Duffy Finishes AZL a Star; Collins Back at LHS

DANNY DUFFY completed his debut professional season with the Arizona League Royals Wednesday night with blue chip statistics.

In 37 innings over 11 games, nine of which he started, he allowed only six earned runs and 24 hits. His ERA was 1.45. He allowed not a single home run. He struck out a whopping 63 and walked only 17. His 63 strike outs ranked No. 6 in the AZL despite the fact that many pitchers worked far more inning than he did.

Duffy’s only so-so statistic was his won-loss mark of 2-3. His final game Wednesday night gave him his third defeat. He came on in relief in the third inning, only his second relief appearance of the summer, and worked three innings. He was tapped for four hits, two earned runs and a walk. He struck out three. In the third inning two singles, the walk, and a throwing error by his catcher scored two, one earned. In the fifth two singles and two wild pitches put another across.

He will return to Lompoc briefly before returning to Arizona for fall instructional camp, a coup for a young player.

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BOBBY COLLINS, Lompoc High’s top ground gainer in 2006, may play for the Braves this year after all.

Coach ROBIN LUKEN told LLR.com today that Collins, who transferred away for the spring semester, enrolled at LHS this week. He has been added to the Braves’ roster as printed in MaxPreps.com with jersey No. 24.

“We still have to go through CIF to verify residence and all that stuff,” Luken said. “So I don’t know if he’ll be able to play next week or the week after.”

Collins definitely will not be eligible to play tomorrow night in the team’s opener at Oaks Christian.

If and when CIF clearance is secured, the Braves’ inexperience in the offensive backfield will be significantly lessened. “I’m feeling good,” Luken said, thinking of his experienced offensive line and the blazing Collins to go with BRANDON ALONZO, MASSON BLOW and FAVI VARGAS as ball carriers.

Last year Collins, in his sophomore season, was Lompoc’s leading rusher with 474 yards. On 91 carries at tailback he carried for an average of 5.21 yards/carry, the highest on the team. Included in his total were 140 yards vs. Arroyo Grande and 122 yards vs. San Luis Obispo. His longest run of the season was a 74-yard romp against AG. He tied for the team lead in scoring with 32 points.

As a soph Collins stood six feet tall and weighed 190. He is now listed at 6-0, 180 by MaxPreps.com.

Luken also announced that for the first time in 26 years as a coach he will miss a game. Thursday evening he was en route to Colorado Springs for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s parents’ Open House. “It’s the first time ever done this,” Luken said. “But it’s the only time I’ll ever be able to see both of my sons there.” Both BRYCE and DERRICK LUKEN are cadets at USAFA.

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.

Luken Optimistic for 17th Season

ROBIN LUKEN popped the lid off the 2007 Lompoc Braves football team today and pronounced himself at least a little bit optimistic. This after a 3-7 season in 2006, only the third year in 16 in which Luken’s Braves failed to make the CIF playoffs.

“I’m seeing camaraderie,” Luken said. “I’m seeing pats on the back. I’m seeing guys who like to play with each other.

“The kids learned a hard lesson. Last year’s team thought, ‘This is going to be easy.’ This year’s team is a little more humble. They’ve bonded better. I don’t feel friction. They’re more willing to do what we ask them to do.”

The "we" is the coaching staff pictured above -- NATE MENDOZA, ANDREW JONES, LUKEN, CHRIS ADAMS, and ROGER PACHECO

The last time the Braves failed to make the playoffs was in 2001. The following season Jones and Mendoza led the team to a CIF title.

But that year Jones, the quarterback, had been QB for two previous seasons. This time the signal caller, DARYL AGUILAR, was only a part-timer his junior year.

“So far he’s making all the right decisions on the field,” Luken declared.

Asked which of his past quarterbacks Aguilar resembled, Luken took a moment to think, then recalled NICK TERRONES of the 1994 and 1995 teams which won the old Northern League and reached deep into the playoffs.

“He’s like Nick Terrones. He’s creative on the field,” Luken said. Aguilar came on in relief several times last season and at San Marcos rallied the Braves to victory.

