Second Five-Homer Game of Year

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With players chanting “Mark McGwire,” Brent Williams hit five home runs in a game to tie a high school record.

He homered in five consecutive at-bats and drove in eight runs, leading Maple Grove High of Bemus Point to a rain-shortened, six-inning 17-2 victory over Clymer on Tuesday night.

It was the second time a player hit five home runs in as many at-bats in a game this year. Jesse Crosswhite of Fortuna, Calif., did it April 1.

“He hit five out that were over the fence,” Maple Grove Coach Scott Lewellen said Wednesday, “and I would say three of them were just crushed. Gone.”

Only four other high school players have hit five homers in a game: Crosswhite; Aaron Hull, of Nantucket, Mass., in 1996; Shawn Gallagher, of Wilmington, N.C., in 1995; Ken Lisko, of Youngstown, Ohio, in 1976.

“Right after I hit the third one, I was shaking my head. I really didn’t think I could hit three home runs,” Williams said, noting that he had never hit five home runs in one varsity season.

Williams, a 17-year-old junior second baseman, had one homer in 10 previous games this season.

The game Tuesday was played at Clymer’s fenced-in field, which measures 275 feet to left and 320 to center. All five homers were to left-center. An approaching thunderstorm stirred the wind, which was blowing out.