The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 36

Lake sports The Lake Sentinel, Sunday, July 1 9, 1 998 1 4 Lemon high on potential of his son 1 1 1 111 -'HV" ing his teenage years. "You have to be realistic about everything. You have to watch your expectations for your soa I want him to enjoy his time here." Despite his own success, Chet Lemon said he never pushed his son toward basebalL "He's always given me the option to play what I wanted," David Lemon said. "There was no pressure to play baseball." As a youngster, he was a bat boy for the Detroit Tigers near the end of the father's career. "I didn't appreciate it at the time," he said.

"If I was doing it now it would mean a lot more." One of David's closest friends is Tim Raines Jr. Raines' dad is a veteran major-leaguer from Sanford who is now with the New York Yankees. The younger Raines was picked in the sixth-round last June by the Baltimore Orioles. "We can relate real well because we're both players' sons," David Lemon said. "We have this understanding on how it is." The younger Lemon transferred to Eustis last year after playing at Seminole High School and Florida Air Academy his first two years.

He said he loves Eustis and Lake County. "Academically, Eustis is as good as Florida Air A-cademy," he said. "The kids around here are great." The Eustis team has the potential to compete for the Class 4A title this spring. The sqaud has other top players including, Mike Stavey, Keith Sommer, Travis Rios, Clint Vaughn and Bryan Haines. "We have all matured over last year," David Lemon said.

"If Eustis is going to win the state, this is the year. Some of our better players are coming into their own." Winning a state title and getting drafted in the same season: If that happens, David Lemon's dream would become a reality. "David is a kid with major tools that they look for in the major leagues," Lee said. "You can't coach speed. Lots of times he'll make plays in the outfield where you thought he had no chance." At times being the son of a major leaguer can cause an identity crisis, David Lemon said.

"At first when people meet me they think of me as Chet Lemon's son," he said. "When they get to know my dad and they know me as David Lemon. If I don't produce scouts won't keep coming just because I'm the son of Chet Lemon." Chet Lemon said he is teaching his son about the value of base running. David Lemon had 40 stolen bases to lead Central Florida. In the spring he will try and break Brant Blake's school record of 52 thefts.

"David has more direction and stresses some things that I did not," Chet Lemon said. "He has a gift of really running welL They never told me how important it was that I ran welL "He's picking up things faster than I did as a kid," he said. "One of his strengths is that he works really hard." David Lemon's baserunning has made the Panthers a better team. "Every time David gets on base he's definitely a threat," his dad said. "The next batter will get fast balls to hit, as will David when the pitcher gets behind in the count" The elder Lemon rarely talks about his professional accomplishments.

He hopes his son follows his example. "I constantly try to remind him of little things that will make him a better person, not just a better ballplayer," he said. "When you do something well you can think too much of yourself. I don't want him to appear cocky." Like any parent he wants David to have fun dur Chet was a major leaguer for 16 seasons and David is entering his senior year at Eustis, hoping to be drafted high next summer. By Robert Plncus SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL UMATILLA Like most sons, Eustis High School senior David Lemon wants to do better than his father.

His dad, Chet, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox as the 13th pick in the first round and played 16 years in the major leagues. "I think about the draft a lot," David said. "It's a motivational factor for me." Chet Lemon was a first-round pick and "it would be nice to be picked higher than him in the top 10," the younger Lemon said. Chet Lemon said his 16-year-old son is the type of player fans and scouts alike will watch. "If David continues to improve this year he will have an opportunity to be a top pick," he said.

"I enjoy watching David play. When he hits a ball in the gap he has a shot at a triple. That's exciting. "The way he plays the outfield is exciting. He can track down a sure double and catch it" The odds of David signing a professional contract after next June's draft are very good.

"If you're really serious about being a pro athlete and you are a top pick, you sign and then go to school," Chet Lemon said. "If you sign for a decent amount of money it will give you an opportunity to eventually make the big club." Eustis manager David Lee has no doubt Lemon will be drafted. SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL A father's legacy 3 players from Lemon's school were drafted in June Chet Lemon played 16 seasons in the major leagues, casting his lot with the White Sox and Tigers. His son, David, has his eye on next year's draft. Year Team Avg.

