The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 18

I 18 Staunton. Leader. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 19T8 Whitaker has fop Bill ITIMRV season i .1. wm i i i.

i -n iminHn i.i.i... ri THE WORLD'S M0SJ TENDER BEEF-NATURAL! BEEF PRE-TENDERING PROCESS. tN PROCESS, NATUR SUPPLEMENTED BY PURE FOOD PROTEIN DERIVATIVES US NEVER BEFORE POSSIBLE. GRADE FOR GRADE AND CUT BEEF MARKETED TODAY. THIS BEEF IS AVAILABLE TO YOl: THE FINEST QUALITY OF BEEF WITH THE GREATEST VALUE.

n7 'nrw I PETER PAN II DOVE DISHWASHING Peanut Butter 267 II. Central Ave 885-5680 QT. CONT. 28 0Z.JAR () i-J 30- I rAni LVIF BOKIES out ARMOUR MEAT or BEEF MARTINSVILLE (API -Lou Whitaker tries hard not to smile when you talk to him about baseball. After all, baseball is serious business for the former Martinsville High School star.

But, despite the 20-year-old's best efforts, the smile keeps coming through because for Whitaker baseball is more than a business. It's fun. "I think that baseball will be fun until the day I retire." said Whitaker, who was the Detroit Tigers' fifth round draft choice in 1975. "But I'm not thinking about retirement, yet," he added. That's good news for the Tiger organization because Whitaker's first season as a pro was spectacular.

Playing third base for the Tigers' Class A Florida State League farm team in Lakeland, he finished the season with a .298 batting average, drove in 60 runs and stole 49 bases. He was named the league's most valuable player. "He just enjoys the game, and more importantly, he's good at it." said Jim Leland, the Lakeland Tigers manager. Whitaker takes the MVP award in stride. "I'm not saying I don't deserve it, but there are other players on my team who were just as good as I was," he said.

"He got off to a good start," said Leland of the 6-1, 170-pound Whitaker. "He just never let up. He made the big play and got the key hit when we needed it." Lakeland finished the regular season three games behind the Tampa Reds in their division but the Tigers won the post-season Florida League tournament "For a youngster he's got a lot of poise and self-assurance," Leland said. "He's confident of his ability to play and nothing seems to bother him." Whitaker, who was the Group AA Piedmont District player of the year as a high school senior in 1975, admits he's been "kind of gifted" when it comes to baseball. "I'm confident but not overconfident." he said.

"I think that it's important not to get over-confident because that's when you start making mistakes." The Detroit Tigers apparently share that confidence, because Whitaker has been invited to Detroit's winter instructional camp at St. Petersburg, Fla. The right-hander will switch from third to second base at the instructional camp. "Detroit needs a second baseman," Whitaker said. "And even though I've never played that position I'm ready to try.

I've got Eddie Brinkman (former Tiger infielder) teaching me and he's good. I hope that I can do as well." Whitaker hopes the winter league session will lead to an invitation to the Tigers' spring training camp. Leland thinks it's a definite possibility. "If he plays as well in the winter program as he did for us," Leland said, "I don't see how Detroit can deny him that opportunity." 57 12-oz PKG SLICED PORK LOIN END PORK COUNTRY STYLE 5 1Q SWEDES. COUNTRY STYLE GWALTNEY iruoiiucuwuurer zJL ib.

CHUCK StfEACS fcz7Sr BEEF 5HUKT DBS ,2 SWIFT'S THIN CUT SMOKED 3-oz IP1LEAS0E LTOYSS More r.leaf Buys! FANCY NORTH CAROLINA MUSCADINE NORTH CAROLINA RED SWEET Potatoes CRISP FRESH GREEN FRESH PAN TROUT, CROAKERS or lbs. U.S. No. 1 YELLOW FANCY VA. GROWN ACORN or BUTTERNUT HI ONIONS Satellites tie opener This past Saturday, the Satellites, defending soccer champs of last season, had to come from behind to tie a strong new Destroyers team 3-3 as Michael Bryant scored all three goals in the first game of the season.

Newton Antoniok had put his team ahead by scoring three goals for the Destroyers. The Cobras won by forfeit over the Peglegs in the other varsity game. In J.V. competition, the Cosmos, defending J.V. champions, beat the Comets 5-0.

The Suns, led by Nelson Antoniok's three goals, beat the Stars, 6-4. Ulysses Bryant scored two for the Stars in the final game of the morning. (3 lb. .57 2 lbs. 2 SAVE ON.

"Behind every great Spring Flower is a Dutch Bulb'! Plant now for next spring. On Sale now in King's New Plant Dept. Also wide selection of Healthy House Plants. SOCCER STANDINGS J.V. Cosmos Suns Stars Comets lb.

LJ LJ Peglegs 0 Cobras 1 Destroyers 0 Satellites 0 SEPT. II GAMES At John Lewis 9 Cobras vs. Destroyers to Satellites vs. Peglegs 11 Suns vs. Comets 12 Cosmos vs.

Stars.