July 10, 2007

Three-run homer in sixth breaks three-year drought
By RICKY TREON
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

After losing the first three Texas Collegiate League All-Star games, the Rogers Hornsby Division finally broke through.

McKinney's Derek Wiley hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning to lead the Hornsby All-Stars past the Tris Speaker Division 3-0 Monday. Wiley, who is from Belmont University, was named the game's MVP.

"I was looking for a good pitch and I was down 0-2, so I was going to battle," Wiley said. "I got a good curveball to hit and just put a good swing on it."

The Hornsby pitching staff held the Speaker All-Stars to three hits.

Greer a hit

Former Rangers outfielder Rusty Greer is making his mark in the TCL.

Greer, the first-year manager of the Colleyville LoneStars, managed the Speaker All-Stars and received a loud cheer from the fans during pregame introductions.

"It's a big honor," Greer said of his All-Star nomination. "Hopefully, it means I'm doing something right."

Greer's team is 6-10 and in last place in the division, but the 2007 Rangers Hall of Fame inductee created a buzz when he was first introduced as the Colleyville manager and has helped give the TCL a familiar face.

"That's kind of why I took this job," Greer said. "I wanted to help out not only the Colleyville LoneStars but the league as well."

Rainy days

One of the wettest summers in North Texas history has taken its toll on the TCL in the first half of the season.

Coppell postponed seven of its first 10 games, and overall, 30 games have been postponed and two cancelled, disrupting the flow of the season.

"Hopefully, in the second half of the season, we'll get some consistency with the games," Rusty Greer said.

Briefly

Colleyville's Kyle Hardman (Cal State Fullerton) won the Home Run Derby before the game.

Coppell's Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) played five games with the Copperheads before joining Team USA for recent series against Chinese Taipei and Japan's Collegiate All-Stars and the upcoming Pan American Games.

Coppell (8-7) leads the Speaker Division, and McKinney (12-4) leads the Hornsby Division.

ONLINE: texascollegiateleague.com