THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 19, 1996 TAG: 9602190119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
The Norfolk State Spartans baseball team is moving up in more ways than one this season.
Rather than wait for the school's pending move from Division II to Division I in two seasons, Spartans coach Marty Miller has aggressively scheduled 20 of the team's 26 non-conference games against Division I competition.
Among those on the schedule are Penn State, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth and Liberty.
In addition, Norfolk State will move into its new digs, 1,600-seat Spartan Baseball Stadium, around midseason. Until then, the Spartans will be forced to slum in Harbor Park for their first six home games.
``We hoped for our field to be ready, but the bad winter delayed putting down the sod,'' said Miller, who is 527-307-2 career at Norfolk State, 31-13 last season. ``We're aiming at March 16th (vs. Delaware State) as our first home game on the new field.
``But we're very happy to be playing in Harbor Park until then. We got a big help there from the city of Norfolk and the (Norfolk) Tides.''
The Spartans will take the field today with a squad peppered with youth.
Four freshmen - catcher John Defere and second baseman Gene Mugler from state champion Green Run, centerfielder Kahlil Henley and third baseman Shawn Bradley - dot the starting lineup, with Bradley in the leadoff spot.
``We're very young and this could be a taxing season with the schedule we have,'' Miller said. ``But I'm more interested in preparing us for 1998. We want to compete on a national level when we get to Division I.''
To compete this year, Miller will rely on speedy No. 2 hitter Eric Miller, junior first baseman Omari Venable (.370, 5 HRs) and junior transfer cleanup man Harrison Joseph.
The lefthanded Venable's stock is expected to climb once the Spartans get settled in at their new field, which is only 320 feet down the rightfield line.
``I've always liked having some lefthanded hitters in the lineup,'' Miller said. ``This gives me even more reason.''
Sophomore Deon Eaddy (.358) will be at shortstop and designated hitter Mike Olmstead (.279) will hit in the six spot, with Henley, Defere and Mugler rounding out the batting order.
Sophomore righthander David Ellyson (5-2, 6.11 ERA) will get the opening day start with the rest of the Spartans' four-man starting rotation made up of freshmen - Harry Baylor, Tomarcus Grantham and Matt Hemmis.
``We'll have our days that don't go well,'' Miller said. ``But we'll just weather it the best we can.'' MEMO: GAMES POSTPONED
Norfolk State's home games against Coppin State, scheduled for today
and Tuesday, have been postponed because of wet grounds. The games will
be rescheduled.
ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB