Aussie A Big Hit In Everett

Chris Snelling is a long way from home for a 17-year-old.

But his long journey was worth it.

Snelling, an outfielder with the Everett AquaSox, was born Dec. 3, 1981, in New South Wales, Australia.

The Seattle Mariners signed him to a free agent contract this year and brought him to Everett.

Snelling made his first appearance in Spokane this week for a three-game series against the Indians. He was hitting .347, the sixth-best average in the league, heading into the weekend.

Snelling also became the first AquaSox player to hit for the cycle last Wednesday against Boise.

He hit a two-run home run in the first inning, doubled and scored in the second, had a two-run triple in the fifth, hit a grand slam in the sixth, and singled and scored in the eighth.

He finished with 14 total bases and nine runs batted in, both marks are close to league records.

Snelling said he knew he needed a single in the sixth for the cycle, but instead tried for a sacrifice fly that cleared the fence.

Emeralds gain some luster

Eugene reached the .500 mark last week for the first time since 1996, when the Emeralds won the South Division with a 49-27 record.

The current Eugene club reached the break-even point with a three-game sweep of Salem-Keizer, the team’s fourth consecutive series win. The Emeralds are 11-6 since starting the season 5-12.

“Defense and pitching,” said manager Danny Sheaffer “We’ve hit all year, but we’ve had good pitching the last two weeks and even better defense,” Eugene’s starting pitchers have lasted at least five innings in 14 of their last 17 games. “If you look at the North or South division, playing .500 will keep you in it, but we need to do better,” Sheaffer said. “We still have a long way to go.”

Boise waits for turnaround

The Boise Hawks have dominated the league during the 1990s, but the ‘99 team is waiting to catch fire.

The Hawks entered the weekend with a 16-17 record, just the second time since 1992 that they’ve had a losing record this late in the season. Boise was 22-11 at this stage last season.

The Hawks have floundered on the road. Boise is 5-11 away from home, dropping its last four road series.

Boise has won seven divisional titles since 1990.

True to blue

Everett coach Andy Bottin, a retired Seattle policeman, stood at attention outside the team’s clubhouse for two hours during Monday’s memorial service for Brian DiBucci, an Everett policeman who was killed in the line of duty last week.

Bottin was in his baseball uniform, with his cap off and a bat at his side.

“I know a lot of those guys, the Everett guys,” Bottin said. “I’ve still got the blue in me. My prayers and best wishes go to the family.”

Short stops

Spokane is 10-9 on the road after starting the season 0-6… . Eugene pitcher Ben Christensen, a first-round selection out of Wichita State, was rocked for seven earned runs in 2 innings during his debut Sunday against Everett. Christensen made headlines last spring when he beaned Anthony Molina while the Evansville batter waited in the on-deck circle… . Last week’s five-game series between Portland and Boise featured 102 runs. Portland hit 13 home runs in the series and won one game 20-4. Boise scored wins of 19-1 and 16-14… . Eugene left-hander Jeramy Gomer has allowed three earned runs or less in six of his seven starts, but he was 1-4 until last Monday’s 9-4 win over Salem-Keizer.