Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990 TAG: 9007200235
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
"That's about as far as I can hit it," Kowitz said deadpan.
Kowitz's unlikely homer capped a 6-2 victory over the Elizabethton Twins on Thursday night.
The homer started as a towering drive to right that appeared to have an excellent chance of developing into a more conventional shot. But the baseball hit the top of the wall and took a wicked bounce to the left. Kowitz never stopped churning.
"I had to let him try [to score]," said Braves manager Randy Ingle, coaching at third base.
The play at the plate was agonizingly close.
"I thought I was a dead duck," Kowitz said. "I slid wide and tried to reach out for the plate with my hand."
That was one of several stirring plays for the Braves (17-10), who beat the league's top team to move a game out of first place.
Pulaski also got George Virgilio's first home run of the season and some outstanding pitching from emergency starter Barry Chiles. The big right-hander gave up one run and five hits in six innings after learning he was the starter when he reached Calfee Park.
Scheduled starter Brian Bark arrived at the park with a sinus infection.
The Braves banged out 10 hits, nine more than they had the previous night in a 1-0 victory over Huntington. Kowitz, Virgilio, Pat Dando and Johnny Walker had two each.
Virgilio entered the game batting .211.
"[Batting instructor] Johnny Grubb worked with him for a long time this afternoon," Ingle said. "He was hitting it off the tee and getting extra BP [batting practice]. Any time they ask for extra work, we'll try to help them out."
\ BRAVES BRIEFS: Pulaski is down to 26 players after right-hander Brett Grebe left the team Wednesday and returned home to California. He cited homesickness and family responsibilities as reasons for his departure, Ingle said. Grebe, who was 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA, is not expected back. Although teams are entitled to 30 players by league rules, Ingle says he has received no word from Atlanta, Pulaski's parent club, about replacements. . . . David Williams (2-0, 3.10) pitches for the Braves tonight against Elizabethton's Tim Persing (2-1, 3.48). . . . One of the more unusual plays in baseball happened in the third when pitcher Sandy Diaz tagged Walker, who was trying to steal third, unassisted. . . . The YMCA/Braves 5K race has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday. Elizabethton 000100100-255 Pulaski 11201001x-6101
Diaz, Taylor (6) and Walgren; Chiles, Dunlap (7) and Gonzalez. W-Chiles. L-Diaz. Sv-Dunlap (2). HR-Virgilio (P), 1st, none on; Kowitz (P), 8th, none on.
by CNB