ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605280106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: BASEBALL
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
Wearing contacts has not been a problem for Pookie Jones. Making contact had been.
Jones, who usually wears glasses when he plays left field for the Salem Avalanche, made the switch to contact lenses a couple of weeks ago and proceeded to hit in 10 of 11 games - nine in a row at one point - to raise his batting average from .214 to .253.
Jones isn't sure if the switch to contacts is the biggest reason for his streak, but seeing is believing.
``I think the biggest difference is mental,'' Jones said. ``I'm really seeing about the same'' with contacts as with glasses.
``It's lot easier playing with contacts than with glasses,'' he said. ``I don't have to clean them, I don't worry about them fogging up, there's no glare and I don't have to adjust them if I swing. I can just focus on the pitcher.''
Jones said he wasn't following the lead of New York Yankees slugger Ruben Sierra, who also recently warmed up at the plate after donning contacts.
In fact, Jones has to get new contacts when the Avalanche returns from its current trip. He has astigmatism, an irregular curvature of the eye's lens, a problem that his current contacts don't properly correct.
``When I get the new ones,'' he said, ``hopefully, I'll see even better.''
And swing even better, too.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Avalanche second baseman Elvis Pena went into the weekend second in the Carolina League in stolen bases with 16. ... Center fielder John Giudice was tied for second with 14 doubles. ... Luis Colmenares led the league with 21 appearances and 11 saves. ... Luther Hackman had walked a league-high 33 batters. ... Catcher Blake Barthol, who will receive the bulk of the work while Mike Higgins is with Class AA New Haven (Conn.), raised his average from .213 to .309 with a six-game hitting streak (11-for-21, three doubles, one home run, six runs batted in).
SEATING: Although members of the Avalanche's front office admitted being disappointed with the large number of empty seats at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium during the season's first three homestands, the club still ranks fourth in the league in home attendance, with an average of 2,178 paying customers nightly.
In three games with the Durham Bulls last weekend, the Avalanche attracted 9,621 fans, an average of 3,207 per game. The May 18 crowd of 4,277 was the largest this season.
SWEET MATRIMONY: Lynchburg outfielder Adrian Brown plans to marry Lynette Lewis at City Stadium on July 14 before the Hillcats play the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Players from both teams will participate in the ceremony, which will be conducted by team chaplain Dr. Don Garlock.
SLINGS: Frederick right-hander Alvie Shepherd, a 1995 first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, walked six and gave up four runs in one-third of an inning May 16 against Kinston. Shepherd has surrendered 15 runs, 10 hits and 10 walks in his past 21/3 innings. Faring much better is Keys right-hander Chris Fussell, who continues to post some of the league's best numbers. Fussell fanned 10 in a 2-0 loss to Winston-Salem on May 18, the seventh consecutive start he has given up two earned runs or fewer. Fussell's league-leading ERA is 0.90. The Keys play a three-game series in Salem beginning May 31.
SNOWBALLS: Festivities surrounding the May 31 game against Frederick will begin with the official dedication of Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. and will conclude with a fireworks display immediately following the game. ... The Avalanche has started a ``Banquet Bash'' program for youth leagues that invites teams to celebrate the end of their seasons at the ballpark. For $8 per person, ``banquet-goers'' receive a box seat, a hot dog, a bag of chips and a piece of Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Team members and coaches will be introduced atop the Avalanche dugout before the game. Call 389-3333 for information.
SILVER BULLETS: The Colorado Silver Bullets, the all-female professional baseball team, will make a stop at Lynchburg's City Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. The Silver Bullets, managed by former major-league pitcher Phil Niekro, will play the Lynchburg White Sox, a men's adult-league team managed by Gary Campbell.
Tickets are $5 for box seats and $4 for general admission. Call (804) 528-1144 or (800) 454-0934 for tickets.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB