Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 24, 2005, edition 1 / Page 17
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
N.C. A&T baseball team hammers Florida A&M CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT The N.C. A&T baseball team unleashed a 16-hit attack to grab a 6-2 victory over Flori da A&M last Saturday at Moore-Kittles Field. Florida A&M (4-24, 0-4 in MEAC) had seven hits in the opening inning, led by outfield er David James, who had two hits - including a leadoff solo homer in the eighth - and an RBI. That wasn't enough to stop the Aggies. N.C. A&T (7-15, 3-1 in MEAC) got four hits from lead off hitter Nic Mayo, and three hits apiece from Charlie Gamble and Neil Rosser. Gamble led the Aggies with three RBls. The Aggies scored first in the second inning, when Marcus Mack hit an RBI single to left, scoring Rosser for a 1-0 lead A&T plated two more runs in the fifth on Gamble's two-run homer, which also scored Jere my Jones, for a 3-0 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth. Michael Sweatt's RBI single to left scored Kevin Clethan for a 3-1 score, but the Aggies got the run back in the seventh, when Raul Santiago scored on Ross er's RBI single, making the score 4- 1 . The Aggies extended their lead to 6-1 in the eighth, thanks to an RBI double from Jeremy Jones and a run-scoring single from Charlie Gamble. FAMU got its final nin in the bottom of the inning off David James' leadoff solo shot. The Rattlers' A J. Patrick (1 4) took the loss, allowing four runs on 12 hits, with three strikeouts in six and one-third innings. A&T's Michael Hauff (3-1) fanned 10 Rattler batters, allowing two runs on seven hits in eight innings of work, to pick up the win. The Aggies dropped the other two games to the Rattlers 3-2 and 5-0. N.C. A&T will return to the home field today when it hosts Norfolk State at J p.m. The Aggies will host Bethune-Cook nuin over the weekend. Friday's game will begin at I pm? and Saturday's game will start at noon. Photo by Anthony Hill Mitchell thinks that a lot of block kids are more attracted to football and basketball because of the popularity of those sports in their community. Mitchell from page B I may not like watching on televi sion, so they are less likely to play it. But it's totally different when you play it." In short, young African American athletes, particularly those frotp inner cities, have been more readily drawn to more attractive sports in recent years, and it shows in the professional ranks. Blacks made up 78 per cent of the rosters last season in the National Basketball Associa tion and 65 percent of the rosters last season in the National Foot ball League. "Baseball simply isn't a necessity anymore for black youth," Mitchell said. "Playing baseball was a way for many black kids to make it back in the day. Now there's football and basketball and other sports. Many kids don't realize that baseball is probably the easiest sport to go pto irf. People turn pro right out of high School all the time in baseball." But Mitchell has his mind on playing college baseball. He hopes to play for Appalachian State, East Carolina, UNC-Char lotte or N.C. State once his days as a Viking are over. Then, he said, he wouldn't mind being a sportscaster someday. "I have a lot of goals that I'd like to accomplish." Mitchell concluded. "Some of them have to do with sports, and others have to do with life. I'm hoping that I make it, and I also hope to influence more kids to follow in my path. Baseball can really be a great sport for everyone." One-on-One ? from pafte B2 just did a great job of not fold ing once we began to make our run down the stretch. Anthony: Taron. you guys had a great season, where you tied or broke a few team records. Does it seem like that was all for nothing? Taron: To me it does. I've been asked that question a lot. I'm a competitor, and this sea son feels like a letdown to me. This is how I feel because I had so many high expecta tions for this team. I thought that we could've been one of the great teams. Losing in the second round of the tourna ment was so heartbreaking, and we're so much better than that. Anthony: Describe the feeling that came over you as the final horn went off. Taron: I couldn't believe it. "We lost?" It was almost like someone telling you that your best friend was dead. I just couldn't believe it. Then I was like, "What do I do now?" I was just looking around, thinking this was my last time on a college court playing in front of these people. It was a horrible feeling. I was kind of confused. I was devastated. I don't even know what words to use to describe how I felt. Anthony: I know that you shut down a little bit, but did you watch "SportsCenter" later that night or the next day? Taron: We flew back right after the game and I couldn't sleep. J^ust had the TV on and they Were