Tuesday, April 17, 2001

[ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ]

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Former Waipahu
pitcher ready to start
minor league season

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By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Waipahu High School graduate Jerome Williams of the Double-A Shreveport (La.) Giants is scheduled to make his first start of the season Thursday on the road against Wichita (Kan.).

The right-hander broke camp with Shreveport, but has been on the disabled list because he missed much of spring training due to the death of his mother, Deborah.

Williams, one of the Giants' top prospects, said he is fine physically and emotionally and is ready to pitch.

"I threw in the bullpen today and against live batting the other day," he said last night from Tulsa, Okla. "The main thing for me now is to keep the ball down and let them hit rollers or pop-ups."

Williams went 7-6 with a 2.94 ERA for the A-League San Jose Giants last year.