First Look at Baseball-- Church, Ornelas, JC's

NY PRESS ALREADY DISSING CHURCHIE

It looks like RYAN CHURCH will have to do yet another sales job. The sturdy outfielder who stood up under repeated fire by his own General Manager in Washington, (enough to finish fifth in doubles in the National League) now has a supportive GM in the Mets’ Omar Minaya. The New York press however is another story.

Already Marty Noble of The Sporting News is pitting Damion Easley against Churchie—

“Damion Easley, who was a valuable all-purpose player before hurting his ankle in August, could emerge as the Mets’ righthanded-hitting right fielder. Ryan Church isn’t productive against lefthanders –- hit .229, with one home run in 118 at-bats against them last season when he was with the Nationals.”

Hey, Marty—yeah, he hits righties better but get your numbers straight--his BA vs. lefties for his career is not .229 it’s .259. He’s at .282 vs. righthanders. And with the wimpy lineup the Nats put on the field Ryan was doing great. You've got a big surprise coming!

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BENNY AT LEWIS-CLARK

BEN ORNELAS is not listed yet on the Lewis-Clark State roster but he will be, Assistant Coach GUS KNICKREHM assures us. Knickrehm, for you newcomers, is a Lompoc High alum.

“Right know as of today Ben is working on a couple classes,” Gus writes. “ONCE HE COMPLETES THESE TWO COURSES HE WILL BE ADDED TO THE ROSTER.” Gus wanted to emphasize that second point so he wrote in CAPITAL LETTERS.

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COMMUNITY COLLEGE OPENERS TOMORROW

Hancock and Santa Barbara City College have plenty of Lompoc talent for their delayed openers tomorrow.

Hancock lists returning pitchers JOEY GREEN (#28) and EVAN FIELDS (#37) and newcomers COREY DOTZLER (#11) and KIRK FRIDRICH (#24). Fridrich will be pitching but Dotzler will NOT be catching as he did in high school. He’ll be playing third base! Fans will remember Dotzler as a pint-sized shortstop in Babe Ruth.

At SBCC three locals will make their first appearances. JAMES ROOT (#6) will be pitching after red-shirting last season. BRIAN GREGORY (#20) will be catching after a red-shirt year. JOHNATHAN TERRONES (#40) is battling for the starting right field job after a year away from baseball. Though he did play for the Lompoc Titans on Sundays last summer.

Hancock travels to Taft for a 2 p.m. game while SBCC visits West Hills in Coalinga for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.