Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 30, 1990 TAG: 9004300349
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kinston's Greg Ferlenda was introduced to Carolina League baseball as a member of the Salem Redbirds for the first few weeks of the 1986 season. Four years and two teams later, Ferlenda has changed roles, but he remains in the Carolina League.
Ditto for Salem's Chip Duncan, who is starting his third season on the Salem Buccaneers roster.
Sunday, the careers of the two crossed paths.
Ferlenda, now a short reliever for the Indians, struck out Salem's Chris Estep with two on to preserve Kinston's 9-6 victory at Salem Municipal Field. Duncan, despite some his best pitching of the year as a long reliever, took the loss because the Indians scored four unearned runs to snap a 4-4 tie in the ninth.
Ferlenda said he isn't bothered about being back in the Carolina League. He pitched briefly for Hagerstown (Md.) after his stop at Salem, and for the past three years he has been at Kinston.
"It doesn't matter as long as I'm pitching," said Ferlenda, 25. "I know what my role is and as long as I'm helping the team, I'm happy."
Ferlenda picked up his fifth save, equaling his 1989 total as a long reliever with the Indians. He has not given up a run this season.
"My role is to come in and do what I've been doing lately - help people get out of tough situations," said Ferlenda, who says that as long as he puts on a uniform he will dream of a major-league career.
Thursday, when he relieved in the first game of the series, the scoreboard message board flashed, "Greg Ferlenda, Carolina League lifer."
"I didn't see it. I heard about it," said Ferlenda. "It bothered me a little bit.
"It's not much class seeing as I've been here before and they know me."
Duncan was bothered by a bad back last year. This spring, he is not off to a fast start, but he struck out the side when he relieved starter Tim Wakefield in the sixth. Duncan worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth.
"Chip has something to prove in this league. I know he opened my eyes today," said Salem manager Stan Cliburn.
Salem had some offensive highlights. Brian "Bam Bam" Morrison had two hits and a deep sacrifice fly, and third baseman Bruce Schreiber had three singles.
The Bucs blew an offensive opportunity in the eighth when they loaded the bases with none out. Ben Shelton tapped back to the pitcher for a home-to-first double play before Mike Huyler was thrown out on a ground ball to deep short.
\ BUCSHOTS: Salem opens a three-game home series tonight against Winston-Salem with John Latham (1-1) scheduled to pitch. KINSTON SALEM ab r h bi ab r h bi Ramos lf5120 Sims cf2310 Allison dh4221 Schreiber 3b5331 Levis c5212 Merejo lf4022 Tepper 1b2010 Raisanen ph1000 Odor ss1112 Morrison dh4022 Gomez 3b3000 Romero c4011 Zambrano rf5122 Estep rf4000 Lane cf3011 Shelton 1b4010 Bautista 2b4100 Huyler ss4010 Foster 1b4100 Bailey 2b4000 Totals36 9 10 8 Totals 36 6 11 6
Kinston000 040 005-9 Salem002 020 002-6
E-Gomez, Merejo, Shelton, Huyler. DP-Kinston 1, Salem 2. LOB-Kinston 8, Salem 9. 2B-Ramos, Zambrano, Lane. 3B-Merejo. HR-Levis (2). SB-Lane (7), Sims (6). S-Gomez, Romero. SF-Morrison. IP HRERBBSO Kinston Kovach 774439 Kiser W,1-0 142011 Ferlenda S,5 00001 Salem Wakefield 544045 Duncan L,0-1 465123
HBP-Gomez by Wakefield. WP-Ferlenda. PB-Romero.
Umpires-Home, Vestal; bases, Irvin.
T-2:55. A-761.
by CNB