Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / March 22, 1990, edition 1 / Page 16
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BASEBALL PREVIEW Trojans Seek Upper-Division Finish In Strong Waccamaw Conference BY JOHNNY CRAICi A four-year baseball rebuilding task at West Brunswick appears ready to begin paying off this spring. First-year head coach Mike AJderson is hoping that strengthening local feeder programs from the youth leagues to the junior varsity level and improved physi cal facilities will boost his Trojan diamond team to the top-half of the Waccamaw 2-A Conference and a berth in the state playoffs in late May. "Nearly all of our 13 players on the rooster have playing experience, whether it be at the varsity level or junior varsity," said Alderson. In fact, is was Alderson's Trojan JV team last spring that won a share of the WC junior circuit championship and finishing 11-5 overall. From that team, five of the 13 players will be tabbed to the varsity roster this spring. The leading hitter from both varsity and JV teams will lead the Trojan offense this spring ? Alton Johnson and Adam Johnson respectively. Alton has already shown signs of picking up at the plate where he left off last season going 3-for-4 with five RBIs in the Trojans' first win of the season last Friday, 9-6 over Acme-Delco. The junior third baseman hit for a team-leading .383 last year in his first varsity season while also picking up all- Brunswick County honors. Johnson went a hot 7 for-13 at the plate in the final four games of the season and drove in seven runs during the stretch to finish sec ond on the team in RBIs (13). Adam led the JV with a .468 batting average and will be the Trojans' no. 3 pitcher this spring while also see ing action at second base and shortstop. Leading the West pitching staff will be senior Raymond Howard, the only returning hurler from last year's county championship team. The right-hander was 2-1 on the mound a year ago with a low 1.81 earned run average (ERA) while jug gling a busy spring season participating on both Trojan baseball and tennis teams. Howard threw 27 innings while striking out 23 and yielding 18 hits. Howard is one of only four returning Trojans with varsity experience ? the others being Kevin Smith, Jimmy Johnson and Alton Johnson. Jimmy Johnson has been moved to ccnterficld this year from his left field spot he occupied last season. "Last Monday was Jimmy's first practice since bas ketball season ended," said Alderson. "He's out best de fensive outfielder and a very smart player. We want to build a strong team up the middle and believe Jimmy, second baseman Kevin Smith and out pitchers arid catcher to be the key." Johnson was a .279 hitter last year leading the team in RBls (14) and nins scored (20). In last week's win over Acme-Delco the junior went 2-for-4. Kevin Smith returns to second base for the second straight year. The senior is a good defensive player and will also be the Trojans' no. 2 pitcher. One of the brightest spots on the West lineup is fresh man catcher Brian Flcmming who has impressed col lege and professional scouts despite having turned 15 years old last week. "Brian will definitely be a college prospect and pos sibly a pro selection before his career at West is over," said Alderson. "He has the speed, the arm and the frame to be a great player and will get stronger and better as he goes." Flcmming got his first varsity hit in the win over Acme-Delco. "He's one of the best players I've seen in a long, long time. There were a number of college coaches asking about him at a baseball clinic we attended at Greene Central High School (Snow Hiii) recenuy," added Alderson. Leading off the Trojan batting order is sophomore right fielder Aldwin Lance, a versatile athlete who also plays on the football and basketball teams. Lance also has the strongest arm of any outfielder on the team according to Alderson after a good junior var sity season last year. "Aldwin's first day of practice was also last Monday and his hitting will come around. He gets on base and make havoc for the opposing pitcher ? just what a lead off hitter is supposed to do." Garreu Gore, a utility player from iast year, starts at first base and is hitting the ball well early. "Garrett played a number of positions last year but will do well at first base this spring." Blake Bradley has overcome football injuries to start in left field. "Blake has been through a lot and is a good defensive player. He had one of our three hits in the season opener and will continue to improve at the plate," mentioned Alderson. Adding depth to the Trojan lineup will be junior Neil Ward, sophomore Tony Caison, freshman Aaron Butler and junior Timmy Smith. Ward will he a reserve third baseman and catcher while also being the no. 4 pitcher. The junior player on a summer league team coached by Alderson last year. Caison will see action at first base and as a spot pitcher. The 6-foot- 1, 265-pounder hits the ball well ac cording to Alderson and will also prove valuable as a designated hitter. Butler will be the Trojans' fourth outfielder but can play any position on the field. "Aaron's bat will come around. He has great speed and will be used a lot as a pinch runner." Timmy Smith will add depth at first base and the out r.u liciu. "We've got two first basemen who can hit, four out fielders that work solely on their respective positions and versatile players on the corners, up the middle and behind the plate," said Alderson. "This will enable us to have a lot of different lineups and give other teams much to look at." "We're going to have to rely on our defense because we've got a group of 'throwers' for pitchers." In addition, there are 17 players on what Alderson terms "a good quality junior varsity team" coached by Scott Floyd. "There are four or five sophomores still on the junior varsity team that we could call up to the varsity at any time." ***** Alderson sees defending state 2-A champion White ville as the team to beat in the Waccamaw Conference. North Brunswick and East Bladen will both be "tough" and West Columbus "much improved". "South Brunswick is already 2-0 so they will be a much improved team as well. It's certainly going to be a real dogfight to finish in the top-half of the league." "Our goal this spring is to go to the state playoffs and win at least 15 games," said Alderson. "The top four teams in the conference go to the playoffs and we hope to be among those included." In addition to WC opponents North and South Brunswick, Whiteville, West Columbus, East Bladen, South Robeson and Fairmont, the Trojans will face Tabor City and Wallace-Rose Hill in nonconference play. All WC games begin at 7 p.m. with the seven league home games being broadcasted by Shallotte radio sta tion WPGO-FM. The Trojans batted a team .288 last year up from a .260 average in 1988. West finished 6-8 in the WC in 1989 but went 10-10 cvcrall for its first non-losing sea son in four years. SPORTING SCENE Gunfight Possible At Diamond Corral BY JOHNNY CRAIG "Parity" seems to be the word in the sports world today. The current NCAA basketball tournament, the recent ACC cage season and profession al football arc just a few samples of the balance in sports. Look for parity in living color this spring in the Waccamaw 2-A Conference baseball season. League teams began nonconfcrcnce play las' week tuning up for what looks to be a real gunfight or dogfight, depending upon your favorite slang. Among those teams hoping for a upper-division finish and berth in the state playoffs are the West Brunswick Trojans. Under first-year head coach Mike Aldcrson, the Trojans appear to have the offense and dcfer.se to make a run to the playoffs. However, the West pitching staff returns just senior Raymond Howard, the only player with any varsity experience who split time with the tennis team a year ago. Howard, the Trojans' number one pitcher this spring, will need the help of newcomers Kevin Smith (a veteran second baseman), Adam Johnson (sophomore) and Neil Ward (junior) in order for West to make a challenge to the upper icve! of the WC. Defending