Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507130021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We were in first place when we left Salem and we were in first place when we came back,'' Avalanche manager Bill Hayes said. ``We went 3-4 while we were gone and that's not bad on the road.''
Not bad is a team from Salem in first place in the Carolina League standings at this stage of July. The Avalanche rested on the laurels of a 12-6 second-half record and a 11/2-game lead over the second-place Kinston Indians in the Southern Division standings as the whole circuit took a break for the major-league All-Star game on Tuesday.
``It's a much-needed rest,'' said Hayes, who celebrated his first off day since June 19 by doing paper work in his snug Municipal Field office. ``We're dealing with a world of 27-man rosters with 22 guys. We've got some tired guys.''
At least none of them are complaining about a lack of playing time. Most of them haven't been complaining too much about Municipal Field, either, although the pitchers certainly have as much cause to gripe as anybody. A park with fences as close as old Municipal's is no pitcher's pal.
``I'll be glad to get into the new place,'' Salem pitching coach Bill Champion said. ``I'm eager to find out what our pitchers have learned working in the small park.''
The Avalanche won't have long to wait to occupy the spacious lawns and luxurious clubhouse at the new ballpark. With July 25 scheduled as the opener of Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium, the three-game set with the Lynchburg Hillcats that opens tonight ought to be the last series at Municipal Field.
But that was what the Pittsburgh Pirates were told about the Salem Buccaneers' last home series of the 1994 season. That was before construction of the new palace took a little longer than anticipated. It also was before Salem owner Kelvin Bowles evicted the Pirates and signed on with the Colorado Rockies.
Now, the newly-relocated Pirates Class A farmhands, the Hillcats, will for sure, once-and-for-all, positively be ushering the old park into retirement.
Which means that Lynchburg's Reed Secrist will again have the chance to hit the for-sure, once-and-for-all, positively last home run at Municipal Field.
Secrist - and many others - had thought he'd done just that last year when his Hollywoodesque bottom-of-the ninth-inning, game-winning pinch homer won a game for the Bucs in the home season finale.
Secrist is back, versatile as ever - he still can play third, first, outfield, or catcher - and leading the Hillcats with a .322 average, 10 home runs, and 41 RBI.
Secrist still is around in Lynchburg despite a series of 10 roster moves since July 4. Two of the new players who were promoted from from Augusta of the South Atlantic League will pitch against Salem. Newcomer Jimmy Anderson (0-1, 2.45 ERA), a left-handed 1994 graduate of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake will oppose 1994 Rockies No.1 draft pick and fellow lefty Doug Million (2-3, 5.23) tonight and Lynchburg right-hander Jason Johnson (0-1, 9.00) goes against right-hander Mike Saipe (4-5, 3.56) in Friday's finale. In between, Lynchburg right-hander John Dillinger (5-3, 3.82), who has been in the Hill City all campaign long, tangles with Salem sinkerballer Matt Pool (6-6, 4.99).
The Hillcats (8-10) are three games behind the first-place Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Northern Division standings.
NOTES: Salem right-hander Doug Walls (5-5, 3.84) is done for the season and will undergo shoulder surgery for a nagging problem. He should be ready to play by spring training next year, Champion said. ... The pitching rotation for the rest of the season has been set now that Walls has been sent home: Million, Pool, Saipe, Brent Crowther (1-1, 4.08), and Jamey Wright (9-4, 2.41). ... Lynchburg outfielder Charles Peterson, a No.1 draft choice two years ago, has had no extra base hits since June 7 and no home runs since May 29. He is hitting .270 with five home runs and a team-leading 43 runs scored.
by CNB