THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504070202
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
ATHLETES ARE KNOWN for being superstitious. For some, it's putting on their uniform the same way.
Others stick to a rigid routine during their pregame warmups, while some athletes eat the same meal before competing.
For Wade Boggs, the lucky food was chicken. For the Greenbrier Christian softball team, it's clover.
``We eat it before every game,'' said pitcher Alyson Mazur of the clover patches scattered around the Lady Gators' dugout.
Whether their covert clover munching has been responsible for Greenbrier Christian's early season success - they've dispatched their first six opponents with relative ease - is debatable. The more likely reason would be that the Lady Gators are just flat-out talented.
That talent begins at the top. Coach Cal Woolard is in his first year at Greenbrier Christian, but his credentials speak for themselves.
He spent the past two years as the coach at Norfolk Collegiate and earned Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Coach of the Year distinction for both those seasons. The Oaks went 20-4 last year and lost only six games during Woolard's tenure.
Greenbrier Christian jumped from the Metro Conference to the TCIS this season, and Woolard's familiarity with the conference gives the Lady Gators an edge that they wouldn't otherwise have had.
``I wasn't sure when we got into the conference how strong we'd be,'' Woolard said. GCA will face its toughest test of the season Monday when it plays host to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
``I was hoping for .500 in the conference, so 6-0 is a pleasant surprise.''
Eleven of Woolard's 15 players are either freshman or sophomores. Mazur, a sophomore transfer from Great Bridge, is the Lady Gators' sole pitcher thus far.
``She's a pitcher more than a thrower,'' said Woolard. ``Her strengths are her control and her disposition.
``Nothing rattles her. They could make four errors behind her and she'd still keep coming. She just loves playing the game.''
Greenbrier Christian complements Mazur's youthful enthusiasm with senior catcher Erin Van Faussian's maturity and experience.
``She's an excellent player. She pretty much runs the team,'' said Woolard of Van Faussian, who also starred for the Lady Gators in volleyball and earned All-TCIS honors. ``She and Alyson really work well together.''
The infield is anchored by sophomore shortstop Tara Garlow, a strong hitter. Heather Griffin lends senior leadership to the outfield from her centerfield position.
``She settles everyone down out there,'' said Woolard. ``She's got speed and a good bat.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Alyson Mazur is the Lady Gators' only pitcher.
Senior catcher Erin Van Faussian adds maturity and experience to the
Greenbrier Christian team.
by CNB