I Athletic Notes ^
4
:v , . ..
4T^4V«!ff
These are the men who will carry the
Chowan College colors onto the baseball
diamond when the Braves open their
1994 season and their first in NCAA’s
Division III competition. Kneeling from
left are David Tysor, Terry Totty, Mike
Yusko, Aaron Carroll, Steve Albona, feff
Hafford, Antonio Hollloway, Kenny
Mitchell, Brad Blair, ferry Grizxard, Chris
Scott and Shawn Wiseman, Standing,
from l^, are Thomas Sanchex, William
Lepow, fames Neuendotf, fack Coleman,
David Coggins, Danny Davis, Gerald
Foley, Paul Guidry, Mike Siemotka, Chris
Towell, fohn Breadmore, Tracy
Tbomasson, Nick Pasiuk and Russell
Allen. (Photo by Cal Bryant)
r""
&KmrnCioBBgeS^mm
1994
BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Fet).20
Va. State Univer^
Home*
F^.22
IMiversity ol fiichrn(H«J
Away
F^.26
Va State University
and Greenstwro -
Away
Feb. 27
high Point University
Home*
Mar. 2
Eliz. City Sti^e University Away
Mar. 5
Keffli (Ddlege
Away
Mar. 6
Wooster C(^lege
Away
Mar. 8
Ragier university
Away
Mar. 9
Lamt»Jth University
Away
Mar. 11
Enfwry Kddle University
Away
Mar. 12
Mitchell C^e
Home
Mar. 19
MonkSair State CoBega
Home
Mar. 23
Barton Coiiege
Away
Mar. 25-27Chowar» Classic
Home
Mar. 30
U. of Msene at Preset
Home*
Apr. i
University of Albany N .Y,
Home
A{3r, 1
St. Joe's Univef^
Apr. 5
C^rlstoph» Newport
Home
Apr. 6
N.C. Wesleyan Coifege
Home
Apr. 9
Wijmtnglon Colfege
Home
Apr. 12
Otfistoph^ Newport
Away
Apr. 14
Coker Cotlege
Home i
Apr 16
ftoivpoil News j“|)pr0itice Home
Apr. 17
Barton Coiiegs
Home
Apr 19
N. C. We^yan College
Avray
Apr. 20
Nevi^ News Appr«»fee Away
Apr. 22
E, Mennonlte Coll^
Awiy
Apr. 23
Femjm College
Away
* DermtssDoubMmder
Braves ready for DivisUm III
play; strong team predicted
By Cal Bryant, Sports Editor
The Ahoskie News-Herald
Mike Bocock was like a big kid in a candy
store during the college’s baseball media day in
late February. His excitement was evident to
everyone present.
The picture trying to be painted here is
Bocock is excited as the second-year Braves
baseball coach eyed the club’s 1994 season
opener and their first in the Division III ranks of
NCAA.
“I’m eager to get out there on the field and
see just how we stack up now we’re a NCAA
Division III program,” said Bocock, who guided
the club to a school record 29 wins last year
during the Braves’ final fling at the JUC0 level.
“I feel we have a very strong and competi
tive schedule, one that includes the defending D-
III national champions, Montclair State,” he
said.
In their first season inside the NCAA ranks,
the Braves will head into their baseball battles
with eight returning lettermen, a number which
includes a half dozen returning starters.
A trio of juniors anchor these returnees —
Mike Niemotka (pitcher, infielder), Danny Davis
(pitcher, infielder) and Thomas Sanchez.
Sophomores John Bradmore (pitcher, infielder),
John Halford (outfielder), and catcher Chris
Towell comprise the remaining starters.
Gerald Foley (pitcher, infielder) and catcher
Kenny Mitchell are both sophomore returning
lettermen.
Bocock has also brought in a quartet of
junior college transfers — infielders Aaron
Carroll, Tracy Thomasson and Shawn Wiseman
along with outfielders Antonio Holloway and
James Neuendorf.
“Defensively, I feel we’re on solid ground,”
stfessed Bocock.”Towell and Wiseman give us
great depth at the catcher sport while Breadmore
(third base) and Davis (first base) are rock solid
at the corners.
“I’m looking for freshman Mike Yusko to
give some quality depth at third and Carroll
should provide ample back-up at first base as
well as helping us with his bat as a designated
hitter.
“Overall, we’re young at the middle infielder
positions, but there’s some talent there,” Bocock
continued. “We’ve moved Sanchez, an all-
Conference centerfielder last year, to fill either
the second base or shortstop positions.
“Chris Scott is the probable starter at short
and Wiseman can help out there as well. Plus,
I’ve got two hard-working freshmen, Terry Totty
and Steve Alhona, who will add depth as middle
infielders.”
The Braves are loaded with talent in the
outfield where five players will witness loads of
playing time.
“Right now, the only player locked in on a
starting position is Neuendorf, A JUCO transfer
from Florida who will start in left field,”
admitted Bocock.
“That leaves four very talented players who
will all receive lots of action in the outfield —
Holloway (an All-Region performer at Chowan
two years ago), Halford, and freshmen Russell
Allen (an All-Conference and All-State selection
during his Hertford County High School career)
and Jerry Grizzard, another local product from
Roanoke Rapids,” the coach said.
Hitting is another strong suit for the Braves
as a foursome of “big bats” are back in the
Chowan lineup.
Sanchez swung at a .330 clip last season
with 18 RBls and scoring 36 runs. Davis was a
.320 hitter with 29 RBIs while Niemotka drove
in 25 runs with a .310 average. Breadmore was a
.281 hitter with 16 runs and 14 batted in.
“Peck away with some hits, steal bases,
sacrifice runners and use the hit-and-run; that’s
just my style of baseball,” stressed Bocock. “We
need to score runs in bunches this season
because I’m not going to hide the fact that we
don’t have a lot of depth in our pitching ranks.”
Niemotka (an 11-2 record and a 1.56 ERA in
1993) will be the ace of a young staff which
includes just one other mound veteran — Davis
(3-1, 3.67 ERA).
“Davis was my closer last year, but if our
young arms don’t develop this season, he’ll be
our number two starter,” confessed Bocock.
“We’re looking for help from Bradmore and
Foley, both of whom saw limited duty last year.”
The “young guns” on this year’s staff are
freshmen Brad Blair, David Coggins, Jack
Coleman, William Lepow and Nick Pasiuk.
“To tell you the truth. I’m not worried about
matching last year’s winning record nor am I
worrying myself with our transition from junior
college to four-year status,” closed Bocock.
“What I am concentrating on is our baseball
program itself, doing the right things off the
field by getting our players to become positive
role models for the local youth and the local
community as well.”
“I want to build a baseball program here at
Chowan that everyone can be proud to associate
themselves with. Anybody can win but not
everybody are winners.”
Rich Gray is back to assist Bocock this
season while Tom Estep, who played under
Bocock’s direction in high school, will also lend
a hand from the dugout.
Strong
team
to carry
Braves’
banner
into NCAA
Division HI
ranks
CHOWAN TODAY, Sfmng 1994 - PAGE 19