state 2-A champion Whitcville is everyone's team to beat this spring while both North Brunswick, under second-year head coach Keith Moore, is vastly improved. And South Brunswick is off to a 2-1 start winning its first two games over Swansboro which makes for a competitive diamond season in the county alone. West Columbus will also be much improved from a year ago and East Bladen is always strong. That leaves only Fairmont and South Robeson, one of four former state champions from the 1980s that comprise the current WC membership. In addition to both Whitcville and South Robeson, both South Brunswick (WC) and East Bladen (Three Rivers 3-A Conference) claimed stale titles during the previous decade. ***** In Waccamaw Conference baseball action in last week's openers, West Columbus dropped to 1-1 overall with a 5-2 home loss to Wallace-Rose Hill. Losing pitcher Bradley Wilson struck out seven to lead the Vikings. Whitcville (2-0) remained undefeated with a 9-2 win over 4-A Scotland County. Wolfpack pitcher Richie Blackwcll tossed a five-hitter and struck out 13 to key the win. Calvin Freeman rapped two doubles and a single and drove home three runs to power the Wolfpack at the plate. Whitcville had another strong pitching effort in its 8-0 opening win over another 4-A foe, Lumberton. Winning pitcher Randy Best faced just 21 Pirate batters and allowed one base runner in going the distance. NEW ENTRANCE m on access road at the beginning of theHwy. 17 bypass ^ 4 for $5 Pampas Grass MON-SAT 9-5:30. CLOSED SUN LEAH'S NURSERY HWY. 17, JUST NORTH OF SHALLOTTE, PHONE 754-6994 Westgolf Wins WC Opening Match David Bland shot a nine-hole 41 Monday to lead West Brunswick to a First-place finish in the opening Waccamaw 2-A Conference golf match of the season at Oak Island Golf Course. The Trojans combined for a team-total 170 to finish seven strokes ahead of second-place East Bladen (177). Whiteville finished third with a 179 while host South Brunswick took fourth with a 18S. East Bladen's Jamie Gause and Andy Tart each shot a 40 to share medalist honors. LITTLE RIVER LANES Bowling in the 90's Sign Up Now ! 1-803-249-0055 At 300 Bowling Lane Hwy. 17 N. Little River, S.C. This Week In Brunswick Sports THURSDAY, MARCH 22 ?North Brunswick at Lejeunc, boys' and girls track, 4 p.m. ?North Brunswick at South Brunswick, JV baseball, 4 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 23 ?West Brunswick at Fairmont, baseball, 7 p.m. ?South Brunswick at North Brunswick, baseball, 7 p.m. ?North Brunswick at South Brunswick, softball, 4 p.m. MONDAY, MARCH 26 ?East Bladen at North Rmnswick. JV baseball. 4 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 27 ?West Brunswick at South Robeson, baseball, 7 p.m. ?North Brunswick at East Bladen, baseball, 7 p.m. ?West Columbus at South Brunswick, baseball, 7 p.m. ?East Bladen at North BiuuSwicR, sofibali, 4 p.ni. ?East Duplin at North Brunswick, boys' and girls' track, 4 p.m. WEDESDAY, MARCH 28 ?West Brunswick at Wallace-Rose Hill, baseball, 4 p.m. This week's listings include events reported to the Beacon. To list your sporting contest call or write the Beacon with schedules an<? details. South Sweeps Swansboro, Falls To A-D In Openers South Brunswick opened the prep baseball season in winning fashion last week taking a pair of non league games from Swansboro be fore losing a 7-6 decision to Acme Delco. The Cougars edged the visiting Pirates 3-2 last Thursday, romped to a 10-5 road win Friday and fell to Acme-Delco Saturday. Scott Phillips had two hits and an RBI for South (2-1) in the loss to Acme-Delco. The host Trojans scored the win ning run in the sixth inning when Chuck Justice came home on Scott Williams' RBI-single. Kendall Kelly went the distance on the mound for Acme-Delco in getting the win while allowing six Cougar hits. Lonnie Parker also had a two-run double for Acme-Delco (2-1). Brantley Barfield's two-run hom er in the first inning helped set the stage for the Cougars' opening win Thursday. Ernie Warren scored ihc third South run on catcher Mike Clcwis' RBI-single in the second inning. Swansboro scored all its runs in the third inning. Sean Swain (1-0) was the win ning pitcher in going the distance. Barfield and Corey Brown both doubled in powering the Cougars* 1 1 -hit attack in Friday's romp. South rallied from a 2-0 first-in ning deficit to tie the game in the third with a pair of runs. The Cougars then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning and scored three more limes in the filth and two in the sixth. Swansboro managed to stay with in 8-5 with a three-run sixth inning. Thursday's Line-Score Swansboro 002 000 0 ? 