The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 14

dB 8F THE TENNESSEAH ThurtdoJUNE 29. i989 I Claa AA Playw Vw" 1 i BPpp(ajij i Nathan Fulls Franklin County Nathan Fults is a practical thinker. The Franklin County outstanding rightfielder didn't just haphazardly decide to change his mind after signing a scholarship with Middle Tennessee State without deliberating over the situation at hand. Shortly after Fults signed with MTSU the Atlanta Braves organization drafted him in the eighth round. Fults notified MTSU he had changed his mind and would be reporting to the Braves' farm club in "I looked at the situation and realized the Braves only had one guy bat-ting above .300 on the team and I had batted .444 this past season," Fults said.

"I figured that meant I had a pretty good shot at making the team." Fults has not only made the team, he is the starting rightfielder and the team's top batter with a .333 average. He worked out a deal with the Braves which paid him $25,000 cash and $27,000 toward his college education. He will enroll at MTSU, after all, for the fall quarter. Fults, evidently, is as shrude away from the baseball field as he is talented on the diamond. Today Fults is named The Terates-sean Class AAA Midstate Player of the Year.

Jason Lane Marshall County It was no secret that when the Marshall County Tigers took the field in key games this spring, Jason Lane would be on the mound. And, it was no secret that when the Tigers needed a hit in a critical situation, they looked to Jason Lane. Just how good was Lane? He was good enough to lead the Tigers a runner-up finish in the Class AA baseball state tournament And, he was good enough to be named The Ten-nessean Class AA Midstate Player of the Year. Lane, a 6-1, 175-pound right-hander, had a 7-0 record during the 1989 season, striking out 62 batters. And the hard-throwing junior was solid at the plate, hitting at a .535 clip with seven home runs.

When he wasn't pitching, he was a key defender, filling in at both shortstop and third base. "There wasn't any more pressure than normal on us as a team this year," Lane said. "We are always expected to do well. "The one thing we wanted was to get to the state. Goodpasture kept us from going last year, and just to get the chance to play them was motivation enough for us to play well against them." Lane, as expected was on the mound when the Tigers stopped de- Jeff Roberts Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant didn't finish runner-up in the state this year with a one-man team.

But the Tigers certainly had one player they couldn't have made the state tournament without Junior pitcher-shortstop Jeff Roberts. Roberts, named The Termessean's Class A Midstate Player of the Year, had an exceptional year by any standard. He hit .406 with eight home runs. As a pitcher he posted a 6-1 record, with five saves, a 117 earned run average and 59 strikeouts in 46 ft innings. "We set our goal to go to the state," Roberts said, "and we never lost sight of it This team had more pride on it than any I've ever played on in any sport That's why we made it to the state.

"We played as a team. There was no individual star. Everyone did his part and that's what made us success fur Roberts certainly did his part Coach Eddie Bassham used him as both a starter and reliever and called on him defensively to make the big plays. "He did about everything that he could to help us," Bassham said. "As a pitcher, he could go out there and throw strikes.

Like most high school pitchers, when he could get his curveball over the plate, he was really, really effective. LANE fending state champion Goodpasture 4-3 in the state quarterfinals. He was the one player the Tigers depended on most heavily as witnessed by two of their regular-season losses coming when Lane was shelved. "He's an extraordinary athlete," said Marshall County Coach Joe George. "He had to play himself into shape twice, first coming out of basketball and then coming off his injury.

"He wasn't the only one of our players who had good years, but when he pitched, you could tell a difference in the way the rest of the team played. He instilled confidence in everyone. The team believed it was going to win every time he was pitching, and he never let us down." The Tennsssscn FIRST TEAM ff Donald Zeetc. Academy Stave Lena Co. Randy Jennfeiga OeKamCa i5 KenBrovm Wettrnoratend OF Johnson OP-OInt Patent White Hous Of Jason Lancaster.

Co. C-Mark Pickle OH Keith Stanley Page Ja3on Lane -Taytor Mitchell Wavarly Player of the Year Con ot the Year Joe George MarahaBCo. SECOND TEAM F-CurtLee. Montawy Central JoehJonee Loretto IP Steve Haagard lpemtar ff Steven Kmg Marshall Co. OF lea Trotter Waverty OF Laweori Vaughn.

OF Traoa 0m. Cheatham Co. Marty Bortefwld Page if: OH Bert Hester FaJrwew Andy McWDIIamt Waverty ftonCoteman. 1 11 m. v.u'm 5 i -K ROBERTS "When he was not pitching, he played short and we were able to have our best defensive lineup on the field," the coach added.

"Jeff also grew as a hitter. He learned to go with the pitch, and he could hit the ball to right more than before. He pulled the ball as a sophomore, but this year he had some of home runs to the opposite field." Roberts said not winning the state was frustrating, but he didn't have many regrets. "I thought we reached our potential. We went as far as we could go without winning the state, and I think we all had a season we could be proud of and look back on as being enjoyable." The A "isteia NR8TTEMI Jtmny WaS.

