THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604240593
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Wilson's Jason Morgan has only one thought when he steps up to bat.
Hit.
``That's why you have a bat,'' says the junior, who has smacked five home runs in the last five games for the Presidents and could be on his way to becoming the school's single-season record-holder.
Blanked on two long fly ball outs and a rare walk in Wilson's loss to Western Branch on Friday, the 18-year-old Morgan was coming off a 6-for-9 hitting streak in which he pounded one home run against Churchland, two against Indian River and another against Oscar Smith. He added another homer Monday against Deep Creek.
The achievements earned him The Virginian-Pilot's male Athlete of the Week award.
``I'm up there to hit,'' said the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder. ``I really don't want to walk. I want to make contact.''
Wilson coach Billy Kline said the walk he received in the Western Branch game was Morgan's first this year.
Raymond Askew, who coached Morgan in the Olive Branch Senior Little League, said that Morgan walked only 18 times while hitting for a .511 average over a three-year period.
``I still remember a game when he was getting an intentional walk and he reached out and hit a pitch for a triple,'' said Askew.
Askew said Morgan had such hitting potential ``that during batting practices coaches' arms would always tire and they would need relief when Jason's turn came.''
The versatile Morgan, who is nearsighted and wears glasses, played in the eighth grade at Alliance Christian. He went to Wilson as a freshman and then transferred for two years to private schools which did not field baseball teams.
The past semester he was on the honor roll at Wilson.
Kline feels Morgan has unlimited potential at the plate. He is being used as a pitcher, catcher and first baseman.
In the Little League, Morgan struck out 269 batters while pitching 176 2/3 innings.
``He's got a very strong arm and loves to just fire the ball. He needs to focus more on a change-up and other pitches,'' said Kline.
His future dream is a professional baseball career.
``The player I like most is Atlanta's Ryan Klesko,'' said Morgan. ``He's lefthanded and I'm righthanded. He's a hitter. And he doesn't like to walk either.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Jason Morgan]
by CNB