University of Virginia Library

Glovemen Boast Depth, Experience

by Randy Wert

Not only do March winds
bring April showers, but at
University Hall they also bring
bats, gloves, calisthenics and
sprints as the Cavalier baseball
squad prepares for its annual
Atlantic Coast Conference run
for the roses. Sharp breezes
and chilling rain have kept the
diamond men in the cage thus
far, but as spring approaches,
the Wahoo coaches and players
are looking for sun and rising
mercury so they can put in
some time on the luscious turf
of Lambeth Field.

Coach Jim West, embarking
upon his ninth year as head
coach, will be seeking to
improve upon his 19-14 record
of last season. The Wahoos
were 9-11 in the conference,
but produced a favorable 10-6
state at home. With his lineup
nearly set, Coach West sizes up
this year's edition with "We're
fairly tough."

Wearing the chest protector
behind the plate this year will be
Sam Beale, a third-year man. First
base is unsettled as sophomore Tom
Blackburn is waging a battle with
first-year man Charlie Williams,
VHSL Peninsula District first baseman
and batting leader last spring
at Warwick High School. First-year
man Billy Hall and Jimmy Sebo are
fighting for the job at second base
while Mike Cubbage, slugging
second year third sacker, will move
to shortstop this year. Dave Pratt
appears to have the third base job
in the bag, but according to Coach
West, Craig Wagner could push
Cubbage or Bratt for their spots,
providing depth on the left half of
the infield to complement the
bench strength on the right side of
the keystone sack.

In the outfield, Steve Bryant, an
all district choice last year, returns
to lead a group of five potential
starters who are competing for the
first three jobs. Robbin Marvin,
Mike Massamini, Steve Gardner,
and Terry Dan are all trying to
make impressions, and any of the
four could hold down a starting job

patrolling Lambeth's pasture, again
affording great depth. The pitching
corps will feature youth as its main
characteristic with the only real
veterans being team captain Rick
Spigone and Ed Kihm. Other upper
class moundsmen include Danny
Merehak and Hunter Hullar, who
was ineligible last year. A strong
group of first year hustlers are
fighting for places in the rotation.
These include Al Strange, Steve
Brindle, Don Overholser, Brian
Hillburn, and Tom Lemmer.