Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990 TAG: 9005150141
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For the past two years, the sophomore right-hander pitched and played the infield for teams that won Dixie Youth state championships. The 1988 Botetourt County All-Stars, of which he was a member, finished third nationally in their age division.
This spring, he helped pitch the Cavaliers to the Blue Ridge District title by going 6-0 with a 3.20 earned run average.
"I feel fortunate that it worked out that way," he said. "I've been backed up real well because we have our strongest defensive team in there when I pitch. Also, on the days I pitched, it seemed as though we've scored a lot of runs."
Cavaliers' coach Chuck Pound hastens to give Prince some credit.
"He's as close to an ace as we have this year," Pound said.
Prince was among the the Roanoke Times & World-News Sizzling Sophomores in basketball, his favorite sport.
Prince also is among what seems to be a bumper crop of outstanding sophomore and freshman baseball players around Timesland.
Among those who should be alarming opposing dugouts for several more years:
Northside's Kelly Dampeer, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound freshman shortstop, batted .491 with five home runs, 15 runs batted in, 17 runs scored and 26 hits. He also has just five errors. Other Viking sophomores include outfielder Scott Manning (.405, 12 RBI) and second baseman Chris Hatcher, a two-year starter batting .261. Right-handed pitcher John Baker has been inconsistent but is expected to have a bright future.
Lord Botetourt's Donnie Meador, a sophomore first baseman, is hitting .310 with 12 RBI and has a .977 fielding percentage. Pound projects Meador, a left-hander, as a pitcher from now on.
Salem's Tracy Butt, a freshman with a Cal Ripken-style stance, figures to be a fixture at shortstop the next three years. He is batting .284. Sophomore Corey Epperly, a right-hander, will be among the team's better pitchers. He has struck out 45 in 43 innings and has excellent control.
Liberty has sophomore outfielder Mike Dooley and outfielder/third baseman Jeff Lewis. Dooley, at 5-10, 185, batted .349 and was second on the team with 15 RBI. In one game against Jefferson Forest, he went 5-for-5 with eight RBI. Lewis scored 26 runs and had 23 walks while batting .333. The runs and walks led the Seminole District. Lewis also had 15 stolen bases and a team-leading three home runs. He has a strong arm and will see increasing duty as a pitcher. "He may make me stay around a year or two longer," said Liberty coach Jim Cutler, who has 31 years in the business.
Devin Floyd of Grayson County, a 6-4, 180 sophomore, is batting .557 with 26 hits, four home runs, 10 doubles and 21 RBI. As a pitcher, he has gone 2-2 with a 1.19 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 20 innings.
William Byrd's Matt Reynolds, a sophomore outfielder, is batting .510 with 25 hits and 17 RBI. Sophomore Brian Young has shown promise as a right-handed pitcher.
Chad Johnston, a 6-2, 165-pound sophomore pitcher/infielder from Craig County, hit six home runs and has a .327 average and 16 RBI. He also has a 3.58 ERA in 29 innings.
Shawsville's Danny Lovern and Scott Phillips are sophomore shortstop/pitchers. Both have tossed no-hitters this year, Phillips for the second time in his varsity career. They also have combined to strike out 95 and drive in 46 runs.
Jefferson Forest has sophomore catcher Troy Smith and freshman third baseman Charles Taylor. Both are better defensively than they are at the plate, but each is hitting around .320.
B.W. Hill of Fort Chiswell, a freshman outfielder, has been among his team's more reliable hitters and has a .442 batting average and 19 hits.
Alleghany sophomore third baseman David Campbell has been a pleasant surprise, batting .364 with 10 RBI and only two strikeouts in 44 at-bats. He is 2-2-1 with 3.21 ERA as a pitcher.
Christiansburg has sophomore second baseman Mike Sweeney, who is batting only .206 but has a good eye (seven walks, five strikeouts). Sweeney is a fine defensive player. Designated hitter Toby Akers is a sophomore who has been all but tabbed the 1991 catcher. Akers is batting .389 with 14 hits and two RBI.
Blacksburg sophomore second baseman Matt Smith is a good defensive player hitting .306 with a homer and three doubles.
Martinsville has used sophomore Franco Martin all over - shortstop, first, third and pitcher. He has slumped lately, but he still leads the team with two homers.
Doug Croy of Glenvar, a 5-7, 145-pound sophomore infielder/pitcher, is 18-for-19 in steals, has scored 14 runs, batted .479 and struck out five times. He also is 1-2 as a pitcher with a 2.72 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 innings.
After working his way into Staunton River's lineup, freshman Brian Hawkins had two doubles and a triple and batted .300. He also pitches.
Two underclassmen helped lead Chatham to the Piedmont District championship. Shortstop/second baseman outfielder Jay Lancaster, a sophomore, is batting .450 with two home runs and 14 RBI. Third baseman Ben Wright, a freshman, is batting .325 with two homers and seven RBI and has not committed an error.
Fieldale-Collinsville will be getting a lot of mileage out of pitcher/first baseman Spencer Johnson (.400 batting average, 1.75 ERA), shortstop/pitcher Brant Engstrom and left fielder Eric Craig, all freshmen.
Bassett has two good sophomores in Tony Cassell and Andy Ashworth. Cassell, a 6-2, 220-pounder, has played third, left field and pitcher. He is batting .300 with two homers, two doubles and two triples, and has 12 RBI and eight steals. Ashworth, a pitcher/outfielder, is batting .318 with 11 walks, 17 steals and 10 RBI.
Covington has pitcher/third baseman Neal Dressler and catcher/pitcher Randy Perkins from the sophomore class. Dressler is 5-1 with a 3.06 ERA and has struck out 26 in 29 innings. He is hitting .375 with a homer and 16 RBI. Perkins has six home runs and 21 RBI and a .375 average.
Two of North Cross' better players are freshmen Ryan Shaver and Aaron Lang.
Sophomore Chris Taylor has struck out 31 in 30 innings for Roanoke Valley Christian. Freshman Scott Hurt is batting .346.
Rockbridge is starting four freshmen: infielder/outfielder Kevin Alestock, pitcher shortstop Norman Vest, catcher Jason Whitaker and reliever Darren Poole. Alestock is the team's most versatile defensive player and among its better hitters, particularly late in the season when he has hit everything hard. Poole has a 3.20 ERA and no-hit Bath County for the Chargers' only loss of the season.
Laurel Park sophomore Jason Wilson, 6-0, 180, has played first and third and pitched while batting .333 with three homers and 10 RBI for a team that won one regular-season game.
by CNB