Tuesday, August 02, 2011
High school notebook: Former coach steps back in to lead Glenvar softball
The Roanoke Times
Glenvar softball coach Mike East
varsity.roanoke.com
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Correction (Aug. 4, 2011: 8:45 a.m.): The number of Group A runner-up finishes for the Glenvar High softball program was incorrect in previous versions of this story, which has been corrected, as has the job status for former Glenvar softball coach Spike Harrison. | Our corrections policy
Mike East has been named the new softball coach at Glenvar High School.
East, who coached the Highlanders for two seasons (1999-2000), replaces Spike Harrison, who retired last month after a 25-year tenure.
East, 60, who retired from public school teaching after 36 years, said he plans to coach the Highlanders at least through the 2016 season.
"I told them I would commit for five years if nothing happened," he said Monday.
Harrison, who started Glenvar's program in 1984 before stepping aside for three years to serve a term on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, turned the Highlanders into a dominant force in Group A softball.
Glenvar won five state titles, including three in four years, and had four state runner-up finishes under Harrison.
Glenvar finished 14-10 this spring, losing to Virginia High in the Group A quarterfinals.
"There's been a little slippage," Harrison said. "We were only five games above .500 for the last couple of years."
Harrison, 67, also said his age was a factor.
"I'm over at third base and I'm giving away how good the hitters are by how far back I am," he said. "If there's a good pull-hitter with some power, I'm about 20 feet behind third because I can't get out of the way of the darn thing anymore.
"It just seemed the time. It was the end of my five-year contract having what I was getting the extra pay for, the early retirement pay for."
Harrison was pleased to see the job go to East, for whom he was an assistant in 2000. East occasionally has pitched batting practice to the Highlanders in recent years.
"He knows the players. He knows the system," Harrison said. "I was very happy when they said he would be the one to get the job."
Radford to induct seven to athletic hall of fame
Seven people will be inducted into the Radford High School athletic hall of game during an Aug. 27 ceremony.
The inductees include:
- The late William Showalter (class of 1938), who played football, basketball and baseball and was later a football All-American at Milligan (Tenn.). He became a teacher and coach in Florida. His son is Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
- Ruth Hammack Alexander (class of 1956), a standout basketball player who also played volleyball, field hockey and softball. In 1972, she became the first women's athletic director at the University of Florida. In 1974, she was appointed to the Council for Physical Fitness by President Gerald Ford.
- Jim Johnson (class of 1968), a two-way football lineman who later played at the University of Virginia. He won a state discus championship six weeks after dislocating his throwing arm, setting a school record of 151 feet, 5 inches. He went on to practice law in Roanoke.
- Roger Hughett (class of 1975), a four-year basketball star who played at James Madison. He scored 1,448 high school points, was twice chosen all-state and was an honorable mention high school All-American.
- Laura Barta (class of 1986), who won 11 varsity letters in basketball, volleyball and tennis. She was a member of four different Group AA championship teams -- two in basketball and one each in tennis and volleyball. She was chosen to play in the VHSCA basketball game.
- Larry Mannon, who coached seven sports, including basketball (girls and boys), boys tennis, golf and football before retiring in 2007. Twice his girls basketball teams were state Group A runners-up before winning the state in 2005.
- The late Dolphas "Doc" Conner was instrumental in the formation of the Bobcat Booster Club and was tireless in volunteer activities such as fundraising, ticket sales and concession stand operations. His son, Kevin, is Radford's girls basketball coach.
Induction ceremonies will be 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in the high school cafeteria. Inductees will be recognized during halftime ceremonies at the Aug. 26 season football opener against Pulaski County.