Hits 2B HR RBI 1975 Chicago (A) .257 9 2 0 1 1976 Chicago (A) .246 111 15 4 38 1977 Chicago (A) .273 151 38 19 67 1978 Chicago (A) .300 107 24 13 55 1979 Chicago (A) .318 177 44 17 86 1980 Chicago (A) .292 150 32 11 51 1981 Chicago (A) .302 99 23 9 50 1982 Detroit .266 116 20 19 52 1983 Detroit .255 125 21 24 69 1984 Detroit" .287 146 34 20 76 1985 Detroit .265 137 28 18 68 1986 Detroit .251 101 21 12 53 1987 Detroit .277 130 30 20 75 1988 Detroit .264 135 29 1 7 64 1989 Detroit .237 98 19 7 47 1990 Detroit .258 83 16 5 32 Totals .273 1,875 396 215 884 "Hustle doesn't cost you a dime and it looks good. It may only be one time that a scout sees you." Lemon deals with his players very much like Sparky Anderson, his manager at Detroit. "I've always tried to be a straight shooter with our guys," Lemon said. He said the key to his success is that he loves helping the kids. "The coaches who are player-coaches are the ones who are liked the most," Lemon said.

"My players can come and tell me anything. They respect that. I'll tell them tough things they have to improve on, but I will also put my arm around them and tell them they are doing well." Lemon has involved some of the Eustis players in his AAU program. Besides his son, Mike Stavey and Travis Rios also played with his team during trips this summer. "AAU is fast being the best ball 'in the state, and Chet is the main reason," Lee said.

tions on kids, how do you know what they can do?" Lemon said. Lee admitted the elder Lemon has changed him as a coach. "Chefs biggest impact is that he is always positive all the time," Lee said. "He's impacted me in the sense that I find myself being more positive after being around him." For his part, David Lemon said, "I play a lot better when my dad is watching. I haven't played at the same school two years in a row, so it's nice having someone there who knows what I can do." Chet Lemon is considered one of the best defensive outfielders of all time.

So it was natural for him to work with Eustis' defense. "By choice he worked on defense a lot. He helped us in all facets of the game," Lee said. "I put no restrictions on what he could do." Chet Lemon stresses playing the game hard at all times. "I tell the kids that they have to hustle all the time," he said.

manager David Lee about helping coach at the high school. "It was really attractive to have someone of his stature express interest in helping us," Lee said. He appreciated the reception the high school players have shown him. "I enjoyed coaching the kids at Eustis because they were like sponges," Lemon said. "They listened and they worked hard." His son said the team has built a rapport with his dad.

"They realize he has the experience of a major league baseball player." Lee said Lemon never flaunted his major league status, but his players were impressed anyway. "It gives him instant credibility with the kids," Lee said. "They will instantly believe him. Chet is very informative on the game and gets along with the kids." Lemon was comfortable with Lee's style of coaching at Eustis. Lee allows his players to be aggressive, he said.

"If you put too many restric LEMON from 1 "The brand of AAU baseball is good because the only requirement is age," Lemon said. "In Little League and Babe Ruth, kids are restricted where they could play, AAU allowed us to have the players we were teaching play on a team. "In AAU you have kids that want to be here, not because they have to be," he said. "High school is just as rewarding because they are the same kids." Three players from Lemon's school were drafted in June. Ben Knapp and Tim Raines Jr.

were drafted by Baltimore, while Clyde Williams was nabbed by Montreal. Lemon's son David came to Eustis after playing at Seminole High School and Florida Air Academy his freshman and sophomore years, respectively, after the Lemons made plans to build a home, one of Lake County's largest. Lemon then approached Eustis Led the majors; "Won World Series. Source: Sentinel research Early booster returns to teach youth Soccer instruction gets a European twist By Joe Williams George Sasvari brings his professional camp staff to fertilize the flourishing soccer community. By Joe Williams OF THE SENTINEL STAFF OF THE SENTINEL STAFF LEESBURG George Sasvari, who was heavily involved with soccer during its infancy in Lake County, will return to the area next month to put on a week-long soccer camp at Hicko- 13) and Elite (14-18).

The fee for the Select and Premier divisions is $165 and the Elite division is $185. Camp is from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the younger groups and until 3 p.m. for the Elite players.

In addition to on-the-field instruction, the Elite players will also receive classroom instruction in soccer strategies and college preparation. Ultimate Touch's developmental staff includes Paul Mariner as director of technical training, Jans Bos as director of tactical training and several other coaches who have coached or played on the national level in Europe and the United States. Mariner played for England in the 1982 World Cup and scored 14 goals in 35 international games. He has played in more than 500 Premier League games in England for Arsenal and Ipswich Town, where he was part of the team that won the FA Cup and the European's Champions League Cup. Bos is the full-time coach of Sc.

