THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070510
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940607 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
The Virginia High School Coaches' Association award was chosen in balloting by four region coaches minutes before Cox stepped onto the field against Hylton in the Group AAA title game Saturday - a game the Falcons eventually lost, 4-0.
{REST} ``Coach (Jim) Snodgrass came in the locker room before the game and told us that me and Rodney Stoltz had been named to the state team,'' said Whalen, a junior who played three positions this season. ``Then he told us that I had been named the player of the year.
``I was shocked.''
Whalen and Hylton keeper Danny Britton were the two finalists.
``I think three of the coaches selected Matt,'' Snodgrass said. ``I think there were two things that did it. Our region had two of the state final four teams, and Matt's production during the state tournament.
``The fact that a junior won over a senior tells me that it wasn't close.''
Whalen scored five goals in two state tournament games but was held scoreless in the championship.
``It's much easier to stop one player in a game like that than it is to stop a keeper,'' Snodgrass said.
Lafayette coach Steve Shaw was named the state coach of the year. The All-State team won't be announced until later this week.
Whalen scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Northern Region champion South Lakes on the Warriors' home field. He followed that with three goals in a semifinal victory over Manchester, the Central Region champion. He finished with 10 goals in post-season play, bringing his total on the year to 22.
``I also made the point that he had scored some very important goals,'' Snodgrass said. ``He wasn't just out there scoring goals against any team.''
Whalen said he was surprised at the announcement of his latest honor.
``Hylton is a great side and they've had another great year,'' said Whalen, who is also one of the area's top basketball players.
``I'd trade it all if we could have played better in the state championship game.''
BASEBALL SITES: Eastern Region champion First Colonial had hoped to change the date of its Group AAA state baseball playoff game with Lloyd Bird, but it will play Bird at 7 p.m. Friday at Old Dominion University.
First Colonial has graduation Saturday, and rain Friday could cause players to choose between graduation exercises and a baseball game. ``That would not be a great situation,'' First Colonial athletic director John Williams said.
A proposal to move the game to Thursday was rejected by Bird because the suburban Richmond school has exams on Friday. The Virginia High School League refused to give the schools permission to play on Wednesday.
Western Branch, the Eastern Region runner-up, will meet Clover Hill at Mills Godwin High in suburban Richmond at 7 p.m. Friday. Friday's winners meet Tuesday for berths in the June 17 state championship game.
SOFTBALL SITES: Great Bridge will play its first-round game in the Group AAA softball state tournament at Princess Anne High School on Friday. The Eastern Region champion Wildcats will play Monacan, the Central Region runner-up, at 5:30 p.m.
Also on Friday, Western Branch, the Eastern runner-up, will travel to Richmond to play Midlothian. The winners will vie next Tuesday in the semifinals. The Great Bridge-Monacan winner will be the home team.
by CNB