THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604240196
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Sports Editor's Notebook
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Things are not getting any easier for the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy lacrosse team. The Saints visit Norfolk Academy on Friday at 4:30 p.m. to continue a rugged schedule that includes most of the state's top-ranked teams.
N-SA (3-6 overall, 3-1 Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools) will have played four of the state's top 10 teams after facing the second-ranked Bulldogs.
``We are adhering to the age-old philosophy that you have to play the best to be the best,'' N-SA coach Trent Blythe said. ``We're proving that we can play that caliber. Every day we step out to win every game.''
The Saints lost to No. 1 St. Anne's 11-3, to No. 3 St. Christopher's 16-4 and to Collegiate (Richmond) 14-9, but Blythe said his team is anything but discouraged.
``The attitude has been outstanding,'' he said. ``We've improved by leaps and bounds playing against those teams. The good definitely outweighs the bad.''
Blythe added that Nansemond-Suffolk expects the tough schedule to pay off in the TCIS.
``Our focus is to get back (in TCIS play) and step in and really take that,'' said Blythe, whose team's only conference loss was 4-3 to Hampton Roads.
IN HOT PURSUIT: J.C. Caperton, a senior shortstop on Nansemond River's baseball team, is on track to break the school's record for stolen bases in a season. Donald Turner set the mark last year with 26.
Before Tuesday's game at Bruton, Caperton had 14 steals in 10 games. In his first eight games last year, Turner had just three.
``I knew I'd be leading off this year and have a chance of stealing the most bases,'' said Caperton, who is batting .515. ``So far, I've just been getting on base and getting chances.''
GAME OF THE WEEK: In soccer, Nansemond River hosts Lakeland on Monday at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers beat the Warriors 2-1 on a penalty kick two weeks ago. Lakeland is 4-3, while the Warriors are 3-5. by CNB