ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The day-long downpour washed out the Salem Avalanche's doubleheader with the Lynchburg Hillcats on Monday.
The teams, scheduled to play two in the Hill City, begin a three-day series in Salem today that will most likely include a doubleheader, possibly Thursday.
``We'll play two at some point,'' said Salem manager Bill McGuire.
McGuire spent much of the afternoon in his office, awaiting word from the Hillcats that Monday's games were a wash. Lynchburg, the team with the lowest attendance in the eight-team Carolina League, did not want to lose a night with a rival in town until the last possible minute.
``Look, it's been raining for 13 straight hours,'' said McGuire, who feared that his club would be forced to make the 45-minute drive to Lynchburg only to be sent back home. ``It may not stop raining until [this] morning.''
Monday's postponement turns a three-game series against the Hillcats into a four-gamer and begins a 10-game home stand for the Avalanche. Prince William comes to town Friday for a three-game set, then - following a day off next Monday - Salem entertains Durham for three games.
This home stand could also bring another vaunted visitor. One week after Colorado Rockies' outfielder Larry Walker played two games in Salem on rehabilitation assignment, injured Rockies pitcher Bill Swift is scheduled to begin throwing this week.
Where he'll pitch has yet to be determined. If it's in Salem, Swift may get a start this weekend. Last week, Walker said he and Swift were scheduled to report to Salem together today, but Walker's rehab schedule was moved up a week.
``That decision hasn't been made but it's something that's being considered,'' said Rockies general manager Bob Gebhard. ``If everything goes all right, [Swift] will pitch batting practice [today] and could be pitching someplace come Friday or Saturday.''
Some timely hitting could also help Salem (17-30), which was shut out for 14 1/3 consecutive innings before beating Kinston 3-1 Sunday behind David Nied's third straight strong start. Two runs in the fourth allowed the Avalanche to survive a late Kinston rally.
``If we hadn't scored those runs,'' said McGuire, ``we'd still be playing.''
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB