Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Assault continues on league record book

By LANCE FLEMING

Staff Writer

With seven individual Texas-Louisiana League records on the verge of being broken, that can only mean that some team marks are set to fall.

But not nearly as many.

On the offensive side, Amarillo is on the brink of breaking its own league record for team batting average. The Dillas set the current mark of .324 in 1995, the year Amarillo lost in the league semifinals to eventual league champion Lubbock.

But going into Monday night's game, Amarillo led the T-L League with an overall batting average of .324, and it closes the season with three games against an Abilene team that has the league's worst earned run average.

The league's home run mark of 125 set by Corpus Christi in 1994 is in jeopardy by a Rio Grande Valley team that has 114 going into Monday night's game. The WhiteWings, however, play their final three games in Alexandria where the dimensions are the field are unsuitable for home-run hitters.

Amarillo is also challenging the league's stolen base record of 193, set by Mobile in 1994. Amarillo has 183 stolen bases through Sunday's game, led by Tim Howard's 35.

On the pitching side, Abilene has a chance to set a dubious record: Most walks allowed in a season. Alexandria set the record in 1995 with 455 walks, and Abilene has 419 going into Monday's game.

Alexandria has already broken the league record for most complete games in a season with 24 this season. That broke the record of 22, set by Tyler in 1995 and tied this season by Amarillo.

Tonight's game

George Preston Jr. (3-2, 4.02 ERA) will get the start tonight as the Prairie Dogs close out their home season against Rio Grande Valley. The WhiteWings' starting pitcher will be Kiki Trevino (3-3, 5.61).

Tonight's promotion is Fan Appreciation Night at the ballpark. Fans can receive Texas-Louisiana League and Prairie Dog merchandise at drastically marked down prices at the team's final home game of the 1997 season.

Plus, there might even be additional prizes in store for fans.