ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997 TAG: 9704090040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN THE ROANOKE TIMES
Former VMI left-hander Marc Phillips is making his pitch as a member of the Carolina League's Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Marc Phillips spent four years living a regimented life at VMI. He has spent the past four years playing games - and getting paid to do so.
As a relief pitcher for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Phillips not only finds his career rewarding, it's almost a reward for four strenuous years at the Lexington college.
``It's a lot easier to concentrate on what you have to do,'' said Phillips, who is in town this week as the Blue Rocks play a four-game Carolina League baseball series against the Salem Avalanche. ``My only responsibility is to show up at the ballpark.''
Although he isn't well-compensated for his time (he makes $1,250 a month), Phillips sends more than half his paycheck back to his parents in Waynesboro. Blue Rocks booster club members help out by offering players free lodging during the season. On game nights, those boosters are in the stands rooting for their tenants.
``I'm playing in front of much larger crowds,'' Phillips said. ``At VMI, we'd have 50 people max at a game, all parents. My first year in pro ball I started the home opener in Eugene, [Ore.], in front of 4,000 people.''
Phillips was a starter for the first 1 1/2 months of his pro career, but has been a reliever since. His value comes in the fact he is left-handed.
``I do everything left-handed, except play golf,'' he said.
Phillips can draw inspiration from the two other professional athletes from Waynesboro who are enjoying breakthroughs in their respective sports. Fellow pitcher Reggie Harris has latched on with the Philadelphia Phillies, and point guard Cory Alexander has dramatically increased his scoring with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. Phillips said he hopes to make the 20-minute drive north to Philadelphia soon to visit Harris, his friend and former workout partner. It's been awhile since he's seen Alexander, his former little league and American Legion baseball teammate.
``Cory's a really good baseball player, actually,'' Phillips said. ``The coaches would always get mad because he would go to basketball camp in the middle of the summer. But I guess it worked out for him.''
Phillips is in the top four in VMI history in innings pitched (243 1/3), strikeouts (158) and appearances (60). He rose to the Class A Carolina League in 1996 after promising stints with Eugene of the Northwest League and Springfield, Ill., of the Midwest League. He's back in Wilmington trying to improve on last year's 2-0 record, with an earned run average around 5.00. So far, Phillips has looked good. He pitched two scoreless innings in the Blue Rocks' season-opening series and did it again Monday night against the Avalanche.
``I'm real confident about the way the season's begun,'' he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB