University of Virginia Library

Baseball Continues On Rise
Under West's Guidance

Cavalier baseball Coach Jim West
was able to parlay good pitching
and clutch hitting to make a run at
the ACC baseball title last year and
could have the material to contend
again.

After leading the ACC race for
most of the season the Cavs wilted
in some key late-season games
against Maryland, Clemson, North
Carolina and South Carolina.
Sharing fifth place with the Cavs
was N. C. State.

Players depended upon to do
well in the upcoming season include
Steve Sroba, the team's leading
hitter positioned both at first base
and in the outfield and Steve
Brindle, winningest Virginia starting
pitcher.

The team shapes up well in the
infield with returnees Tom
Blackburn, Jonathan Williams and
Bill Hall. Blackburn is an excellent
fielder at first base while Hall and
Williams held down second and
third respectively. Hall was one of
the team leaders in home runs while
Williams coupled good glovework, a
strong arm and a good batting
average.

Last year's shortstop 300 batter
Mike Cubbage, surpassed his
collegiate totals. While toiling in
Geneva, N.Y. in the Washington
Senators farm system. He was
hitting in the .380s with power at
last report.

Robbin Marvin, Terry Dan, Dave
Bratt and Sroba are all returning
outfielders, with Bratt splitting
time as a third baseman, all had
fairly good seasons last year and
will be hard to keep out of West's
day to day lineup.

Second-yearman Al Bracht is the
leading contender for the catching
assignment at this early date and
Bracht will be handling a talented
mound staff consisting of
righthander Brindle, ace reliever
Mike Judkins, Rick Temple. Brian
Hilburn, Al Strange, and Dave
Lacross. Last year's captain, lefty
starter Ed Kihm, was lost to
graduation after a fine season.

Baseball being the
non-scholarship sport it is a large
number of "walk-ons" show up
every year at the fall practices due
to start next week, and there are
always a few that survive the squad
cuts and eventually help the team.
First-year men can compete in
varsity baseball under NCAA rules
giving West, an active recruiter,
more manpower to select from
when the season opens in late
March.