Forrst Brian Morrtt. Huond I6 Chris Perkins Friendship IFKevinEady Moors Ca OF Roger Burrahm Untonvffi OP Brian Buekner. Mogr Pleasant OF Todd Logan. Co. Bobby Brown DH-KevfnSnefi.

Eaghwlite RHP--Jeff Roberts Mount Pleasant DMSreg Warren. Huntland Player otthaYaar Coachof the Year Eddie Baasham Mount Pleasant SECOND TEAM FHoattiDerM. ColBrwood CMtonBrovm Mount Pleasant TMchaalTfcpa Huntland 8s Erie Hughe Mount Pleasant OFGaraW Turner. Huntland OF WadeCtwrotey Forrest OP Josh Cooper MWdlTann.Chr. lee Martin Untonvflla OH Barry Turner EagtevHe RHP--AmpSarxler UntonvtBe LHP David Blocker Richland FOR INFORMATION CALL' David C.

Mullins Bldg.200 Nashville. TN 37217 (615)366-0004 A I Cits AA Coach of th Yaw LaateakMtaailHMiHMaa Joe George, Marshall County In his 17 years as Marshall County coach, Joe George has annually made the Tigers one of the state's top teams. The 1989 season was no ex- GEORGE ception as Mar shall County posted a 26-5 record and finished as state Class AA runner-up. "We knew we had the potential, but knew we'd have to beat a good Nashville school to make it to the state. Fortunately, we edged Goodpasture (4-3).

Our program's keys continue to be community interest and good help I get from my assistants, summer league and little league coaches." 4 tClax A Craft of tti Eddie Bassham, Mount Pleasant After years of trying, Eddie Bassham got Mount Pleasant over the hump this year, steering the Tigers to a 25-3 record and a state runner-up position. BASSHAM "We've been this good before," Bassham said, "but we always had something that kept of from getting to the state. "Now, we have better athletes, they're playing good summer ball, and they played with confidence this year. For some reason, they believed they could get to the state when others didn't They got the monkey off all our backs." ri FULTS Franklin County to an unbeaten regular season as a senior. Knocking 10 home runs and a team-leading 44 RBI, Fults propelled the Rebels alj the way to the region playoff, where they were eliminated by Columbii And, apparently the Fults name will be around in baseball for yeafs to come.

Nathan believes his chances of staying in the Braves' organization are better than average. Plus, younger brother, Tony was named Franklin County's most outstanding pitcher this past season. And the Braves reportedly already have their eye on the younger Fuhs, who recorded a 10-0 record with an 0.93 ERA. Tenmssean AAA FR3TTEAM k-Eric Harris. Columbia tF MkeGertach Herxleraonvttte JF GaryPhBlpe.

Tuflahome MarkPurvia Mount Jtftet OF rttn Fufta. FranktmCo. OP Cwayne Sbertln OP Keith Crawford Columbia Suford Brewer Smyrna OH Ooug Yoong RHP David Ping Columbia IHP-Chns Coulter Player of the Year Coach of if Year RandyBretton. Columbia SECOND TEAM IF Lee Lamom Gallatin SricHott, Franklin Co. IF PhllKing Warren Ca fiF John Prioa.

Lebanon OF Trent Green, Jr. OF Craig Roavle OF Thome Stephen UmrenceCo. Sfacoy Smith. Co. OH Scott Vines.

PJHP JobyHomSey. Juliet LKP-Jamle (Cat) Walker. Warren Co. restless Rkky Rottrs Statt the Southern 18s tennis tournament liams who had knocked out No. 2 seed Woody Webb the day before.

"My size is also an advantage from the baseline, because I can take a ball high, and whip it back hard," said Williams, who said he will take a year off from school to play tennis before attending college. Van Lingen led Williams 3-1 in the first set before an afternoon shower bit halting play. After play resumed, Williams roared to win the next seven games, and took command Two seeds were upset yesterday as Chris Hayden of Alabama upended No. 8 seed Chip James 6-4, 6-3, and Beth Nietneyer of South Carolina stunned No. 3 Audra Brannon 6-4, 6-4.

-Top seeds Patel (boys) and Susan Gilchrist (girls) scored straight-set victories yesterday, advancing to today's quarterfinals which begin at 10 am Twin sisters Rachel and Rebecca Jensen, 17, of Norcross, seeded No. 6 and 7 respectively, have reached the girls quarterfinals. Sisters of top former junior players Luke and Murphy Jensen, they have moved south front Ludington, Mich, fi I u. imm THE TENNESSEAN 10 SUBSCRIBE CALL 2H-5661 OR TOLL FREE 1.80MM37. Young tennis pros make others Loans up to $500,000 Residential Commercial We can customize a loan for your individual needs Revolvinrj Credit Lines Available We Buy Mortgages Credit SERVING THE PUBLIC FOR OVER 75 YEARS unom CtaaAAACwchotttiYaar I Randy Cratton, Columbia When others didn't Randy Brattonhad confidence in this year's Columbia team.

