THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1994 TAG: 9406080521
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940608 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
``We were looking at him in the infield, but then, on the third day of tryouts, I hit him a fly ball,'' Wilson said. ``I turned to our assistant coach and said, `There's our centerfielder.' ''
{REST} Winter has been a fixture in center all season, but it's been during postseason that he's been at his best. In three Eastern Region playoff games last week, Winter hit .545, with a home run, four RBIs and a pair of stolen bases to help the Patriots to the Eastern Region title. The performance earned Winter The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star athlete of the week honors.
Winter covers a lot of ground in center, and has been as valuable with his glove as with his bat, making run-saving catches in wins over Kecoughtan and Western Branch.
Not bad for someone who had played shortstop ``forever,'' as Winter had.
``The first five games out there I was really shaky,'' Winter said. ``I had to make a lot of adjustments. I was a sidearm thrower, and I had to learn to throw over the top.''
That was nothing compared to the adjustments Winter had to make off the field.
Last summer, a couple weeks before school was to start, Winter's mother was transferred to Rochester, N.Y.
Winter discovered that despite his last name, he doesn't have an affinity for cold weather.
He left Rochester after just a couple of months, and moved to Bethesda, Md., where his father lives.
``That didn't work out either,'' Winter says.
So he returned to Virginia Beach and moved in with teammate Brad Tetlow, a friend since grade school.
Winter returned home in time to watch FC's state championship team last year, but not in time to play on it. He played recreation ball instead.
``I thought I'd have a good chance of making the team this year, because I'd grown up and played ball with these guys.''
Winter thought he might give his best friend, J.T. Vasta, a run at third base. He was surprised when told he'd play in center, where the Patriots' Ray Lafave had been an All-Tidewater selection the year before.
``I was joking with Ray about having to fill his shoes,'' he said. ``He told me the other day my feet are getting bigger.'' by CNB