At just 17 years of age, Warwick cricketer Dionne Stovell has set his sights on making the professional grade.

But after blasting his way to a career-best 182 in a losing cause against Devonshire Rec. last Sunday, the talented youngster announced that his passion lies with the big ball and not with cricket as he has tentative plans to attend a summer soccer trial at English Premier Division side West Ham United.

"Although I like cricket, I would like to be become a professional soccer player," said Stovell moments before beginning a training session with Warwick this week.

"Hopefully this summer I will get the chance to realise my dream at West Ham although the final details have yet to be worked out."

Opening Warwick's innings last weekend, Stovell initially laid the groundwork for his mammoth innings by patiently occupying the crease and picking out the bad deliveries - his first 50 coming in 104 balls.

But after reaching his half century, Stovell picked up the pace and raced to his century in 138 balls and 150 in 155 balls before he was finally caught and bowled by Anthony Amory for 182.

Despite Stovell's impressive exploits with the bat, Devonshire, led by veteran Amory who replied with an unbeaten century (115) himself, managed to square the weekend series between the two First Division teams who had previously battled it out the day before at Southampton Oval.

Stovell also enjoyed an equally fine knock of 51 in Saturday's Knockout Cup encounter.

Now in only his third season at the Warwick club, the teenager, who has also played behind the stumps, says he is looking forward to even bigger things for the season as Warwick seek to retain the Western Counties Cup and also gain promotion to the Premier Division.

Warwick's County date, however, could conflict with Stovell's visit to West Ham, leaving him unavailable to help his club, although the teenager still feels his colleagues can get the job done without him.

And while the softspoken youngster remained reluctant to comment in depth on his latest achievement with the bat, he did say: "That was my highest score to date. I started playing for Cleveland when I was 11 years old, but I only played for one season and then I moved to Warwick.

"I would like to win the County with Warwick this season and also gain promotion to the Premier Division."

Stovell also plays for Somerset Trojans in the BFA Premier Division and came off the bench last season to pocket a few vital goals for his team, while he is also a member of Bermuda's under-19 national cricket squad.

The last Warwick cricketer who harnessed such aspirations was none other than Kyle Lightbourne who is now coming to the end of a successful professional soccer career.

Despite enjoying two superb knocks of 165 and 46 over the weekend, St.David's' explosive batsman Glenn Blakeney says he will stick to his decision to only play a cameo role this season.

In Blakeney's first three innings for 2002, the fiery opener has amassed impressive scores 69 not out, 165 and 46.