THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504140210
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Julie Goodrich
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
Last season, the Atlantic Shores softball team was an experiment in the making. Coach Sue Woodford had only 12 players to work with and made wholesale changes in her lineup, moving outfielders to the infield and converting her starting center fielder to catcher.
``It was not good. But we can forget about last year now,'' said Woodford, in her third year as coach of the Lady Seahawks. ``They've adapted. They've got that year of experience and they're confident now.''
Atlantic Shores' roster is brimming with 18 players this season, and the Lady Seahawks have added a public school - Booker T. Washington in Norfolk - to their schedule in hopes of gaining a little respect.
``The competition is stronger in the public schools, and we'd like to take our place in that arena,'' said Woodford. ``We want to show we can play.''
Senior Bianca Ness returns as Atlantic Shores' No. 1 pitcher. Tenacity and concentration on the mound are her strong points.
Ness is supplemented by senior reliever Andrea Schuler, a control pitcher.
Catching for the second year is junior Tamika Brown, a converted outfielder.
``She's got a strong arm down to second, and she picks a lot of people off,'' said Woodford.
Before last season, Atlantic Shores lost their entire starting infield to the public school system. Returning from the 1994 campaign is junior Vanessa Escalante at first, Schuler or Ness at second, senior Leigh-Ann Robbins at short, and junior Kelly Bullock at third.
``After what they went through last year, they've really come of age,'' Woodford said.
The outfield is where the Lady Seahawks are young. Junior Jeanette Costin will be in right field. In center field is freshman Joanna Cleveland, but she's not the youngest one out there. Starting in left field is Jessica Ciely, a seventh-grader with remarkable poise and maturity.
``She's up from the JV, but she's one of our strongest competitors,'' said Woodford. ``She has more game sense than a lot of players.''
GOLF: The main man for the Seahawks on the greens is junior Jamie Coleman. An Atlantic Shores golfer since the eighth grade, Coleman provides a steadying influence to a group of six mostly beginner-level golfers.
``He's a very tough competitor, and has an excellent short game,'' said coach Lance Waite.
Coleman played regularly during the off-season to improve his game. Waite is working with him on hitting more greens in regulation and putting for birdie.
The Seahawks number two guy is Daniel Spangler, a senior with ``excellent temperament and a great short game,'' according to Martin.
Spangler has changed his grip this year and the modification has affected his game, although Martin believes he'll work through it soon.
When sophomore Mark Beers competed last year, the Seahawks' number three golfer played right-handed. Martin could see that he had a lot of trouble putting, and Beers volunteered that he was actually left-handed.
``I never knew he was left-handed,'' said Martin. ``We switched Mark to the other side, and there's been a dramatic difference. He has a lot of potential.''
Martin also credits Beers for being a ``straight-A student and an excellent team player.''
Junior Tim Walls and sophomores John Nowitzky and Chandler Cobb round out the team.
BASEBALL: Beau Martin has gotten back to basics.
After taking over the baseball program at Atlantic Shores, Martin - a former player at Old Dominion and Liberty University - discovered that many of the Seahawks that came out for the team had little experience.
``Basically, my first objective was for them to learn the fundamentals of the game,'' said Martin. ``The proper techniques of throwing, hitting, mechanics. I've been trying to teach them a defensive philosophy.
``We've come a long way already.''
Of the 17 players on the Seahawks' roster, 12 are returners. Add to that two transfers from public schools in Chesapeake, and Martin has a solid foundation.
The Seahawks will be riding the arms of two junior right-handers - Joey Higginbotthum, a transfer from Deep Creek, and Jonathan Roddy. Higginbotthum will get the bulk of the innings.
``He's got experience, and he locates the ball really well,'' said Martin.
Although Roddy doesn't throw hard, he throws for strikes. Senior Brandon Quinn can contribute a few innings if need be.
Junior Scott McGuinness takes charge behind the plate. Martin said that he will occasionally allow McGuinness to call pitches.
``Most of the time I'll let him, because he knows what I want to do.''
On the infield, Martin will start Quinn at third base; Roddy or Higginbotthum at short; Roddy's brother, Sean, a sophomore, at second; and junior Brian Skeffington, a power hitter, at third.
Atlantic Shores' outfield is a bit less predictable. It's a tossup as to who starts day-to-day, but Martin has been favoring the lineup of Jeremy Hockman, a transfer from Indian River, in right, three sport standout Micah Clymer in center, and freshman Josh Milliam in right. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Senior Bianca Ness returns as Atlantic Shores' No. 1 pitcher.
Tenacity and concentration on the mound are her strong points.
Rachel McGinnis, a returning player, is among the reasons Atlantic
Shores can boast of an experienced infield.
First baseman Brendan Skeffington is one of 17 returning players on
the roster.
by CNB