Perhaps Frank Brooks’ outstanding performance on Thursday night against the Augusta Greenjackets was because he took a cue from the guy who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before hand.

UNC Charlotte basketball coach Bobby Lutz.

Lutz, who stands only 5-foot-6, fired a fastball that brought some oohs and aahs from the crowd.

“I actually had some (college) offers in baseball,” said Lutz, “but I loved basketball.”

Lutz said it really isn’t as hard as you might think trying to recruit in Conference USA, despite being in the heart of ACC Country.

“We try to recruit in the state,” Lutz said. “That’s still difficult. It’s easier to recruit out-of-state. They didn’t grow up wirth that (ACC)mentality. They see Conference USA and UNC Charlotte as a great league. We’re actually perceived as a great league in a lot of other places.”

WHERE’SERIC: Despite being 25 years old, despite playing most of spring training with the Double-A Reading team, and despite playing very well, Eric Schreimann was sent to Piedmont for one reason and one reason only.

The Phillies knew he could hit the ball but they wanted to see him catch.

So why hasn’t he? Shoulder problems.

Schreimann was sent to Philadelphia recently and Boll Weevils manager Greg Legg said tnings turned out better than anticipated.

“He got a second shot of cortisone and it seemed to hit the right spot,” said Legg, who added surgery won’t be necessary. “We’ve sent him to Florida for two weeks to do nothing.”

Schreimann will remain in extended spring training and play a couple of games before returning to Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in early June.

Schreimann was one of the team’s best hitters. When he was put on the DL, he was hitting .306 with 13 RBIs in 12 games.

JULIO’SBACK: Taking Schreiamnn’s place on the roster was Julio Colloza, a slick infield,er who had been on the DLfor the past two weeks. He had played just four games and was hitting .286.

WIN ONE, LOSEONE: Legg laughed when asked why teams have so much trouble winning both ends of a doubleheader.

Twice this season, his Weevils have won the first game and lost the second.

“Ithink the 7-inning games have somethjing to do with it,” he said. “One play, one swing of the bat and the game is over.”

20-0: Legg didn’t take the Weevils’ 20-0 win over Augusta last week very seriously. He remembers being on the other end.

“We got beat up in Denver something like 23-2 one time,” said Legg, once a big-league player.“Greg Vaughn had something like 11 RBIs. But those games are very rare and it’s a good thing. Otherwise, it would be football.”

As far as his team’s win, he said, “It was just one of those nights. Everything we hit was in there.”

BIGNATE: He’s hitting .385. He has five homers. He has nine doubles. He has 19 RBIs. His slugging percentage is .671 and his on-base percentage is .515.

Ho-hum. Just some stats from the Nate Espy file.

The hulking first baseman for the Weevils is having one of those seasons.

“Iexpected all of this,” said Legg. “He’s capable of it. I expect him to drive in runs and score runs. He’s in the middle of the lineup and we’ve got people in front of him getting on base.”

In fact, eight players are currently hitting at least .290. The team is second in the SALwith a .286 average. The pitching staff is second in the league in ERA (2.90).

“We’ve really got a good team,” said Espy of the 19-9 Weevils. “We’ve got good pitching, defense and good hitting.”

HICKORYSURGING: There’s only one team better than Piedmont in average and ERA and it’s the club that’s one-half game ahead of the Weevils — Hickory.

They’re a real nice club,” Legg said. “It’s better for our development that we’re playing these guys. The better the competition, the better we’ll get.”

GOODRECORD: Legg said if someone had told him the team would win 17 of its first 26 games, he’d say “Let’sd start right here.”

“You gotta be happy with that,” he said. “Mos of all, I’m pleased with the effort. We have good chemistry.”