DATE: Sunday, May 25, 1997                  TAG: 9705230214

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

WILSON EARNS THE RESPECT IT LACKED IN THE PRESEASON

Amanda Johnson was steaming - steaming! - after reading the March 16 issue of The Currents.

What was it that got Johnson so riled? The absence of a favorite comic strip? No photo with the Fabio feature?

Something much worse, according to Johnson - the Wilson softball team was picked to finish behind Booker T. Washington and Churchland in the Eastern District pre-season analysis.

``Nobody ever gives Wilson any respect,'' Johnson said.

So annoyed was Johnson that she taped the offending text to her refrigerator and read it every day for motivation.

Funny thing is, the Presidents didn't need any motivational gimmicks. Despite what the newspaper said - which, by the way, was that the Presidents would contend, not that they weren't any good - Wilson reigned supreme among Norfolk and Portsmouth schools by season's end.

The Presidents took a 19-1 record into Thursday's Eastern District tournament final against Churchland, including a perfect 15-0 mark against district opponents.

Their lone loss, in the final of the Booker T. Washington Classic in early April to Norfolk Collegiate, came when they were without the services of No. 1 pitcher Amanda Adams. With Adams on the hill, the Presidents were 14-0.

None of this has surprised Presidents coach Cornell Gordon, who proudly says now that he knew his team would be among the area's best.

Now, if the man who backed him up at quarterback for North Carolina A&T, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, was coaching this team, he probably would have done a little pre-season boasting. If the man who led Gordon's 1968 New York Jets football team to the Super Bowl title, Joe Namath, was in charge, he definitely would have done so.

Gordon, on the other hand, said little.

``I knew what kind of team I had, but I'm not the type to do a lot of talking,'' he said.

The starters who helped the Presidents' play speak volumes:

First baseman Erica Davis hit .354 and drove in 11 runs. She's also something of a local celebrity. When the limousine company that was supposed to take her to the prom canceled a mere 45 minutes before the vehicle was supposed to arrive, Davis called a local TV station, and the controversy was featured on last Saturday night's newscast.

Second baseman Dee Dee Fox was the team's leading base stealer and hitter (.578) and committed no regular-season fielding errors.

Shortstop Johnson is being wooed by Chowan College and, with all due respect to Churchland's Stacey Hundley, is considered by Gordon to be the best shortstop in the district.

Third baseman Lynsey Ellis hit .370 and doubled as a catcher when Nikki Goral took the mound.

Erica Brown and Shelley Davis were freshmen junior varsity call-ups who solidified outfield positions and made key offensive contributions.

Paula Miller's range in centerfield took the pressure off the two freshmen flanking her. Miller was also the team's best bunter.

Pitcher Adams didn't strike out many but forced hitters to hit her pitch.

Catcher Goral, in addition to a .523 average, had five homers and went 5-1 as a pitcher.

``Offensively and defensively, I think we're as good as anyone in the area,'' Gordon said.

The Presidents will get the chance to prove as much beginning Monday, when the Eastern Region softball tournament gets under way at Princess Anne. Although the Presidents believe they have the stuff to win the whole event, winning just one round would be satisfying - their first-round opponent is old Southeastern District nemesis Western Branch.

``We always would play Great Bridge tough, but Western Branch usually gave us trouble,'' Gordon said.

For their part, the Presidents say they're not concerned with what's happened in the past.

``We'll play anyone,'' Johnson said. ``We need to prove we're a pretty good team.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Huy Nguyen

Khara Willis, on third base for Norview, looks toward the call as

Wilson's Dee Dee Fox slides safely into third.

Wilson centerfielder Paula Miller moves in on a Norview hit during

the tournament final against Churchland.

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