The strength of the Brave team at this point is the offensive line where three starters return—left tackle VAL VEGA (6-3, 280), center ANDREW VAN DYKE (6-3, 260), both seniors, and right guard ADAM LEACH (5-10, 215) a junior. “All three started last year and they worked during the off season,” Luken pointed out.

Two juniors, EVAN BEDFORD (6-0, 235) and SAUL DOMINGUEZ (6-0, 215) are battling for the other guard spot while a threesome of seniors: GILBERTO RIOS (6-0, 225), SAHID TORRES (5-10, 225) and THOMAS McCAFFREY (6-3, 270) are competing for the right tackle job.

It’s worth mentioning that all weigh in at well over the 200-pound mark, a rarity for past Brave teams. “Gutty little Braves,” remember?

Tomorrow— the Brave backfield, receivers, defense and special teams, the impact of the new young coaching staff, and … Oaks Christian.

Game time Friday is 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast by Press Box Productions over TAP-TV, channel 25 on Lompoc’s Comcast cable.

White's Blazing Bat Earns Promotion

CHRIS WHITE (pictured here with GEORGE MEYER in June before he left Lompoc for his pro debut) received an unexpected reward from the Detroit Tigers today. After rapping two more hits to cap a late season wildfire at the plate in the Gulf Coast Rookie League. White was called up to the New York-Pennsylvania League to finish the season.

White went 2-for-2 today against the Rookie Blue Jays to give himself a rockin’ .410 batting average over the past 10 games. His GCL totals are a .279 batting average, three home runs, 22 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 183 at-bats.

White will report tomorrow to the Oneonta Tigers in New York. If you think you’ve heard that line before, you’re right. White’s debut took place there but after six games and a 1-for-19 start (don’t ask what the average for that is) he was sent to the GCL in Florida. White began slowly there as well but he turned it all around in August.

The New York invitation was White’s second. His first was to the Tigers’ fall instructional camp. a sweet invite for any young player.

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At Dodger Stadium the Washington Nationals opened their only series of the season in LA with scores, maybe hundreds, of Lompocans in the stands including CHRIS COGGIN who was celebrating his 30th birthday. The attraction of course was RYAN CHURCH who was not in the starting lineup, UNTIL.....

An injury to Wily Mo Pena in the second inning brought Church into the game to all Lompoc’s delight. At the plate Churchie grounded out to short while Vin Scully was talking about a Chipper Jones foot tap Church once used. Later Church grounded to first and struck out on a questionable call in the ninth.

MLB.com’s Bill Ladson talked to Churchie before the game and got these comments about his recent demotion from the starting lineup—

Left out: Outfielder Ryan Church has not started in three out of the last four games despite the fact he was hitting .297 with three home runs and seven RBIs in his last 12 games.
Church acknowledged that he is frustrated about being on the bench. The arrival of Wily Mo Pena is the reason Church has seen his playing time decreased. Church made it into Tuesday's game in place of Pena, who injured his ankle in the second inning.
"What can you do? You have to be ready when your name is called," Church said.
The Nationals made it no secret that they have been disappointed in Church's power production. Entering Monday's action, Church had 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 122 games. The team was looking for something more in the 20-homer and 80-RBI range. Asked why his numbers are down, Church said that spacious Robert F. Kennedy Stadium is a factor, but wouldn't use it as an excuse.
"I would like to have more home runs. What can you do? Of late, I'm been trying to get everything back with one swing -- trying to get eight home runs, but those things happen," Church said. "Everybody's numbers are down. It sounds like a broken record, but there are no excuses."

The series continues Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.

Duffy Impresses Again

DANNY DUFFY posted yet another blue-chip outing Friday night for the Arizona Rookie League Royals – in four shutout innings, he allowed one hit, struck out 5, walked two. Duff’s season stats now include a scintillating ERA of 1.05. He has allowed only 20 hits in 34 innings and his strikeout to walk ratio is 60/16. Duffy appears to be on the fast track to A-ball in 2008. Picture here is by his mom DEANNA DUFFY.

