honor roll portion of the ESPN show "Scholastic Sports America." Johnson is a 4.0 student who was all state in cross-country and has the second best 3,200 time to teammate Brian Eigel in Timesland this year. . . . Since leaping a Timesland-best 17-7 in the long jump at the All American Relays, Christiansburg's Tillie Price has not broken 17 feet in two meets since.
by CNB