THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080303
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 60 lines
The former owner of a professional hockey team wants to put a college baseball team on the Outer Banks.
Blake Cullen, who sold the Hampton Roads Admirals earlier this year, is scheduled to meet Thursday with Dare County education officials to continue negotiations that could give the area a summer entry in a college league.
Dare County Superintendent Leon Holleman said Monday that a number of issues need to be ironed out before Outer Banks baseball becomes a reality.
``All I can say at this point is that we're still negotiating,'' Holleman said. ``The first thing that we have to work out is to ensure that the league does not interfere with school functions.
``We have very specific policies that outline the priorities for use of our facilities: School functions are first, youth sports like Babe Ruth Baseball are second, and anything that comes after would be third.''
The games would be played on the Manteo High School field that was upgraded for the Babe Ruth Baseball World Series in August.
Cullen, in Daytona Beach, Fla., for a meeting of the new Eastern Indoor Soccer League, said in a telephone interview that some details need to be worked out.
``We're starting to put a lease agreement together with the school board,'' Cullen said. ``There are a lot of little details that have to be agreed upon. We hope that we will be able to work those things out.
``I was approached by some people in Dare County who were interested in the possibility of bringing in a minor league baseball team,'' Cullen said. ``The facility there is beautiful, but it really didn't lend itself to a minor league franchise.''
Cullen said that the president of the Coastal Plain League, Pete Bock, ``had a son who had played in a summer college league, and they were looking at starting a similar league here. When I talked to the people on the Outer Banks, they were interested in that type of league.''
Officials from the Raleigh-based Coastal Plain League said Monday a decision will be made by the end of the year.
``Manteo is still under consideration,'' league Director of Operations Mark Cryan said. ``Blake is the person who is pursuing negotiations in Manteo. Not all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed. We're hoping to make a final decision within 30 to 60 days.''
Several North Carolina towns - including Wilmington, Rocky Mount, Raleigh, Durham and Greenville - have collegiate leagues. The teams, similar to others across the country, feature the nation's best freshman and sophomore players. Hotel owner Gerald Petitt of Silver Spring, Md., is the league's principal owner.
Among key concerns for Dare County officials is the upkeep of Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field. The diamond drew rave reviews during the Babe Ruth tournament.
If the new league comes to the Outer Banks, players would live with host families, just as participants in the Babe Ruth series did. The athletes would be able to work part-time jobs to earn spending money.
Cullen is optimistic about the chances for an agreement.
``Based on the support we saw in the Babe Ruth World Series, baseball would be a good summer attraction for the Outer Banks. We're raring to go.''
The Coastal Plain League plans to begin play in the summer of 1997. by CNB