Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995                   TAG: 9508170048
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN THE REGION/ FITZGERALD ROLLS HIS 1ST 300 GAME

Fitzgerald, 38, rolled his perfect game at All Star Bowling Lanes. It was the first 300 game for Fitzgerald, who has a 190 average. The performance helped his team, Harvey's Hitters, advance to the second round of the championship roll-off.

COLLEGE Radford gets guard

Radford University has a late men's basketball signee, Leslie Ballard, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. Ballard will be eligible for the upcoming season.

Ballard scored more than 2,000 points during his prep career, averaging 20.4 points and 3.0 assists per game as a senior.

``We're very fortunate to add a player of Leslie's caliber this late,`` Highlanders coach Ron Bradley said in a statement. ``He has the skills to play the point for us, and I like having a point guard who can score off the dribble or from the perimeter.``

Ballard is the only high school player in Radford's 1995 class. Junior college transfers Marquiz Williamson and Jermaine ``Kojak`` Williams signed with the Highlanders in the spring.

In other college news in the region:

nTailbacks Tiki Barber and Terrence Wilkins each ran for two touchdowns Wednesday in Virginia's second preseason football scrimmage.

Barber, a former Cave Spring High School standout, rushed 15 times for 87 yards. Wilkins was the second-leading rusher with 49 yards on 15 carries. Quarterbacks Mike Groh and Tim Sherman each tossed a touchdown pass. Groh's pass went to wide receiver Patrick Jeffers, who caught three for 43 yards on the day.

Linebacker James Farrior led the defense with 12 tackles, and defensive backs Joe Williams and Adrian Burnim each intercepted a pass.

Meanwhile, junior linebacker Jamie Sharper is on the preliminary list of candidates for the 1995 Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's outstanding linebacker.

Sharper earned second-team all-ACC honors last season when he led the Cavaliers with 118 tackles, the fifth-highest single-season total in team history. The list of candidates for the award will be pared to 10 semifinalists Oct.19. The winner will be announced Dec.19.

nThe UVa men's soccer team is ranked No.1 and the UVa women are 13th in Soccer America magazine's preseason polls.

The Virginia men have won four consecutive NCAA championships and welcome back 13 lettermen from last year's 22-3-1 team, including All-Americans Brandon Pollard and Mike Fisher. The women's team has 14 letter-winners back from a squad that went 13-5-3 and reached the NCAA Tournament.

ETC. Express loses Stewart

Roanoke Express defenseman Dave Stewart has signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Ice of the International Hockey League.

Stewart, 23, who served as the Express' captain for the last half of the 1994-95 season, led Roanoke's defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 46 assists. He was one of only three players to appear in all 68 regular-season games and eight playoff games.

Stewart's contract with Indianapolis is a ``two-way'' deal, meaning the contract stipulates Stewart will be sent to Roanoke should Indianapolis decide to assign him elsewhere.

Martinsville Speedway is offering a free, limited-edition T-shirt to the first 1,000 fans who purchase an advance ticket for the Oct.15 Taco Bell 300 NASCAR Late Model stock race.

The shirt features Late Models running through the desert led by Johnny Rumley in the Taco Bell Chevrolet. Martinsville will provide one shirt for each adult ticket purchased.