THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407020765
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: TIDES REPORT
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
The Tides will be represented in the Triple-A all-star game by just one player for the third consecutive season. Second baseman Quilvio Veras was voted onto the National League team and will start in the game to be played July 13 in Nashville.
The Tides, though, will have two other members at the game. Trainer Fred Hina, in his third season with the Tides, will be on the bench for the National League and manager Bobby Valentine will do TV commentary on the broadcast, which will be carried live in Hampton Roads by Home Team Sports.
``This is the worst year probably of my career,'' said Veras, a 23-year-old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic who carried a .320 career minor league average into the season. ``I can do better than this. It's a surprise. I didn't think I'd make the all-star team this year.''
Veras has now been an all-star at every level in his five-season career. He entered Friday's game batting .271 with 29 RBIs. He was second in the International League, however, with 19 stolen bases and had made seven errors.
His presence in Nashville, though, throws a crimp into Veras' plans for the all-star break. Veras said his mother is scheduled to arrive in New York for a week-long visit from Santo Domingo, and he was supposed to meet her there and fly back to Norfolk.
Veras, by the way, follows Ryan Thompson last season and pitcher Randy Marshall, who started the '92 game, as the Tides' lone all-star representatives the last three years.
Valentine, too, planned to spend a couple days home in Texas, but agreed to get back behind the microphone. He'll also be the featured speaker at the all-star luncheon the afternoon before the game.
Valentine has a long history of TV work, dating to his time as a college baseball commentator in ESPN's first season. He also has appeared on NBC telecasts as a game analyst in the regular season and playoffs.
Valentine isn't the first Tides' manager to work on the Triple-A all-star broadcast, though. Two years ago, Clint Hurdle was a color commentator during the game that was held in Richmond.
The all-star rosters:
American League: 1B: Herbert Perry (Charlotte); 2B: Ray Durham (Nashville); SS: Rico Rossy (Omaha); 3B: Luis Ortiz (Pawtucket); OF: Garrett Anderson (Vancouver), Dwayne Hosey (Omaha), Sherman Obando (Rochester); C: Tim McIntosh (Salt Lake); DH: Bernardo Brito (Salt Lake); RH starter: Scott Ruffcorn (Nashville); LH starter: Andrew Lorraine (Vancouver); RH reliever: Ron Rightnowar (New Orleans); LH reliever: Ed Vosberg (Tacoma). Reserves - INF: Drew Denson (Nashville), Alex Gonzalez (Syracuse), Brian Baabe (Salt Lake); OF: Rob Ducey (Oklahoma City); Robert Perez (Syracuse); C: Chris Howard (Calgary); P: Rick Krivda (Rochester), Kirt Ojala (Columbus), Sean Bergman (Toledo), Julian Tavarez (Charlotte). Manager: Rick Renick (Nashville). Coaches: Don Long (Vancouver), Bob Miscik (Rochester).
National League: 1B: Rich Aude (Buffalo); 2B: Quilvio Veras (Tides); SS: Paul Faries (Phoenix); 3B: Ron Coomer (Albuquerque); OF: Allen Battle (Louisville); Trent Hubbard (Colorado Springs); Doug Jennings (Indianapolis); C: Tim Laker (Ottawa); DH: Luis Lopez (Richmond); RH starter: Craig McMurtry (Tucson); LH starter: Brad Woodall (Richmond); RH reliever: Terry Clark (Richmond); LH reliever: Steve Dixon (Louisville). Reserves - INF: Scott Coolbaugh (Louisville), Kevin Higgins (Las Vegas), Gene Schall (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre); OF: Billy Ashley (Albuquerque), Carl Everett (Edmonton); C: Barry Lyons (Indianapolis); P: Mark Lee (Iowa), Rich Robertson (Buffalo), Rich Scheid (Edmonton), James Dougherty (Tucson). Manager: Rick Sweet (Tucson). Coaches: Joe Pettini (Louisville), Mike Quade (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre).
FIREWORKS NIGHT: A fireworks show will follow tonight's game between the Tides and Richmond. Chris Seelbach (0-0, 0.00) will make his Triple-A debut for Richmond against Frank Seminara (1-2, 4.05). ILLUSTRATION: Quilvio Veras
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PAID ATTENDANCE
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[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB