The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 43

THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMAN Section Hard Work Western Heights Heeds a Star ineup Marks All Marathons From Page 1C tic. as an En glishman, Steve Baker had no reason to know of Andrew Payne's acnievemem. nut as a marathoner, he ap propriately in awe of what Payne did 55 years ago. He just would never want to repeat it. "Physically, I might to do that," said Baker, who ran his 18th Oklahoman Names '83 All-Staters By Dave Pego Class 3A state champion Western Heights heads The Sunday Oklahoman's 1983 High School Baseball All-State selections with three team members and the Coach of the Year, Dewayne White.

Sperry's Jay Eddings was named as the starting pitcher for the 1983 team and also is The Sunday Oklahoman Prep Baseball Player of the Year. Eddings and eight other players were named to a starting lineup, although the honorary team will never play a real game together. They are joined by 16 other baseball players who would fill out a squad any coach would be glad to have. Byng catcher Jeff Case is The Sunday Oklahoman's choice as the other half of the 1983 All-State pitching battery. Case, a right-handed hitter, batted .358 in his senior season with 34 runs batted in and seven homers.

He also had two triples and 13 doubles. "Jeff is a good defensive catcher who loves to play the game," his coach, Benny Looper, says. Going around the infield, beginning at first base, are Kevin Adkins of Midwest City, Steve Hecht of Tulsa Union, Kevin Burdick of Prvor and marathon Saturday "But mentally no way. You'd have to lie half crazy to do some thing like that." of us, of course, think the same of any one who will do what Baker did Saturday. Running 26 miles is not something that sounds reasonable, or possible, not as long as gasoline stays under a eallon.

The history of the marathon is enough to tell you that. It is named for a solider who ran from the battlefields at Marathon to Athens to report a great victory. Jeff Deckard of Yukon. Adkins was the Oklahoma City Times Big All-City Co-Player of the Year. The left-handed Bomber first baseman batted .363 with four homers and 28 RBI.

He also proved a capable pitcher in the clutch, compiling a 5-2 record with Yukon Midwest City Tulsa Union Byng He made it and dropped dead. From that alone, one wipuld assume that a marathon represents the ultimate in human aches and pain. Back in April, Baker 52 strikeouts in 41 innings. He was the winning pitcher in the game which put Midwest City in the state finals and won two games on one day in regional play. Adkins not only was a three-year baseball starter, but a three-year honor society member.

Second baseman Hecht hit .440 as a iunior. then Sperry Pitcher Eddings Chosen Player of Year wouio nave tended to agree. He clipped off the first 22 miles in 1:58 in the Boston Marathon, Eddings certainly was ready. He struck out 15 batters in a first-round game, then came back two days later to pitch a masterful 12 innings of relief, striking out 24 batters to give Sperry a trip to the finals with a 14-inning victory over Stroud. came back with a .360 effort this year.

A righthander who hits lefty, Hecht stole 26 bases while using his 3.6 speed from home to first. In his last two years at Union, Hecht was named to six all-tournament teams and made all-Tulsa both seasons. Burdick only struck out one time all year while batting .417 for Pryor. A great defensive short perhaps the world most famous "foot race. He seemed headed "for a 2:22 pace, which would have been his all-time best.

Then he hit the stop, the right-hander also was among the state's best pitchers, having struck out 84 batters in 49 innings while compiling a 1.43 earned run aver Eddings has signed a letter-of-intent to play baseball for the University of Oklahoma, but he longs for a professional career. "A couple of pro teams have contacted me and wanted to know what it would take to sign me, but I don't think they will offer me that much," he said. "I just plan to go to college and wait until after my junior year. That's when I'd like to sign." Eddings has wanted a pro career ever since he began playing at the age of seven. He was so good then, he played in a league for nine and 10-year-olds.

"They started pitching me, so my dad bought a book about pitching," the youngster recalls. "He taught ine how to pitch from a book." The book was a good investment, and several high school coaches probably will want to know if Jay's dad still has it lying around the house "wall." He hit it, By Dave Pego Sperry's Jay Eddings is as proud of his team's three consecutive state titles as he is of his personal statistics. But the individual figures The Sunday Oklahoman's Prep Baseball Player of the Year has compiled as a pitcher are astounding. Eddings has a 47-4 career record and compiled an earned run average below 0.69 in four years of pitching for Sperry. During his senior season, he struck out 144 batters in S5 innings while walking only eight batters.

As if that wasn't enough, he also played in the field and batted .518 with 29 runs batted in. The only two games Eddings'lost while pitching in his senior year were an error-plagued, 3-2 decision to Asher and a 1-0 loss to Claremore Sequoyah in the first-round of the regionals. But when state tournament time rolled around, age. Burdick had a 28-4 record in three years at Pryor, leading his team to three straight conference titles. He is a 4.0 student, who made honorable mention in All-State football and basketball.

Deckard led the Oklahoma City area in homers propria tely enough, on Heartbreak Hill. "It was like somebody 'turned off the Steve said. "One minute I.was cruising along, the "Really, I expected they would hit me a little better than that at the state tournament," the modest Eddings said. But nobody hits him well. Mixing consistent knee-high fastballs with sharp-breaking curves, Eddings wowed college and pro scouts alike.

One radar gun had him hitting 90 mph. and on the day he struck out 24, he was still being recorded at 86-88 after 12 weary innings. with 10 while hitting .465 for Yukon. He also had a 4-0 pitching record with a 1.94 earned run aver age. His powerful bat drove in 54 runs, but he also had the speed to steal 20 bases.

Sunday Oklahoman's All-State Baseball Team rne starting outfield lias Tulsa Memorial Gary Geiger in left field, Rodney Moore of Western Heights in center and Brad Robinson of Ed-mond in right field. Geiger, the son of the former Boston Red Sox player of the same name, hit .472 with eight flONOKABLK MENTION Kenny Borne. 2B-SS-3B. McAhrttor; Ricky Doll. ID- homers and 36 RBI.

He had a 10-1 pitching record with an 0.74 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 66 innings. Moore hit .515 with four homers and 48 RBI. An Flntchur: Steve Bird. P. Edmond; Larry Bofeo.

C-OF. Wetlston: Mar Orond. C. Cleveland: Ryan Branson. P.

8neron-Mutual; Mark DrMdlnij. IB. Mnrmum; Steve Brock. P-3B. Otckaon; Billy Brown.

C. Lawton; Daw) Carr. C. Fori Gibson: Rlc Cerrtger. Claremore Sequoyah; Terry Carter, 28, Seminole; Brad CUmnw, P-C.

Grand Nold; David Clifton. 3B. Indiano- ln: RuMv Cotanuin Nevcjut: MHa Cotoin. SS. OkmukM Own.) .465 ox.

exceptionally quick outfielder, he is headed to Seminole Junior College. Robinson's strong throwing arm was shown when he pitched a no-hitter this year and compiled a 5-1 mound record with a 2.27. The Edmond Northwmil; Crikj Oevt. OF. Moore; Eddie Dewberry, 2B.

Ard-nn Duckett. OF. El Reno: Dusty Ran Eby. SS, Enid: Hurry Factor, mlnole: John Faulkner. OF, Sand Springe; Gilbert Floroi.

--SS-: Kenny Fortner. 1B-CF. Stonewall; Jeffrey Funk. IB. Folt.

ntwbkjm. OF, Edmond; Hooter Gray. OF, Cntooas; Brad Ham-I, Tulsa Kelley; Jeff Hammontree. OF. Sperry; David Hampton.

Doug Have. 2U-SS-P, Washington; Bryan Hlckerson. 2B. Ooto- .358 mood. The Starters f'os.

Player, School CF Rodney Moore, Western Heights SS Kevin Burdick, Pryor RF Brad Rohinson, Edmond LF Gary Geiger, Tulsa Memorial 3B Jeff Deckard, Yukon IB Kevin Adkins, Midwest City 2B Steve Hecht, Tulsa Union Jeff Case, Byng Jay Eddings, Sperry The Reserves Alan Mauney, Bixby Rudy Quintero, Western HeiRhts IF Mike Colpitt, Okmulgee IF John Marsh, Tulsa Eastwood IF Bruce Morain, Norman IF Mike Shambaugh, Jay OF Kyle Irvin, Tulsa Union OF Rod Kelly, McAlester OF Randall King, Sand Springs OF Bobby Riley, Stroud Billy Dan Brady, Healdton Brian Gore, Taloga Danny Kennedy, Western Heights Randy King, Tulsa Rogers Clifton Tofpi, Southeast Sam Wallace, Ardmore Klligore. P. Moore: David King 2B. Crowds Oevtd King. 1B.

Northeast: Ed KoenK). IB. Tula Memorial; Jeff Lax. IB. Lawton: Tony Llttreii, OF, Dei City; Joft Locke.

OF. tuttle; Kelly Meddoux, Catoosa: Bred Msronoy, SS. Cnahlon; Darren Martin. OF. Letta; Chtla McCartney, OF, Pawhuaka: Tony Mlnard.

2B. Soulheatl: Robert Murdera. 3D. Cleveland: Mark Nelma. OF, Norman; Jim Ovarturf.

SS. Tula Andy Perdue, IB. Tony Podon. OF-P. Stllwafl; Cnl Pender.

OF. Plalrrvtew; Chrta Ralnbott. CordoJI; Todd Rapp, SS, Fort Cobb: Todd Ray. OF, Eafcly; Jaasa Ronschler, P. Tulsa Central: Barry Rich.

S8, Bokchlto; Todd Rogera, C. Taluga; Mike Saloxar. 2B. Stroud: Kevin Sears, SS, Quthrln; Byron Shoumnker. 3B.

Newcastle: Jack Sloan, 20. Klnta: Kelly 8mlth, Duncan: senior hit .435 with six homers and 45 RBI. He also stole 28 bases. The other 16 players on The Sunday Oklahoman team include 15 seniors and the only underclassmen on the squad, sophomore pitcher Brian Gore of Taloga. The reserve catchers are Alan Mauney of Bixby and Rudy Quintero of Western Heights.

Mauney hit .392 with three homers and 22 RBI and was Heteno-Oottry; Jeff Thompson. SS-P, Gnyder; Miles Thompson, tnln View; Jort Turtle. C. Kansas: Andy Vloedman. OF-P.

Pulnar Jell Walling, OF. Asher; Ftocky Ward, Stinwaler; Adam West, nrt; RusMirWhltaolde, SS. Meeker; John Wilson. SS-P. Coyto.

Tlrr 3B. Colllnovtlle; Doug Winters. Colllnavllle; Scott Wood. Cusi Yochem. 2B, Mnson.

next i was running ia-minute miles." The "wall" is the point that a runner knows he is through. Although most experienced marathon runners say they get a physical and emotional "charge" from running, they all think about hitting the wall. Most of them dread it. Not so for Judy Huber, a school teacher from Norman who won the women's division of Saturday's marathon. It was her second marathon within seven days and her fifth this year.

She, too, ran at Boston and achieved her fastest time ever, 3:03. "I've never hit the wall," she said wistfully. "Actually, I think I'm looking forward to it." Andrew Payne, of course, must have hit many walls as he wore out five pairs of running shoes. As March turned to April and April to May in 1928, the competition in the Bunion Derby slowly and steadily faded. The two Hopi Indians dropped out at Chicago.

They couldn't (ke the big city. In Toledo, Payne took over be lead from an Englishman and was comfortably in front by the time he reached Oklahoma running along Route S6-. 5: After two months of Steady running, Payne Covered 68 miles in one llay in Pennsylvania, JVhen he reached Madison Square Garden, he Sid a 20-mile "last lap" around a board track. Payne used his $25,000 I selected to the Oklahoma-California All-Star team. Quintero was .429 for Western Heights with 53 RBI and five homers.

Reserve infielders include Mike Colpitt of Okmulgee, John Marsh of Tulsa Eastwood, Eruce Morain of Norman and Mike Shambaueh of Jay. THE JUWtOfta, Boo Buck, P-1B, Perklna-Ti ryon: Lea Dnvla. IE 13-2 Soph. 11-1 12-1 Jott Gunter. 1B-P.

Antlers; Jerry Hammon id Rhoulaton, Seminole; Phil Roach. C. eon, OF. Ardmore. Mr.

