Monday, August 18, 1997

McClure's hot bat goes cold

By LANCE FLEMING

Staff Writer

Jason McClure's run at a .400 batting average took a severe hit in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, while the bid of Rio Grande Valley's Bryan Warner took a big step forward.

McClure, whose recent 8 for 12 streak pushed his average from .382 to .396, went 0 for 4 in the first game, dropping his average to .390. Warner, meanwhile, went 3 for 4 to push his average from .390 to .395.

It was only one part of a big night for Warner, who set a new Texas-Louisina League record for extra-base hits in a season. His double and home run gave him 55 extra-base hits on the season, one more than the record of 54 set by Ken Schamberg in 1995.

In Saturday night's 10-5 win over Lubbock, McClure had three hits in his first three at-bats to raise his average to .39912. But then he flew out to centerfield in the seventh inning and to rightfield in the eighth inning, dropping his average back to .396.

Record-setters

The 1997 Texas-Louisiana League season has been a year for offense, and the proof is in the fact that as many as seven individual hitting records are on the verge of being broken.

Of course, McClure, Alvarez and Warner look like sure bets to break the league's individual batting average mark of .377 set by Lonnie Maclin in 1995.

Before Sunday's doubleheader, Warner had 121 hits on the season, 19 short of the league record of 140 set by Dennis Hood in 1995. Warner is also chasing the league's home run and RBI records. The home run record is 25, set by John O'Brien in 1996. Warner has 24 this season, although Tyler's Chris Cassels has already tied the mark with 25.

Kevin Tahan, currently catching for Alexandria, set the league's RBI record with 95 in 1995, and Warner has 83 so far on the season.

Warner should also set a new league mark for slugging percentage. Right now he's at .726 and the league record is .617 set by Ron Jones in 1994.

Alexandria's Kyle Shade has 33 doubles, four short of Dennis Hood's record of 37, and Maclin's eight triples are one short of Anthony Pritchett's league record of nine set in 1994.

Tonight's game

John Baack (3-5, 6.36 ERA) will get the start for Abilene tonight, and will be opposed by Rio Grande Valley's Scott Marquardt (6-6, 5.42 ERA).

Tonight's promotion at the ballpark is Family Night. As a special, end-of-the-summer deal, the Prairie Dogs have a special offer for all their fans tonight. With a reserved seat ticket, each fan will receive a coupon for one free hotdog and a regular soft drink.