2-9-3 S. Brunswick 210 000 X? 3-7-2 Friday's Line-Score S.Brunswick 002 132 2?10-11-4 Swansboro 200 003 0 ? 5- 9-4 Former Cougar Reports To Spring Training Camp Former South Brunswick Cougar and N.C. prep base ball player of the year Wynn Beck began his second profes sional season with the Oak land Athletics recently. Beck was one of 40 play ers invited to the special camp two weeks ago in Scotsdale, Az? site of Oakland's spring training camp. As a senior. Beck led the Cougars to a perfect 29-0 record and the 1988 state 2- A championship. Shortly after hnlninn hie tr*nrr? in iKn ?I;1a MIV UUV, Beck became the highest-sc lcctcd county player ever in the major league baseball am ateur draft when the A's made him the 31st overall selection. Bcck hit an amazing .505 in his senior season at South with 48 RBIs. High Bowlers Listed By Lanes Local high scores for the week of March 12 have been announced by Litlle River Lanes at Little River, S.C. Included are games of 220 or bet ter and 500-plus series. Calabash: Rhonda Sabiston, 571, 554; Marie Brown, 512, 516, 504; Adele Schneider, 582. Shallotte: Scott Decker, 259, 248, 626, 567; Gene Wayland, 528; Karen Moshoures, 244, 235, 573, 587; Rupert Bellamy, 639, 582; Bill Shoemaker, 621, 623; Janet Burgh er, 517; Chris Chappcll, 617; Bob Krausc, 579, 512; Lynn Frink, 551; Ron Decker, 590, 557; Jim Love, 561; Scott Davis, 637; Gene Jones, 562, Bill Breeding, 605, and Jeanet tc Sabiston, 510. Little River: Ernie Schubeck, 502; Mike Allsbrook, 227, 559, 590; Johnny Johnson, 531, 584, 223; Frankie Prince, 507; Robbie Robinson, 511, 529, 532; Alan Freeman, 610, 548; Buddy Stone, 577, 541; Ed Scher, 641; Pat Thom as, 612, 535; Jim Wilson, 507; Cecil Suggs, 523; Mai Evans, 245, 665, 605, 609; Randy Vcrecn, 535, Bobby Brown, 564, Gary Gurganus, 514, Anne Barnhill, 657, 254; Lee Drcyfous, 572; Ken Beaslcy, 552; Bill Hogan, 608; Pete Thomas, 538; Jimmy Tharp, 598, 516; Edwina Harrelson, 590; Dawn Baldwin, 500; Ken Freeman, 542; Matt Ma lena, 588; Bob Peterson, 577; Jim Hedrick, 531; Hank Beuke, 550; Steve Reed, 563; Bob Miller, 592; Jim Smith, 573; David Haddock, 500; Joe MAyo, 500; Larry Abrams, 565; Jody Prinze, 612; Carolyn Buck, 525; David Koch, 508; Lend sey Adams, 516; Charlie Price. 538: Arty Karlson, 518, 513; Jimmy Hankins, 503; Jerry Occllo, 560; Tim Stewart, 520; Gene Jones, 525; Eunice Voivedich, 526; Sharon Simpson, 515; Patsy Turner, 517; Barry Tucker, 508; Gerald Weber, 525; Ced Brogden, 517; Lee Carl son, 502; Robert Correll, 506; George Wendel, 558. Sunset Beach: Marty Nelson, 554, 559; Helen Nelson, 512; Doug Mchne, 546. IN CALABASH BRING HOME THEfcBEACON On Sale At A & B MART CALABASH BEVERAGE MART MIKE'S KWIK MARKET MINUTE-MAN MOORE'S GROCERY SEASHORE DRUGS SIMMON S BEVERAGE MART North Myrtle Beach Marina DRY RACK STORAGE? SPACE AVAILABLE Qf\Q O/IQ 1 HAH FUEL? SUPPLIES? ICE? MARINE STORE I^JUU PRE-SEASON VALUES ON NEW & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOATS ? 1989 CHAPARRAL 178XL. great ski & cruise. Won't last long at $4,995 ? 1989 WAHOO 16.2 STRIPER, center console, power options to 75 HP. Unsinkablel Great for family fun. Hurry, only 2 left. $6,900 ? 1986 27 FT. HARBORCRAFT Cutty with twin 1.6 OMC Seadrives. Meticulously main tained and loaded with extras. $22,900 NEXT TO RIVERBOAT RESTAURANT ? 400 YDS. N. OF LITTLE RIVER HIGH BRIDGE
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 22, 1990, edition 1
16
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