8-Y SS, 8tllhw Sr. 11-2 THE SOPMOKOdU: Doug Aplln. Bli Jay Eddings, Sperry Player of the Year Mowery, 8S, Oweaao. Sr. 14-1 THE FRESHMZM: Richard Johnson, 3B-8S-P, Dinger.

All are shortstops except Shambaugh, who played first base. Colpitt batted .444 with six homers, four triples and seven doubles. Marsh batted .579 with six homers and 33 RBI. Morain hit .333 for Norman with 18 RBI and is headed to Wichita State University to play colle-giately. Shambaugh hit .595 and did not strike out Summer Pays Off For Jets' White during all of 1983.

The reserve outfielders are Kyle Irvin of Tulsa Union, Rod Kelly of McAlester, Randall King of Sand Springs and Bobby Riley of Stroud. Irvin, headed to Oklahoma on a football schol arship, hit .398 and also had a 10-1 pitching record with 10 saves. Kelly had a .464 batting average with 12 homers and 60 RBI, along with 48 steals. Randall King batted .482 with 39 RBI and 35 steals. Riley, an all-around athlete who was an All- State footballer, averaged 29.5 points in basketball and won three state track titles, hit .561 with 34 RBI for Stroud.

The reserve pitchers are Billy Dan Brady of Healdton, Gore of Taloga, Danny Kennedy of By Dave Pegn Dewayne White found out pood high school baseball coaches don't got full summer vacations. That's why the Western Heights coach is The Sunday Oklahoman's Prep Baseball Coach of the Year for 1983 after claiming the Class 3A title, White spends the summer drilling his youngsters as an American Legion baseball coach, The Legion season prepares them for the school year and vice versa, "During the summer, we teach the kids all of our signals and bunt rotations," White explained. "Most of our teaching is usually done during Legion ball. That cuts down on the time we need when January arrives," White firmly believes the Jets' march to their school's first state title in any boys sport began with last year's American Legion squad. After finishing 18-17 In last year's school baseball season, the same youngsters caught fire and finished as the AA state runnorsupHvith a 12 record.

1 "The kids reached their potential during the summer and that's when they got their confidence up," White said. White has coached this year's state title team through two summers of Lefjion baseball, He did not. handle the team three years ago, and regretted it when the squad recorded that 18-17 mark. "I thought I'd trying something new so I umpired that summer," the Western Heights coach explained. "But I learned my lesson.

They've got to have good instruction in the summer." Western Heights is the state's newest baseball power and under White the school has built one of the state's best baseball parks with new. fencing and lights. Plans are In the works for now bleachers and a press box. "It's hard to say if we're going to be a baseball power for long, but this was our third trip to the state tournament In the last seven years," White said. "All we can do is try keep winning out here;" He'll be working with the youngsters this summer to try to make it happen.

western rteignts, i-canciy King oi imsa ttogers, Clifton Tofpi of Southeast and Sam Wallace of Ardmore. Brady was 13-2 in his senior year with a 1.37 earned run average, including 177 strikeouts and just 44 walks in 97 innings. Gore, who no-hlt Asher with 18 strikeouts in the Class semifinals, had a 141 record with 250 strikeouts in 161 innings and an 0.87 ERA. Kennedy, the Co-Big All-City Player of the Year, was 12-1 with 116 strikeouts in 79 innings. King had three career no-hitters and eight one-hitters, but lost five games to pitchers throwing shutouts during his 8-7 senior year.

He had 155 strikeouts in 96 innings. Tofpl was U-2 with a 1.57 ERA and also batted .410 for the year. Wallace was 14-1, his only loss of the year coming in the state tournament. The Ardmore pitcher struck out 147 batters in 93 innings and had an 0.45 earned run average. nrsi prize to purcnase a new car, a 1928 roadster, and pay off the mortgage on his family's.

farm. Later he entered Oklahoma politics. I In one of his last interviews before his death in t'977, Payne declared, rather run 40 miles a day than chop cotton." Agony, of course, is relative. But after switching the field of marathoners try to come back to life Saturday, chopping cotton doesn't fiound so bad. You don't even have to be able to trot to do that, Dewayne White, Western Heights 1903 Sunday Oklahoman Coach of the Yonr.