MORE ON THE BRAVES

The offensive backfield of the Braves is not blue, it’s green.

Tailback MASSON BLOW, Z-back BRANDON ALONZO and fullback FAVI VARGAS had only a handful of carries last year.

But they all bring talent. Alonzo, whose lightning-quick brother Anthony played that spot just a few years ago, may be as fast as his brother. “He’s elusive,” attested Luken.

Blow, one of Luken’s four co-captains, is an ex-wrestler. “He’s a physical guy for how big he is,” said Luken. “He has balance and brings toughness.” Blow is 5-9, 170.

Vargas (5-10, 200) is another whose brother once played his spot. His brother Manuel was Napoleon Kaufman’s running mate in Lompoc’s legendary first CIF title drive in 1990. The younger Vargas played a lot on defense last season.

Also at FB, in order to give Vargas a break since he’ll be playing linebacker on D, will be VICTOR REYNA who Luken says brings a “low center of gravity,” and super-soph JAKE MOREHART, one of just three sophomores on the squad.

The tight end will be co-captain STEVEN MOREHART, a senior who backed up at that spot last season.

The D

The Brave defense will be as green as the offensive backfield. The key spot, the strong side linebacker will be held down, or alternated, by Vargas and Steven Morehart. Vargas was a defensive end in 2006, Morehart a weakside backer. Jake Morehart looks to be the weakside LB.

The starting line looks like fullback Reyna at left end, tackle GILBERTO RIOS, then three juniors-- nose guard BUCKY MARTINEZ, tackle ADAM LEACH, and right end SETH BROADHEAD. “They’re all 200 pounds and they can all move,” Luken declared. Well, Reyna is only 185 but Rios is 225 so it evens out.

In the backfield Blow and Alonzo, who have experience, will be the corners, but beyond them the personnel is young-- SCOTTY AGUAILAR will be the strong safety, and junior GILBERT CORNEJO or RUDY YRUEGAS will be the free safety. All three are juniors.

Special teams look to be in good hands with experienced DARYL AGUILAR punting and two talented toes kicking field goals in senior RALPH GONZALES and sophomore MATT MARQUEZ. The critical long snapper will be ROBERTO CORRAL.

Luken made an interesting comment about his revamped coaching staff, about whom a few eyebrows have been raised for its youth, ANDREW JONES and NATE MENDOZA having just finished their collegiate eligibility last season. “They’re gonna be fine,” Luken said. “They bring a little more enthusiasm than some of us old guys have. When you’re around young people it gets your juices flowing again.”

Luken set his goals as follows—“We want to go to the playoffs. We want to compete for the Pac-7 title, and we want to practice on Thanksgiving. That’s what we do here at Lompoc High.”

Tomorrow: Oaks Christian

Game time Friday is 7:30 on Comcast channel 25

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At Dodger Stadium Wednesday RYAN CHURCH went 4-for-5 including his 37th double of the season but the Washington bullpen could not hold the lead and the Dodgers prevailed 10-9 in 12 innings.

In the “good to see he agrees with me” category is the following post from MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Church and rightfielder Austin Kearns have posted almost identical batting numbers this season yet the “Nationals’ brain trust” (General Manager Jim Bowden) brings in Wily Mo Pena to replace Church while Kearns remains secure.

"There have been times this season when I've felt Kearns was given a free pass by the organization and certain members of the media when it came to his offensive production. Not too long ago, one member of the 'think tank' told a group of writers, 'Kearns was the second-best player on the team' after Ryan Zimmerman. But, I guess, hustle and determination outweighed anything Kearns has done with the bat. Next year, though, I would like to see the hitter Bowden has bragged about since 2005. Thirty home runs and 100 RBIs would be a nice year for Kearns in 2008.

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CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-4 with a double Wednesday to show he has mastered New York-Penn League pitching this time around. With Oneonta in June he managed only one hit in 19 tries.