A&T's Beatty knocks out inquiries M r A JiT 1 i r-vut i su^nomore sen sation baseball player CJ. Beany is one of my favorite stu dent athletes to talk to. That's why it's nothing for me to talk to him every season as if it's the first time I've ever interviewed him. ' I like to talk to C J . And, he likes to be interviewed and throst into the spotlight. Beatty is ready to be a star, and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before we see him in the major leagues doing his thing. He's definitely been putting it down at A&T the last two years. Last year he was voted as the top freshman male student-athlete on the yard ? to go along with freshman all-american honors. On Monday, Beatty was voted as the Aggie Male Athlete of the Year. I got the release from A&T on Monday night, and instantly called C J. to congratulate him. What was funny was the fact he told me that he was just about to call me to tell me about it. We're cool like that. Beatty always comes up with interest ing things to say. I actually called him back on Tuesday to talk again on the record. He and I discussed Josh Howard, Roger Clemens, Chris Paul, Hank Aaron, his future plans and a few other things. Take a look at some of the things Mr. Beatty and I talked about earlier this week. Antheny: What's going on, CJ.? C J.: Nothing much. I just got out of my class. Now I am ready for this game against Wofford. Anthony: Good luck with them, and also in the MEAC tournament next week. C J.: I appreciate that. Anthony: I also need to congratulate "J^bu for being voted as the top male athlete at A&T- _ , C J.: (Laughs.) Thanks so much, man. I couldn't have done it without all of the prayer from my family. Anthony: Does this mean you're the man on campus now? , C J.: (Both laugh.) That s what they say. But I don't think it's like that. Plus, I'm not the one for bragging. I'm proud to have the award, though. Anthony: And, you look like you're doing your thing in home runs again. Aren't you leading the MEAC in homers . CJ.: Right now I'm tied Photo by Michael Simmons Aggie sophomore CJ. Beatty was voted as the N.C. A&T Male Athlete of the Year on Monday. with a guy from Del State. Anthony: What was your mindset heading into this sea son after such success last year? C J.: 1 worked harder in the offseason. I wanted to become a better hitter. 1 knew I was going to come back and get pitched to totally different. Nobody knew who I was last year, and they kept giving me easy pitches to hk. I knew I had to work hard in the off season, which has paid off. I also worked on hitting the ball the other way. Anthony: Did you feel any pressure to do well this season? CJ.: At first I did. But I knew that I just had to go out there and give it my all, and die rest would take care of itself. 1 started out with a bang. I had two home runs in the first three games. You tell me if that's pressure. Anthony: (Laughs.) Are you giving the major leagues some thoughts already? CJ.: (Pause.) Yeah. It's hard not tt> think about it. It's always been a dream of mine. It will be a dream until I get there. I think about it all the time. When the time is right then I'll go Anthony: What do you need to improve upon before you make that leap? C J.: I need to get stronger, both mentally and physically. Know the game a lot better. And, just go out there and play harder. I always feel like I can go harder than what I did. Anthony: Tell me what the toughest thing you had to deal with while playing baseball as a youth. CJ.: The hardest thing for making sure I get all my work turned in correctly. This week we're going through exams. I'm just studying and trying to keep these grades up. That's the reason I'm here. So I can't lose track of that. Anthony: No doubt. What have you been watching on TV, man? CJ.: Baseball. My TV ()ne-on-()ne with Anthony Hill me was being out there and not seeing too many guys that looked like you. Or, that looked like me. You don't see many of us out there. That's kind of dis couraging for some kids when most of their friends are going the football and basketball route. I had strong support from my family. They kept me moti vated. And, I just really enjoyed it. I took over from there. Anthony: Cool. What else has been up with you? C J.: Just school. I've been does not change. But I have to admit that I've been watching my man Chris Paul. He's killing in the playoffs. Every time he's on I st6fc> what I'm doing to watch. Anthony: Speaking of the NBA. What did you think about what Josh said last week, man? CJ.: Man, I don't know. Josh is my boy. When I heard tha^I was like, 'Come on Josh.' But" I believe that he's going to get it together because Josh is a good man. You know that. I Beatty think he'll be all right after some time passes by. I just want to wish him the best of luck, "and I hope he gets past this. Anthony: No