The 38-year-old coach believed his team could be the a surprise of Dis- BRATTON Met 8-AAA this year. It was when it won the Region 4 title and earned a state tourney berth. "We had to have our pitching come through for us, and we did," said Brat-ton, a member of Franklin County's 1968 state title team. "We played well late in the season We kept getting better and better. We had some luck, but we believed in ourselves." tennial.

Stevens has roared through four rounds of straight-set victories, the latest of which was a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Alex Kaplan of Memphis who finished third in the fast-serve contest on Sunday. Williams ended the last area hope in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Van van Lingen of Brentwood. Tve really very lucky In the draw rve had," Stevens said. "My second match (against fellow Georgian Stephen McQuillen) was against a guy who just as easily could have beaten me as I could have him, but he just had an off day. "So far, I've played an opponent who had a very tough match the day before." The Irony of Williams is that at his 6-8 stature and wingspan, he would seem eager to attack the net left and right Not so, he was able to sustain his usual baseline game to beat van Lingen.

"rve stuck with a baseline game, because my volleys have been very Inconsistent and I Just don't fed confident with them, although my serve has been effective enough, "said Wil A 4 I DISCOUNTS 1 Stars Chang, Agassi motivate amateurs HAROLD HUGGINS Sports Writer The success of American teen-aged tennis talents Andre Agassi and Michael Chang isn't lost on the players in this week's Southern Closed 18s tournament Agassi, 1 9, is a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team who burst onto the scene last year and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world at one point Chang, 17, also a Davis Cup team member, won the French Open tournament earlier this month and soared to a current No. 6 ranking in the world, has also made a big mark on the sport in the past year. "I think it's a great motivator for us," said Vimal Patel, Owensboro, who is the top seed in the week-long tournament which will hold its quarterfinals today at 10 a.ra at Centennial Center.

"I used to hit with Chang earlier in juniors, and he's the same age I am (17), and it great to see him excel at the level he has," Patel added. "It was kind of surprising to see him turn pro so young, but I think if great for him. And the same with AgassL" "It's pretty incredible what they've done at that age," said Van van Lingen of Brentwood, 17, who is also the same age as Chang. "It gives you motivation, because it proves It can be done. If pretty amazing." Chuck Coleman of South Carolina, a finalist in the Tennessee high school state tournament from Chattanooga Baylor, was glad to see their success but said it didn't affect him much personally.

"It doesn't affect me that much or give me any additional Incentive," said Coleman, the No. 4 seed who beat Marshall Burroughs of North Carolina 6-3, 6-3 yesterday, "mainly because they (Chang and Agassi) are playing at a much higher level than I am. "I remember during 10s, 12s and 1 4s, they were at some of the tournaments we were in," added Coleman who is beaded to Notre Dame on scholarship. "I think if fine that they're doing well, but I dont feel any differently about it than before." "Someone like Chang showed a lot of courage to do what he did (winning the French)," said Chris Henry of MaryvUle who, like Chang, is very slight of build (5-foot-lO, 140). "He doesn't have a lot if natural power.

Chuck Coleman delivers a backhand against Marshall Burroughs in at Centennial Park. Coleman won 6-3, 6-3. up 32 TO Cgj I $2000 CLOSED DAY OF JULY 4 but it shows what we can do if we try hard enough." Paul Stevens of Georgia, the No. 7 seed, was glad for Chang's success but had a somewhat different view of it from his own perspective. "I changed my own game completely and tried to pattern myself after Chang's, playing baseline tennis, and I just got trounced following that" Stevens said.

"I finally went back to my own style. "That's not reflective at all of how I feel about his game, because it's great to see the success he's had. rve been in tournaments where Agassi and Chang and Jim Courier, who beat Agassi in the French, were playing. You could tell then that they were headed places. They are a real inspiration." Ian Williams of New Orleans, at 6-8 the tallest player in the tournament said, "If a big motivating factor for us to see them playing so well at their age.

You know you'd love to be there someday." Stevens and Williams had two of the more Impressive victories yesterday In the round-of-16 duels at Cen I. SEE ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL SALESMEN Mtt IUISwck fj UgarCttMl i III' ScoMlyrd nZZml hulCwhy A fcipll Mill I Jf rT i i A i ti 1 "HONDA MAKES THE CARS-DARRELL ftnucMy MYnf lUbcMHclild MmrictMoMt 1 1 1 i 131 am WALTRIP MAKES THE DIFFERENCE".