ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604090114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Playing members of the Salem Avalanche must have been feeling baseball malnourished this winter.
Since resuming their profession the first two nights of the Carolina League season, the Avalanche has been dead set on playing the maximum innings allowed.
And then some.
Friday's season opener at Prince William wasn't settled until the Cannons' Rick Carone belted a run-scoring double with one out in the ninth inning of a 6-5 Salem loss. Saturday, the teams toiled into the 13th before Avalanche slugger Nate Holdren rifled an RBI single to sever a tie. The Cannons came back in their half of the inning, putting two on against right-hander Luis Colmenares, before the closer snuffed the rally to preserve a 4-3 victory.
Colmenares, a 19-year-old Venezuelan who saved 21 games at Asheville of the South Atlantic League last summer, had been the victim of Friday's Cannons' comeback.
``Any time your main guy in the bullpen loses a game like that, you want to get him right back in there,'' Salem manager Bill McGuire said.
There was no rest for the weary until Sunday night. The Cannons and Avalanche played a 1:30 p.m. Easter matinee. The Avalanche lost 6-0, dropping to 1-2, before showering, grabbing a hasty bite of food, and embarking by bus southbound for home.
Tonight, a large audience is expected as Salem makes its home debut at Memorial Stadium against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Kansas City Royals affiliate was playing a rubber match at Lynchburg on Sunday afternoon.
Several themes have emerged early for Salem's players.
``They've showed great fortitude,'' McGuire said. ``They could have shut it down after we fell behind 3-1 Saturday and before that, when they hit the grand slam [to erase a 4-1 Salem lead] Friday. But they hung in there.''
Holdren was busy the first couple of games. The former University of Michigan muscleman went 1-for-2 in Friday's loss with a homer, a walk and a steal, his 10th in the past two seasons plus. On Saturday, Holdren was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in chilly Woodbridge. He was the only Salem player who got hits in both games.
``We've had numerous chances to blow open games but have not done it,'' McGuire said.
One of the most egregious examples came Saturday when the Avalanche had an excellent opportunity to break a 3-3 tie when Steve Bernhardt tripled with one out. There he stayed, though.
The Blue Rocks will be in town for a four-game set before making way for the Frederick Keys, who carry Salem's first homestand of the season through April 14.
This is Salem's first full year at Memorial Stadium.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB