THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407040191
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
MAURY BASEBALL COACH Marty Bechtol said his 1994 squad probably had the most top to bottom talent he has ever seen.
The team topped the Eastern District with a 7-1 record (15-6 overall) and led the All-Eastern District baseball team with five selections to the first team.
Senior shortstop/pitcher Chris Libbey was the top vote getter. Libbey was followed by Granby's Frank Thompson in votes, Lake Taylor's Derrick Daye was third. Kelly Hanchey, Sean Morris and Mark Sawyer represented Granby. Matt Winter and Skip Wright were selected from Norview and Lake Taylor respectively. Maury's John Martin, Todd Davidson and youngsters Taylor Blair and Aaron Ambrose rounded out the first team.
``(Libbey) is the best high school, best all around player I've coached since I've been at Maury,'' said Bechtol, who has coached the Commodores for 12 years.
Libbey, who signed with Virginia Commonwealth University last week, hit loudest about his talent is that 19 of his 28 walks were intentional.
``He obviously got a lot of respect,'' Bechtol said.
Maury's senior first baseman John Martin shared captain responsibilities with Libbey and Bechtol said it was Martin's hands which helped the Commodores keep their fielding percentage high.
``Everybody loved him because he prevented so many errors,'' Bechtol said.
Martin had the opportunity to attend Virginia Wesleyan or Christopher Newport and attempt to make the baseball team as a walk-on, but Martin chose an education over a shot at playing ball. He is headed to Virginia Tech to study to be a forest ranger.
The graduation of Libbey and Martin leaves a couple of pretty big holes for Bechtol to fill, but he has at least three players who are ready to do it.
Junior pitcher Todd Davidson hit .475 and led the Commodores in hits with 28 and went 8-0 from the mound.
Sophomore Aaron Ambrose hit .327 and led the team with 29 RBI. Taylor Blair, another sophomore, hit .390 with a team-leading eight doubles. He racked up 22 RBI.
``We are losing John and Chris, but we have three all-district players coming back so things look good for the Commodores for the future,'' Bechtol said.
Moving behind the plate proved to be a good move for Granby's Sawyer, who had played third base prior to '94.
``He is a heck of an athlete,'' head coach Vince Zebro said. ``He really became a student at catching and was a very quick learner.''
The Virginia Wesleyan-bound senior hit .344 with a pair of home runs for the Comets.
Senior captain Kelly Hanchey, who finished fourth in the votes, acted as Zebor's utility man. He led the team in RBI with 31 and was second in average at .425. He also went 6-3 as a pitcher with a 2.80 ERA.
Junior outfielder Morris hit .360 and was third on the team in RBI with 19. He played left and right field and filled in behind the plate when Sawyer needed a break.
Junior pitcher Thompson was probably better known for his hitting abilities this season.
Thompson hit .500, going 33 for 66, with five HRs and 24 RBI.
``He is one of the best hitters I have ever coached,'' Zebro said. ``He has great bat speed. He is an awesome two-strike hitter and very disciplined at the plate.''
As a pitcher Thompson was 5-5 with a 2.60 ERA. He was named to the second All-Tidewater team, but Zebro was shocked he wasn't a first team selection.
The Comets were a relatively inexperienced team to start the season, but won eight of their last 10 games to finish up 6-2 and win the district tournament.
``Everyone waited for Frank and Kelly to do something,'' Zebro said. ``But by the end of the season people started stepping forward and taking charge.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Derrick Daye, Lake Taylor
Kelly Hanchey, Granby
Sean Morris, Granby
Todd Davidson, Maury
Matt Winter, Norview
Chart
1994 ALL-EASTERN DISTRICT BASEBALL TEAM
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB