THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9505310129
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
David Bailey started the 1995 baseball season with a little unfinished business.
The senior was well on his way to an outstanding season last year when he broke his ankle in the seventh game. Bailey missed the rest of the year, and according to coach Steve West, the Braves ``went downhill from there.''
This season, with his team's fortunes resting on his shoulders, Bailey responded. He went 7-2 with a 1.69 earned-run average during the regular season in leading the Braves to the Southeastern District title, a performance that has earned him Most Valuable Player honors on the 1995 All-Chesapeake baseball team, selected by area coaches and the Clipper sports staff.
``He felt he had something to prove after the ankle (injury),'' said West.
Bailey was especially strong down the stretch. He went 10 innings in the final game of the regular season, a 2-0 victory over Western Branch, to force a one-game playoff with the Bruins for the district title.
Five days later Bailey notched another victory, as Indian River rallied for a 7-5 win.
``He throws his fastball consistently between 83-85, and he locates his pitches pretty well,'' said West. ``He can locate his curveball at any point in the count, and he's got a lively arm.''
Also selected to the first team at pitcher were Western Branch's Matt Hemmis (7-0, 1.92) and Greenbrier Christian's Nick James (8-1, 1.75).
At catcher is Bruins senior Nick Ardagna, an early signee with ODU. Ardgana hit .486, with 34 hits in 70 at-bats, and drove in 34 runs.
Western Branch also owned the corners of the infield, with Doug Brennan (first) and Corey Bauswell (third) earning selection.
Brennan hit .439 with 20 RBIs, and Bauswell - one of only two sophomores on the first team - hit .348 with 25 RBIs.
Second base belongs to Indian River's Eddie Byrum (.246, 17 runs scored).
Great Bridge's Mike Cuddyer earns the nod at shortstop. Just a sophomore, Cuddyer hit .364 with 14 RBIs and 15 runs scored for the Wildcats, who wrapped up their season with a loss in the Eastern Region quarterfinals.
The outfield is a diverse group, with three different schools represented by Western Branch's Dre Bly (.329, 16 RBIs), Indian River's Keith Reynolds (.407, 10 RBIs), and Deep Creek's Craig Copeland (.333, 13 runs scored).
Zach Younce is one of two players selected at designated hitter. Younce, a junior at Great Bridge, hit .298 with 10 RBIs. Greenbrier Christian's Brian Turner, a four-year starter, hit .341 with 32 RBIs and 24 runs scored, pacing the Gators to their fourth consecutive private schools state championship.
Wildcats senior Mike Oliphant (.354, 27 runs scored) was selected as the utility player. ILLUSTRATION: ALL-CHESAPEAKE BASEBALL TEAM
[For a copy of the roster, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB