There is talk that Hissey, a strong-armed and quick-footed centerfielder, could be selected in the top five rounds of the amateur player draft. If that happens, the 18-year-old might go straight to the professional ranks instead of playing college ball for Virginia.

"I really haven't decided what I'm going to do yet," Hissey said. "It depends on which round I'm selected in and how much signing money I would get."

At home and away games, scouts and cross-checkers videotape Hissey taking swings in the batting cage and on the field. They want to see how the lefthanded hitter and thrower performs with a wood bat.

Among the scouts on hand for Friday's Ches-Mont League home matchup with Kennett were representatives of the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Earlier last week, about seven scouts showed up to see Hissey compete against Great Valley.

In addition to the Red Sox and Orioles, the clubs that have shown the most interest are Texas and Pittsburgh.

If the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hissey is fazed by all the attention he is getting, he isn't showing it. "Last fall, I played in front of a lot of scouts," he said. "I'm used to it."

Hissey played in weekend tournaments for the West Chester-based All-Star Baseball Academy, under the leadership of Mike Manning. His teammates included Malvern Prep's Chris Gosik and Mike Lubanski, Germantown Academy's Tommy Coyle, and Kennedy-Kenrick's Christian Walker.

One of the highlights for Hissey last summer was participating in the USA Baseball International Invitational tournament in Joplin, Mo. He competed for Team Premier against junior national squads from the United States, Canada and China.

Another unforgettable trip was the one he took in August to Yankee Stadium. He was among a group of invited amateur players that worked out for the club and toured the historic stadium. "That was pretty cool, something most kids dream about doing," he said.

Hissey might not be the only family member to have his name called in the June amateur draft. His brother, Dave, is a hard-hitting senior centerfielder for Emory College. Through 31 games, he is batting .336 with a .460 on-base percentage, 38 runs scored, and 17 RBIs.

The boys' father, David, played baseball at Springfield (Montgomery County) and William and Mary. Ryan Hissey, a catcher and eighth grader at Charles F. Patton Middle School, will soon play for Unionville and coach George DeDonato.

Through seven games, Pete Hissey is batting .500 with nine walks. The fourth-year starter is hitting out of the No. 3 hole. Recently, because Hissey was seeing few hittable pitches, DeDonato tried him at No. 6.

Extra bases. Solebury School, which has a coed enrollment of just over 200, is trying to beef up its program under new coach Robert Eichem. The Spartans are off to a 3-2 start (2-2 in the Penn-Jersey League). Leading the way are senior centerfielder Mike Bardi (.421 batting average) and junior outfielder/pitcher Ken Kayama (.588, four HRs, 13 RBIs, 13 runs). Kayama, a third-year starter from Japan, is considered to be among the best players in school history. . . . North Penn, the early leader in the Suburban One League National Conference, has been sparked by shortstop Robbie Zinsmeister (.450), first baseman Scott Christy (.429), and centerfielder Chris Edgar (.421). Teammate Kevin Christy (no relation to Scott) is 2-1 with a 0.70 ERA. The La Salle recruit has 23 strikeouts in 20 innings. . . . In 191/3 innings, Pottstown's Tony Miller has 17 strikeouts and a 1.09 ERA. ... The offensive catalysts for Monsignor Bonner, 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Catholic League Red Division, are shortstop Rob Benedict (.520), leftfielder Bob Callan (.520), rightfielder/pitcher Matt McGillian (.438), and first baseman Bill Hollingsworth (.412). Hollingsworth, a senior, is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Southpaw Conor Kerins (32 strikeouts in 19 innings) and righthander Ryan Haley are both 3-0.