
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 2, 1995                   TAG: 9504050019
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARK BULLOCK
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SALEM SHOULD HAVE THE ARMS

If the Colorado Rockies are successful in putting their imprint on Salem's entry in the Carolina League this season, the strength of the team should be readily apparent.

``I would anticipate the pitching being very good,'' said Dick Balderson, the Rockies' farm director.

Colorado has concentrated on pitching in the amateur draft - 33 of the 60 players the Rockies selected in 1993 were pitchers. Balderson said pitching is Colorado's ``strong suit'' throughout the organization ``and should continue to be.''

That should bode well for the Salem Avalanche, which begins its season Thursday in Woodbridge with the opener of a four-game series against the Prince William Cannons.

Based on what he has seen in spring training, manager Bill Hayes said Salem ``has got a chance to have some pretty good arms,'' particularly in the starting rotation.

``We are rich in pitching throughout the organization,'' Hayes said. ``We should have some solid starters, and the bullpen will be made up of guys who may have had other roles last year. We'll put them in different situations until we find out what they can do.''

by CNB