Texas-Louisiana League News and Notes

by League Press Release
Published on June 6, 2000 under Central Baseball League (Central League)

League Press Release

ROOKIE PITCHES ONLY THIRD NO-HITTER IN T-L LEAGUE HISTORY

The Texas-Louisiana Professional Baseball League is already in its seventh season of competition, but until May 21st of this season, there had been only two no-hitters thrown in league history. That is, until Springfield/Ozark (MO) Mountain Ducks rookie pitcher Jim Wollscheid came within one pitch of throwing not just the third no-hitter, but a near perfect game in a seven-inning doubleheader contest on May 21, 2000.

Wollscheid, a first-year pitcher with the Mountain Ducks, joined the short list of T-L League pitchers who had thrown no-hitters, with a seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance against the Lafayette (LA) Bayou Bullfrogs. Although Wollscheid did not walk or hit a single batter in the regulation doubleheader game, he did allow a single baserunner in the second inning when he threw a wild pitch on one of his nine strikeouts in the game. Ironically, Wollscheid ended up recording four of the strikeouts in the second inning as a result of the wild pitch.

A native of Dallas, Wollscheid was a standout pitcher at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas before being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He pitched in 18 games with the Missoula, Montana rookie league team, striking out 55 hitters in 62-1/3 innings of work before being released.

Oddly enough, the no-hitter was the first win of the year for the Ozark rookie, who has now won three straight starts and sports the league's best individual earned run average at 1.98. He has only allowed 28 hits in 41 innings of work, and struck out 42 batters.

The league's two previous no-hitters were both nine-inning achievements. In 1994, Larry Carter of the Tyler (TX) Wildcatters threw the league's first no-hitter. And, in 1998, Ken "Catfish" Krahenbuhl made national headlines when he threw a no-hitter in his first start after being obtained by the Greenville (MS) Bluesmen in a trade that included 10 pounds of Mississippi Catfish.

COLTS GO WILD IN BACK-TO-BACK BLOWOUTS

The San Angelo (TX) Colts scored 180 runs in their first 26 games this season, but they got 42 of those in back-to-back offensive explosions against the visiting Greenville (MS) Bluesmen on May 22nd & 23rd.

After splitting the first two games of a four-game homestand against the Bluesmen, the Colts erupted for back-to-back 22-12 and 20-3 wins. In the first of the two games, San Angelo batters pounded out only 16 hits, but set a new league single-game record by drawing 15 walks from a group of five Greenville pitchers.

San Angelo second baseman T.D. Taylor had the most productive night at the plate - with a double and home run in 2 official at bats, 4 walks, 5 runs batted in and 3 runs scored.

Greenville pitcher Chad Canal was the hard-luck performer of the game. He gave up 3 base hits, 3 walks and 6 earned runs in just six batters faced. He did not record an out.

The following night, San Angelo stormed back with a 19-hit attack in a 20-3 win, including four home runs. They scored 10 runs in just the 5th inning.

On May 31st, the Amarillo (TX) Dillas joined the 20-run club with a rout of their own, defeating the Alexandria (LA) Aces, 21-8. In that game, Amarillo pounded out 24 hits. Ten Dillas players had at least one hit in the game, including 8 extra-base hits.

In the three games, only the 15 walks surrendered by the Greenville pitchers was a new league single-game record. Recent research has uncovered that the Tyler (TX) Wildcatters scored 24 runs in a win over the Dillas back in 1997, collecting 27 hits. The Alexandria (LA) Aces also had a 27-hit performance in a game against an unknown opponent in 1997.

ARE THE DILLAS HUMAN?!

Even the league-leading Amarillo (TX) Dillas (18-7) can be human (...well, at least sort of 'human') as they actually lost their first two back-to-back games of the season, 5-3 to the San Angelo (TX) Colts May 19 at home, and 6-5 to the Rio Grande Valley (TX) WhiteWings on the road May 20. The Dillas actually played only .500 ball for the first time this season, as well, going 4-4 over a stretch against San Angelo, Rio Grande and the Jackson (MS) DiamondKats from May 18-25. (Incidentally, Amarillo did get back on its winning track to end the month, winning 5-of-6 from May 25-31.)