Heerenveen in Holland's professional Premier division and is part of Holland's national coaching staff. The camps are for serious players who want to develop their skills. "We are not something for everybody," Sasvari said. "The whole idea is trying to create a situation where the players feel like they have learned quite a bit about the game by the end of the week." Players wanting more information on the camp or to register can contact Beucher at (352) 324-3644 or UTI's office at (941) 643-5654. camps.

The whole goal is to get involved with the communities. "Some places, I fly up and work with the club teams on almost a monthly basis." Sasvari came to Lake in 1986 and immediately started coaching in the Leesburg Soccer Club. He took on Leesburg's girls program in its first year (1988) moved to the boys team the following year. He also worked as LSC's director of coaching until 1990 when he moved to Seminole County. He stayed active in soccer coaching at Lake Mary, becoming vice-president of community programs for Post-To-Post Soccer Camps, a program that was run by Robbie Stahl and his former wife, Michelle Akers.

Savari moved to Naples three years ago and established Ultimate Touch International. "My mother still lives there so I get up there three or four times a year," Sasvari said. "I have stayed aware of what has happened to soccer in the area. "I have been reading about the success of the girls soccer program at Leesburg and the boys team. I was sorry to see Larry Butler had to step down as the boys coach because of health problems." This will be Sasvari's first chance to work with Lake youngsters since he left the area.

The camp was arranged through Jayne Beucher, the president of Lake Soccer League. Though the camp is being sponsored by the league and Leesburg Soccer Club, it is open to all boys and girls. There will be three divisions: Select (8- to 12-year-olds), Premier (11- has been conducting camps in the United States for the 16 years. "We try to make it a lot of fun for the kids," said Trevor Parker, director of promotions for Britannia. "We work on a different technique every day but we do it with a lot of games.

The kids don't realize they are learning a skill." The coaches will stay with parents of participants during their stay in Lake County, Parker said. Each coach holds a European coaching license, has played professionally or semiprofessionally and is a certified instructor. The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and the fee will be $140 for the week.

In addition to the camp for youngsters, the coaches will conduct one or two free parentcoach clinics at night. For more information on the Britannia Soccer Limited camp, call Linda Wilson at (352) 343-1144. For more information on the Ultimate Touch International, call Jayne Beucher at (352) 324-3644 or (941) 643-5654. TAVARES With the World Cup completed, Americans are getting used to soccer with international flavor. Lake County will get a taste of the soccer craze when two youth camps are held next month in Lake County.

The camps will come on the heels of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game Aug. 2 in the Citrus Bowl. Both camps feature international coaches. Ultimate Touch International will come to Hickory Point's Lake Soccer League Complex, Aug. 3-7.

The other, Britannia Soccer Limited, will come to the Golden Triangle YMCA the same week. Britannia's coaching staff includes licensed coaches from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Britannia has brought in 150 British coaches to run 425 week-long camps that will have an enrollment of about 20,000 youngsters between 5 and 16. Britannia iiii.BimMif niiHMiiMi ry Joints L.aKe boccer League Complex. Sasvari was the first coach of Leesburg High School's girls soccer team and also coached the school's boys team.

He was director of coaching for the Leesburg Soccer Club and now runs Ultimate Touch International Soccer Training Centers in Naples. He is returning to put on the camp in conjunction with the Lake Soccer League and Leesburg Soccer Club. The camp will be Aug. 3-7 and is for players of all ages. Sasvari uses American and foreign coaches on his staff and his company has conducted camps around the country.

"We bring in a high-level staff," said Sasvari, president and CEO of Ultimate Touch International. "We try to do as much as we can to help clubs in the area where we put on the BASEBALL THE BASEBALL FACTORY, an Indoor training fa-cllity. has openings tor evenings and weekend instruction for players 6 and up in baseball and Softball. Hitting, pitch- fng and fielding and other fundamentals are stressed. The school is in Tavares at Old 441 and Fairview Avenue.

De-' tails: Jack Smith (352) 343-0011. PRIVATE INSTRUCTION is offered by Jon Updike, iwho has experience in the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers organizations. Specializing in pitching, catching and arm strength. Call (904) 532-1071. BASKETBALL SATURDAY NIGHT Basketball is offered by the Mount Dora Recreation Department at Mount Dora Middle School from 6-1 1 m.

Register at the door. There is no fee. Gymnastics Academy In Tavares on Tuesdays and Thursdays In several age groups beginning at 13-36 months through 10 years and up. Information: (352) 343-1961. PHYSICALS EUSTIS HIGH'S football team will receive physicals on Aug.