showing some of the highlights, and they were talking about us being upset. I couldn't stand it, so I shut down my TV. Things really weren't right for me until a couple days after that. Anthony: The girl^ are still playing, and they're play ing well in the WNIT. (Both smile.) They've got West Vir ginia on Thursday (tonight). How much do you want them to win that game? Taron: (Smiles.) I've already told them that they have to win this one. If they don't win any other game, they have to have this one. But I hope they go all the way. But I really want them to win this game. It would mean a lot Downey to me for them to win. I'd feel a lot better. Anthony: I spoke with Cotelia (Bond- Young) recent ly. and she told me that you swear you can hold a note. (Both laugh) Now, can you sing? Taron: (Giggles.) Actual ly, I can't sing, but it's just one of those things that you just do. I'm just one of those guys that enjoy myself. It's just fun for me. You might see me walking down the street, heading to my dorm, hum ming a few notes. Anthony: A lot was expected from you when you first got here. Your playing time declined during the last two years. Do you wish you would 've played more the last two years? laron: Nina 01. ?ui 11 s one of those things where you have to adapt to the situation. I mean, things are working out for me just fine now. I hate to be the one to point this out, but my stats went up when my playing time declined. 1 just worked harder when my play ing time declined, and it showed on the court and in the statistics. > Anthony: How were you able to keep things positive through the decline of playing time and all? Taron: No matter what the coaches did. or the media said. I still believed in myself, and that's all you need. You don't need a lot of people telling you that you're the best thing since pants with pock ets. (Both laugh.) You just have to keep doing your thing Anthony: Do you think the N.C. State and Chris Paul incident was blown out of pro portion? Taron: Wow, that's a great question. Maybe, but I say that from a player point of view because I know all the things that happen on the court. But he never should've hit the guy below the belt. That was wrong, and he knows that. It's one of those things where you're in the heat of the moment and things happen. Anthony: Uh, do you think Mark McGwire took steroids? Taron: (Laughs.) Well, from what I've seen on ESPN and all. it looks like he's try ing to beat around the .bush. He never answered whether he did or not. If 1 had to bet my house on it, I'd say that he did use steroids. Anthony: I feel that. What's ^your favorite R&B song rignt now? Taron: It's probably that Omarion. That "O" is really tough right now. (Both gig gle.) People don't like to admit that, but that song is hot. I like that song a lot. That's probably one of the toughest cuts out right now. Anthony: What was the last movie you went to see?,-, Taron: "Hitch." Anthony: If you could trade places with any celebrity who would it be? Taron: Maybe Denzel Washington. Anthony: OK. Let's close out with free association. (Pause.) Will Smith. Taron: Funny guy. Anthony: Bishop McGuinness High (Taron's younger brother plays there.) Taron: My brother. Anthony: Uh, Mario. Taron: "Super Mario Brothers." (Both laugh.) Nin tendo. Anthony: March Mad ness. Taron: Wake Forest got a rough deal. Anthony: 2005 national champs. Taron: Don't care. Anthony: (Giggles.) West Virginia. Taron: Hate 'em. Anthony: T. Diddy. Taron: The coolest guy you'll ever know. Wake Forest tennis blanks No. 6 William and Mary Lady Deacs on three-match winning streak CHRONIC! I STAI I RI HOKI The Wake Forest women's tennis team improved their record to 8-6 overall on Sun day with a convincing 7-0 vic tory over No. 6 William and Mary. The hard-fought win helped to improve the Dea cons' current winning streak to three straight matches. Wake Forest swept the dou bles competition to get an early lead in the match. At number one doubles, Ashlee Davis and Katie Martzcilf defeated Candicft Fuchs and Megan Moulten-Levy of William and Mary 8-5. The most dominant doubles win came at the number two posi tion, where Karin Coetzee and Alex Hirsch blanked Megan Muth and Amy Wei 8-0. Danielle Schwartz and Blakely Offutt defeated Kate Boomer shine and Lena Shervakov 8-4 at number three doubles. The Demon Deacons con tinued their domination after earning the doubles point by winning all six singles spots. The clinching match was at number five singles, where Schwartz defeated Lingda Yang 6-4, 6-3. Davis played one of the longer matches of the day at number one singles, defeating Moulton-Levy 7-5, 6-2. while Coetzee took control at num ber two singles with a solid 6 4, 6-0 victory over Fuchs of William and Mary. At number three singles Martzolf beat Fife photo Wake's Karin Coetzee recorded two solid singles play victo ries during the Deacs' win over William and Mary on Sunday . Sherbakov 6-4. 