
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 29, 1993                   TAG: 9308290284
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: E6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG                                LENGTH: Short

BUCS' 7-2 VICTORY A TWO-MAN SHOW

Roommates Mike Brown and Joe Ronca combined to go 6-for-7 and drive in six runs Saturday night as the Salem Buccaneers defeated the Lynchburg Red Sox 7-2 in Carolina League baseball.

Ronca went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double, a steal and a sacrifice fly. Brown was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a solo homer.

The season is winding down for the Bucs (27-37), but after a performance like Saturday night's show, Brown isn't ready to go home yet.

"I live in a town named Vacaville [Calif.], and there's not a whole lot to do there," Brown said. "It'll be fun to see my family and all, but I'd rather be playing baseball."

The 6-foot-7, 234-pounder's second-inning blast came on a low 0-2 pitch from Lynchburg starter Joel Bennett (7-12).

"With someone who's 6-7, it's hard to pitch him up," said Mark Meleski, the Red Sox's manager.

Three of Ronca's four RBI came when Brown touched the plate.

"Mike and I have known each other for so long," Ronca said. "We were drafted in the same year [1989]. We were in instructional league together. And for the last three years we've roomed together."

Lynchburg (31-33) loaded the bases in the first and third innings, but scored only twice against Bucs starter Dennis Harrah (7-5). The right-hander gave up nine hits and one walk in seven innings, striking out six.

The Bucs open a three-game series against the Prince William Cannons with a 7 p.m. game today.

by CNB