Recruiters' pursuit of Foster intensifies

Recruiters' pursuit of Foster intensifies
November 29, 2007 12:35 am
BY ROB MOORE

As Colonial Beach senior Brandon Foster Jr. eyes the Drifters regional showdown with Buffalo Gap Saturday, an increasing number of colleges are eyeing the multitalented performer.

Colonial Beach head coach Jeremy Jack said officials from Winston-Salem State and Elon requested film of the Tidewater District's offensive player of the year.

"They're just starting to get into their recruiting," Jack said of the two North Carolina schools, "and they've been following him the last couple of weeks."

Jack said he sent film of Foster to both schools.

Foster has an offer in hand from Delaware State to play defensive back and Virginia Union is also looking at him at that position, according to Jack.

Jack added that Foster has had "continuing contact" with Virginia defensive backs coach Steve Bernstein.

Foster, who has also spoken with a coach at Tennessee, visited the University of Richmond on Nov. 3 and took in the Spiders game with Villanova.

In the Drifters first two playoff games this season, Foster rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown against Franklin and followed that with 110 yards at Surry County.

Foster has rushed for nearly 3,400 yards over the last three seasons, scoring 50 touchdowns [in the Colonial's single-wing offense]. In addition to being named the district's offensive player of the year, he was a first-team selection as a defensive back and kick returner. Foster followed that up by being named to the all-region team on both offense and defense.

BEAMER-BALL IN ESSEX

Tim Beamer knows he has big shoes to fill.

Beamer has been named the Trojans new baseball coach, following in the footsteps of longtime coach "Sonny" Ashton and Ken Blackley, both of whom won state titles.

"I guess I'm following legends," Beamer said of taking over the program. "But I think I've been well-groomed for the job and I was thrilled to get it to say the least."

After graduating from Essex in 1975, Beamer played at Ferrum junior college for a year before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played for three seasons.

The former catcher returned to his alma mater in 2003 as an assistant to Blackley.

Blackey, who guided the Trojans to a state championship that same year, left Essex earlier this year to take the athletics director position at Northumberland High School.

"I'm excited about this," Beamer said of the squad he inherits. "He [Blackley] left me a senior at just about every position."

Essex reached the state quarterfinals a year ago, losing to Strasburg.

Beamer promises an exciting brand of baseball for Trojan fans.

"We will be aggressive," he said. "We'll steal. We'll hit and run. I'm a big fan of that small-ball brand of baseball."

He also said the team will be fundamentally sound.

"I'm a stickler for the fundamentals," Beamer said.

Former Essex star Blake Williams, who played at Bluefield College, will be an assistant for Beamer, as will his son, Josh Beamer.




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The Free Lance-Star
Fredericksburg, Virginia



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