The Dillas are batting an unbelievable .324 as a team with 85 extra base hits, including 24 home runs, through the first 25 games. Their pitching is tops in the league, as well, with a 4.23 team ERA and 163 strikeouts.

PARITY TAKES OVER THE REST OF THE PENNANT CHASE

Regardless of the Dillas dominance, the rest of the Texas-Louisiana League looks to be a pretty evenly-matched bunch. As of June 1st, only four games seperate the second through eighth place teams in the standings, and all eight teams have enjoyed streaks of success during the first month of the season.

The Rio Grande Valley (TX) WhiteWings (14-12), who were at just 5-5 on May 15th, have won 9 of their last 15 games, to lead the San Angelo (TX) Colts, Greenville (MS) Bluesmen, and Alexandria (LA) Aces (all at 13-13) by a single game in the standings for second place.

The Bluesmen and Aces have been on opposite runs lately. The Aces, under the leadership of first-year field manager John O'Brien, have stormed back after a 3-8 start to win 10 of their last 15 games. Greenville, which started strong (winning 7 of their first 11 for first-year manager Chris Cassels), has dropped 9 of 15 since.

The Springfield/Ozark (MO) Mountain Ducks are also clawing their way back after a slow, 4-7 start. They have won 6 of their last 10 games.

ACES ON A ROLL!

The Alexandria (LA) Aces comeback to respectability (see above) can be attributed greatly to a 9-game win streak from May 18-23. The Aces swept series from the Springfield/Ozark (MO) Mountain Ducks and Jackson (MS) DiamondKats, and are now hitting .301 as a team (second best in the league behind Amarillo's unbelievable .324 team batting average).

The Aces have the hottest hitter in the league, returning veteran infielder Marvin Cole. Cole is hitting .406 to lead the league with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Alexandria player/manager John O'Brien, the T-L League's all-time home run leader, is back in business again this year, leading the pack with 7 home runs. He is hitting .311 with 22 RBI and a .635 slugging percentage.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

The Rio Grande Valley (TX) WhiteWings are getting good pitching (4.72 team ERA), especially from Yfrain Linares, who leads the team with a 4-1 record and 3.20 ERA. He has 55 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched... Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks veteran hurler Mike Smith still must feel like the hardest luck pitcher in the league. The former major leaguer leads the league with 57 strikeouts and has a respectible 4.03 ERA in 51 innings pitched. But his record is 1-5, and his teammates have only scored 8 total runs for him in the five losses... It was bad enough that the Greenville (MS) Bluesmen were on the short end of the San Angelo (TX) Colts' 22-12 and 20-3 blowouts on May 22-23. But the Bluesmen followed those two losses up with a 13-0 shutout loss to the Rio Grande Valley (TX) WhiteWings. That's 55 runs surrendered in three straight games... Jackson (MS) DiamondKats first baseman Casey Myrick may be the best player you've never heard about so far this season. Myrick is hitting .337 for the Kats, with 21 RBI and a .533 slugging percentage through 25 games... Myrick's teammate, pitcher James Latham, has a 3.67 ERA in six starts, but has just one win in four decisions. Jackson pitcher Mark Davis is one of the league leaders with a 2.95 ERA, but has just a 3-2 record...all in relief... Former major leaguer Barry Manuel, who leads the league with 8 saves for the Lafayette (LA) Bayou Bullfrogs, may be back in the "bigs" if he keeps up his current dominance. Manuel has appeared in 13 games, given up just 8 hits and 2 earned runs for a 1.13 ERA. He has struck out 16 hitters and opposing batters are hitting just .145 against him.

Central Baseball League Stories from June 6, 2000

• Texas-Louisiana League News and Notes - OSC Original by League Press Release

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