6-0, and Alex Hirsch got a win al the number four spot over Muth in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4). William and Mary got a default at the number six sin gles position. Assistant Coach Janet Bergman was pleased with the team's effort and hard work in the significant win for the Dea cons. "I'm really excited. 1 think this is a great confidence booster to help us realize that we are a top 10 team. I'm real ly proud of how hard everyone has been working, and it is finally paying off. Now we get to have some fun," Bergman said. The Demon Deacons will return to action on Sunday at noon when they travel to Talla hassee, Fla., to take on Flori da State. AAU from pa/<e Bl the summer to get them ready for high school ball." That was last year, under the D-One AAU basketball program. Now BreWington, Bernard Revel and North JV head coach Jeff Moore are guiding the Winston-Salem Rage in hopes of helping some of the kids he first coached gain more exposure and experience through AAU competition. The mission of the Rage is to provide young men and women with the necessary training, guidance and encour agement to help succeed at home, school and social envi ronment. "It's about more than just playing basketball with us," Brewington said. "Our objec tive is to teach the necessary life and athletic skills to kids that are interested in one day pursuing athletics in college. Personally, I'm a basketball coach who wapts to see kids develop and get better. I'm not concerned with how many tro phies we get'. Trophies don't get you into college, but skills will." Winston-Salem Rage play ers flexed their skills and muscles over the weekend when they hit opponents with an aggressive style of play. That's also how the team got its ittme. by the aggressive rage they play with on the court. The Rage played in its first tournament over the weekend when the team traveled to Greensboro to compete. The team probably would've been happier with a better outcome, but most of the players saw they could at least compete on that level (15-and-under). That was a question because most of the players on the team are only 14 years old. "But we saw that we could compete," Brewington said. "We were right in the mix of things. If we would've won another game or two, we would've been in the hunt. Plus, we knew that we could compete on that level already. Some of my guys will be returning to varsity or trying out for varsity next year, so why not get them ready for that competition now and show them what they will be facing next year." Rage forward Tim Revel added: "I think we did fine over the weekend. The com petition level was good. We've got some things that we need to work on, but we'll get there. We've got the players to play well on this level." Rage point guard Bryan Photo by Tom Houghuling Darryl Scott, of the Winston-Salem Rage , tries to swat away an opponent's shot during a recent exhibition game. McCorkle played on the Park land varsity team as a ninth grader. while Glenn's Jarvis Braboy and North's Tim Revel were both moved up to varsity at the end of the year. All three are standout players for the Rage, and former play ers of Brewington at Hill Mid dle School. That's what is seemingly separating Brewington from other AAU coaches. He chooses to keep guys togethe'r that he's coached from day one to help them build chem istry while they develop their skills. Most coaches nowa days simply recruit the most talent from where they can find it. "I've been with coach Brewington since middle school," McCorkle said. "I enjoy playing for him, and I like the chemistry I have with my teammates. I feel like that's important to have when playing sports. We're just starting out. but I think things will get better for the team." Brewington added: "Things will definitely get better. We're just getting start ed. I am just blessed to be sur rounded by some quality peo ple who believe in the dream just as much as I do. My assis tant coaches Bernard Revel and Jeff Moore, and my wife, Mia (Brewington), have been great. "My conviction is in the Lord and I feel that this serv ice is pleasing and acceptable to Him. I see the need to help these kids in any way that I can. and I rely on guidance from up above to do that." Members of the squad are: Bryan McCorkle (Park land), Patrick Hall (Glenn), Tim Revel (North), Jarvis Braboy (Glenn), Rodrake Clark (North), Tyshaun Scott (Glenn). John Salley (Glenn), Darryl Scott (North), Sam Youse (North). Michael Silva (Reynolds), Will Turner (LEAP) and Myrion Jones (North). Interested individuals, spon sors or athletes should contact Brewington at (J36) 624-5631 or rhrewin @ wsfcs Jkl2.nc.us.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 24, 2005, edition 1
17
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75