doubt. One of your high school teammates, Chris Jacobs, is working his way up to the major league right now. When was the last time you talked with him? * C J.: I sent him a text mes sage the other week. He was congratulating me for the way I'm playing. He said that he's seen my stats. I told him not to look at me like that. Don't get it twisted. I'm trying to get to . where you're at. I might be a lit tle older than him, but I look up to him. He's doing real well. He's hitting the ball really well. He's 6-6, 250-plus, so he's not getting too many good pitches. Anthony: When was the last time you talked to DJ, Mitchell (Clemson baseball standout that used to play for North Forsyth)? CJ.: I haven't talked to him for a while. But I read that DJ. is the man. That's what the scouts are saying online. I heard fie tore it up in the tape Cod League. That's one of the most prestigious leagues. Anthony: Let's talk about A&T for a minute. Are you all going to win the MEAC title or what? CJ.: Yes. We've had our ups and downs through the sea son, but we're using those as footsteps to the championship. We shouldn't have lost some of the games we've lost. We're coming into the MEAC touma-* ment very hungry, and ready to play. Anthony: I hear that. Roger Clemens is being dumped on pretty hard right now. C J. : I know. Anthony: ^eah. You get investigated for one thing and they find everything else out. What are your thoughts on the news of him possibly having a relationship with a teenager some years ago? C J.: I just don't understand how they can do this to Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds. As far as steroids, some of the guys probably took them. But you can't dump on guys like this. They're trying to burn him hard And, that's just not right. Let the personal stuff ride. Anthony: 1 got you. I just wish these gas prices would go down. CJ.: 1 know, right. I feel you. But steroids and athletes are the main stories on MSN and CNN. Gas prices are $19 a gallon. (Both laugh.) On the steroid issue, I'm kind of with both sides. If they did it they should be punished. At the same time, steroids doesn't do it all. Those athletes are phenom enal. If steroids did it then we'd have a lot more Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in the league. " Anthony: That's a good point. Who's getting your vote for president? CJ.: I'm going with Barrack Obama. I have faith in my man. Anthony: When was the last time that you talked to your dad? C J.: I talk to him every five minutes. (Both laugh.) I'll prob ably give him a call him after I get finished talking to you. Anthony: (Laughs.) I hear that. Let's close out with free association. Uh, Atlanta Braves. CJ.: Oh, Chipper Jones. ? Anthony: CJ. Beatty, C J.: (Laughs.) Powerful. Anthony: Home run. C J.: That's me. Anthony: Favorite baseball player. - ? CJ.: Hank Aaron. Anthony: Winston-Salem CJ.: The home of all homes. Anthony: North Carolina A&T. CJ.: Spectacular. Anthony: Glenn High * School. C J.: The high school, Anthony: Favorite food. CJ.: Chinese. Anthony: Two years from now. C J.: Somewhere in Florida playing professional baseball. Anthony: Good luck with that, and everything else^ C J.: Thank you. Local girls help lead AAU squad SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The High Point Lady Stars 9U Girls AAU squad played in the state championship this past weekend (April 25-27) in Durham. They played the Garner Flames last Friday night defeat ing them, 31-6. Last Saturday the Lady Stars played the Lady Royals and Surry Storm ? defeating both teams. The Lady Stars played the Burke Lady Jammers and lost by 17points, but they came back on Sunday evening to defeat the Greensboro Lady Gators by 23 points. The win over the Gators gave the Lady Stars a third place finish in the state standings for 9U squads, which makes the Lady Stars third place champi FTKXO by tun wusoo The High Point Lady Stars ons. Five of the team standouts are from Winston-Salem. The local girls are Syleaa Johnson, Makayla Wolfe, Brflna Carter, Kristen Saunders and Tierra Wilson. Some of the other tal ented players are Kadajah Walker, Jazlin Taylor, Brooke Anders, Timber Tate, Destiny Timberlake, Kayla Johnson and Aiyonna Hill . The head coach of the squad is Aaron Grier. He is assisted by Scott Anders and Tim Wilson. The team manager is Cherie Jeffers. Last weekend's performance qualified them for the 9U Nationals in Kenner, Louisiana. First, the Lady Stars will play in the YBOA State Championship games in Mount Airy, May 9- 1 1 Warren Dental Center " Thank You For 20 Years of Community Service " William R. Warren DDS. 2606 New Walkertown Rd. Winston Salem, N.C. 27101 Mon-Thurs. 9-4 pm Fri 9- 1pm 724-5055 ? General Dentistry ? Preventive Care ? Crowns/bridges ? Dentures ? Teeth Whitening ? 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