1. All players should report to the weight room by 10 a.m. and they will be transported by bus to Leesburg High School for the physicals. Details: Coach Rick Darlington (352) 483-2659. LEESBURG HIGH sports physicals will be Aug.

1 at the school. All female athletes should be at the school at 7:30 a.m. and all boys at 9 a.m. The physicals are free and are required for athletic eligibility. Details: Larry Butler (352) 787-5047.

SOUTH LAKE HIGH'S physicals for athletes will be given Aug. 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the school's gymnasium. Forms are available at the school office. There is a $5 charge for the physicals.

Details: (352) 394-2100. Information to be published In FY should be sent to The Lake Sentinel Sports Department at SOS West Main St, Leesburg, 34748, and should Include the name end phone number of contact person. Items fso can be taxed to (352) 365-2733. BOWLING EUSTIS LANES offers a Municipal League and a Business League. The Municipal League is offered for city employees of Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, Leesburg, Umatilla or Sorrento.

The League will run for 24 weeks. The Business League is Wednesday nights at 6:45. The league will be mixed handicap and each bowler rolls three games. Details: Glenn Phillips at Eustis Lanes (352) 589-2500. A MUNICIPAL LEAGUE is offered at Clermont Lanes.

City employees of Clermont, Groveland, Minneola, Mascotte and the Town of Montverde can participate. The League is 12 weeks long. Details: Clermont Lanes (352) 394-2566 or Ron Figueroa (352) 429-2141. MOUNT DORA Recreation is offering bowling classes on Saturdays at the Triangle Lanes. Lessons for 3-to 11-year-olds are at 10 am and 11-18 at 12:15 m.

BOWUNG LESSONS are being offered at Eustis Bowling Lanes for children. Two age groups, 5-11 and 11-18. Lessons are on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Cost: $5 per week. Details: (352) 589-2500.

CAMPING SILVER SAMS No. 1 of Good Sam Club meets on the first Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the month call West Orange Baptist Church (407) 656-9749. LAKE COUNTY Bass Trackers Is looking for members. Club meets once a month and holds a club tournament monthly. Contact Cecil Key, (352) 357-8567.

LAKE COUNTY Bass Busters is looking for members. The dub fishes monthly tournaments on the second Sunday and meets the first Monday of the month at the Eagles Club on U.S. 27, south of Leesburg. Contact Bobby Isom, (352) 753-3500. GOLF THE AMERICAN Cancer Society is selling its 1998 annual big book of golf.

There are 20 courses In Lake and Sumter counties included in the book, which has a total of 350 courses, Including some in parts of Georgia and Alabama. Call (352) 589-7434. THE 1998 Goff Privilege Card is on sale for $25. When three books are purchased the fourth is free. There are 19 goff courses In Lake and Sumter counties included.

All told there are 400 courses listed in the state. Call (407) 898-3401 or fax orders by calling (407) 894-0493. GYMNASTICS SUMMER CLASSES will be offered at Wiseman's 1 and Is looking for new members. Call Ed Creamer at (352) 357-5160 or Sylvia Strawser at (352) 394-6268. FOOTBALL YOUTH FOOTBALL for ages 13-15 is being formed in the Leesburg area.

Those Interested need to call Pemell Mithcell at 728-9860. TAVARES YOUTH FOOTBALL registration for players and cheerleaders from 7-14 years old is being held at the Tavares Civic Center. Fees: $45 for first child, $35 for other children In the family. Register July 25 and Aug. 1 from 9 a.m.-noon.

Details: (352) 360-3654. FISHING THE FOURTH ANNUAL Big Bass Tournament is by Harris Chain Bassmasters will be held Sept. 26 at Buzzard Beach on Lake Eustis in Tavares. Fee: $75 per boat. One bass per boat allowed.

Payback Is $1 ,600 guaranteed for first, $700 for second and $400 for third. Register by mail or at the ramp the day of the tournament. Details: Fred Seltenright (352) 343-7058 or Chet Wagner (352) 343-7525. THE CENTRAL Florida Christian Bass Club Is accepting new members. The club fishes on the last Saturday of each month.

Contact: George Morneau (352) 242-1254 or -X i BIKING THE WMBC Bike Club of Lake County is looking for new members who can enjoy fitness and skill every week. Both road and mountain bikers are welcome. Call 1 Bob Porter at (352) 589-6418 or David Cleaver at (352) 589-2695..