ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996                  TAG: 9605090086
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-1  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER

SALEM CAN'T SOLVE RIDDLE PRINCE WILLIAM BEATS AVALANCHE AGAIN IN OPENER

Most of the Carolina League has been a major challenge for the Prince William Cannons. As for the team with the best record on the circuit, that's been another matter.

The Cannons beat the Salem Avalanche 5-1 on Wednesday night in the first game of a Memorial Stadium doubleheader to continue the surprising trend. That marked the fourth time in five meetings Prince William has pinned Salem's ears back this year.

Most of the damage this time happened in the fourth inning. Luther Hackman started the game for Salem with a 3-1 record and 2.15 earned run average, but he didn't look like himself, particularly in the third and fourth innings, when he gave up seven of the eight hits the Cannons had against him.

A sacrifice fly by Brandon Moore and a run-scoring double with two out by Dan Kopriva in the third staked Prince William to a 2-0 lead.

Salem halved the deficit in its half of the inning, Elvis Pena's sacrifice fly delivering the run.

Prince William (14-17) responded in the top of the fourth with three more runs. Hackman gave up four consecutive hits, including a two-run homer by Juan Thomas and an RBI single by Ben Boulware before Salem manager Bill McGuire had seen enough and summoned Stephen Shoemaker from the bullpen.

Shoemaker quelled matters from there, but the offense failed to close the gap. The Avalanche stranded seven, five of those coming when Nate Holdren struck out to end the third and the fifth innings.

Salem, which had a half-game lead over Durham in the Carolina League's Southern Division standings to start the night, lost for the fifth time in the past 10 games.

The teams meet again today at Memorial Stadium. The Avalanche sends right-hander Brent Crowther (3-0, 1.80 ERA) to the mound against Prince William right-hander Chuck Smith (1-1, 5.30) in a 7 p.m. game.

LENGTH: Short :   46 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  PAUL L. NEWBY II Staff. Salem's Chan Mayber lashes a 
          single during Wednesday night's doubleheader against Prince William 
          at Memorial Stadium. The Cannons continued their domination of the 
          Avalanche, winning the opener 5-1. color.