Hurdle leaves Rockies to be with ill daughter

Saturday, May 21st 2005, 11:29 am

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle will leave the club Saturday to be with his ill 2-year-old daughter, who was hospitalized Friday in Denver following a series of seizures.

Hurdle's daughter, Madison Reilly, has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Since his daughter's birth in 2002, Hurdle has been active in raising funds to help raise awareness of the disease.

``I have a responsibility to my wife and daughter,'' Hurdle said Friday night following a 9-4 loss in Pittsburgh. ``I need to get back there and provide some support for (wife) Karla and my little girl.''

Bench coach Jamie Quirk will manage the club Saturday night. Quirk is attending his daughter's graduation Sunday, so hitting coach Duane Espy and pitching coach Bob Apodaca will run the club that day.

``Jamie will be back Monday (in Milwaukee), and I might be back,'' Hurdle said.

First baseman Todd Helton said the players wished Hurdle well and understand why he's leaving.

``He needs to be at home right now,'' Helton said. ``If one of my children was in that situation, I'd be there, I wouldn't be here. It wouldn't even be a second thought. You've got to have your priorities in order.''

Hurdle, in his fourth season as Colorado's manager, also has a 6-month-old son, Christian, and a 19-year-old daughter, Ashley, who attends Cal-Santa Barbara.