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Mittmen Are Ready

By Randy Wert
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Barry Parkhill

Cagers Picked In Sixth, Eighth Rounds Of ABA Draft

Bill Gerry

Flocks of northbound birds and
lengthening days bring Coach Jim
West from the bowels of University
Hall's "Cage" to prepare for the
annual baseball wars, which in past
seasons have brought improving
fortunes for the Cavaliers.

Finishing 19-14 last year with a
fourth in an unprecedented tight
Atlantic Coast Conference race,
West's charges are rated as
contenders for this year's loop
crown. Opening their 33 game
schedule next Tuesday against the
State University College of New
York on the Lambeth Field
diamond, the Cavalier sluggers are
looking to get their offensive power
going early in the season.

Losing only centerfield all-star
Steve Bryant from last year's
ball club, West says, "One thing I
expect is that we'll be much
stronger offensively this year, even
with losing Steve." The reason he
gave is that everyone played
summer ball, including Robin
Marvin and Bill Hall, who were
named to local Valley League's
All-Star team, Coach West also
cited improved pitching as a major
factor, indicating that everyone has
acquired needed experience. "Our
infield should be solid,"
commented West, "especially up
the middle."

Looking at the players who one
baseball guide expects to take the
league pennant race to Maryland
and Clemson, Charlie Williams and
Tom Blackburn are competing at
first base, while Billy Hall seems to
have the keystone sack job locked
up as does Mike Cubbage at
shortstop. Third base is handled by
Dave Bratt with Jimmy Sebo,
Jonathon Williams, and Randy
Respess providing the relief in the
infield. A veteran outfield corps
features Marvin in Bryant's old job,
flanked by Terry Dan and
sometimes starter Mike Massimini
with Steve Gardner and Marty
Kelman backing them up. West
indicated that first yearman Steve
Sroba "looks good" in the outer
pastures. Batting 251 as a team last
year, the Cavaliers' highest
returning batsman is Cubbage, who
hit .339 (six home runs) followed
by Bratt (.260), Massimini (.250),
and Dan (.247). Cubbage also set
the school record for runs batted in
with 29.

Sammy Beale, a veteran catcher,
is being pushed by first yearman Al
Bracht for the starting assignment
behind the plate. This year's mound
corps is virtually the same with the
exception of newcomers Dave
LaCrosse and Rick Temple. Ed.
Kihm, the team captain, headlines
the pitching staff and is joined by
Rick Splgone, Steve Brindle, Al
Strange, Don Overholser, Hunter
Hollar, and Brian Hillburn. Pitching
was one of the club's strong points
last year with an earned run average
of 2.81 for the entire staff with
second yearman Brindle chalking
up the individual low at 1.98.
Spigone and Hollar won five games
apiece with Kihm victorious in four
outings and Brindle in three.

Overall, Coach West stated that
"We have more speed this year than
we have ever had and stronger
pitching. If we just get our sticks
going and get a few runs early and
get a rhythm going, we'll have a
good team. West disagrees with the
"experts" in labeling the
contenders for the conference
championship, saying that in
addition to his boys, North
Carolina should have a strong team
as well as South Carolina.

Experienced Pitchers, Clutch Hitters Return To Anchor 1971 Edition Of Baseball Team

Mittmen Host City College Of New York Next Tuesday On Lambeth Field To Open Campaign