Also at the rookie level CHRIS WHITE went 1-for-4 both Friday and Saturday which means he’s hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games for the Gulf Coast League Tigers. His base knock Friday was a home run, his third roundtripper of the season and second in two days. His average over the last 10 games is a blazing .366 which brings him up to .271 for the season.

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In the major leagues RYAN CHURCH (who was going to be platooned, right?) got his only start of the Rockies’ series today and went 1-for-4 with his 11th home run of the season. Powerful replacement Wily Mo Pena went 0-for-4 both Saturday and Sunday and is stuck at .222. The Nationals lost all four games at Coors Field. Game time at Dodger Stadium Monday night is 7 p.m.

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At the World Track & Field championships in Osaka, Japan DUANE SOLOMON will get his first chance on Thursday when the 800 opening heats take place.

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In local high school football Press Box Productions announced today that its first broadcast of the year will take place Friday night when the Lompoc Braves venture south to tackle CIF titleholder Oaks Christian in the opener for both teams. Listen in on Comcast Channel 25.

Chris White Tears Up Brave Pitching

CHRIS WHITE boomed his second home run as a professional Thursday for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in a victory over the GCL Braves. He also went 4-for-6 to give himself a blazing 10-for-18 run over the past four games and a .333 average over the past 10 games. White, who started slow after signing out of Sacramento City College, upped his batting average for the season with the GCL Tigers to .272.

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In the major leagues RYAN CHURCH got his first start in three days Thursday night and went 0-for-4 in a win over Houston. Newcomer outfielder Wily Mo Pena did not start. Maybe I should take back the mean things I’ve said about the Nationals. Nahhhh……The Nationals spend the weekend in Denver, then arrive in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday at noon.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALLERS FROM LOMPOC

MATT SIMS, Utah tight end—Here’s his bio compliments of the University of Utah web site. The Utes open on Aug. 30 at Oregon State.

UTAH: Will start for a second year this fall ... is a big reason behind the expanding role of the tight end in Utah's offense.
2006-Played in all 13 games, with six starts ... 4 receptions for 62 yards led the Ute tight ends ... averaged 15.5 yards per reception ... season-long catch of 23 yards came at Utah State.
PRIOR TO UTAH: First-team all-conference tight end at Allan Hancock College ... played in 2005 American Bowl ... prepped at Lompoc High (Calif.), where he was an all-league offensive lineman and all C.I.F. in 2003 ... won three letters in football and baseball ... set Lompoc High records for bench press, squat and power clean ... honor roll.
PERSONAL: Son of Barbara Sims ... one brother ... enjoys surfing and fishing ... full name is Mathew Earl Sims ... born Oct. 30, 1985. YEAR G/GS 13/6 REC 4 YDS 62 AVG 15.5 TD 0 LONG 23

Now They Sit Churchie Against a Righty!!

Note the last three posts on RYAN CHURCH, then factor in that Churchie was only used as a pinch hitter tonight against Houston’s Woody Williams, a RIGHT hander. Wily Mo Pena played left field, Nook Logan center. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Ryan took advantage though, he banged a single.

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In the Arizona Rookie League Sunday DANNY DUFFY suffered his toughest outing of the summer. The Lompoc lefty with the Rookie Royals gave up two earned runs in three-plus innings, the first time that has happened all season. The total represents half of his total for the year: 4. He also took the loss, his second of the campaign. On the positive side Duffy struck out seven and walked none, that’s ZERO. So, his numbers are still spectacular—30 innings pitched and he’s allowed only 19 hits. He has fanned 55 and walked just 14. His earned run average is a miniscule 1.19. He should have one more outing before the season ends on Aug. 31.

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In Lakeland, Florida CHRIS WHITE rapped two hits today for the Gulf Coast League Tigers, the third straight day he has done that. This hot streak brings his BA to .257…

Looks Like a Platoon to Us

Friday RYAN CHURCH (picture here by Mike Collins http://www.collinsfoto.com/) was going to be platooned. Sunday he was back in the starting lineup. Today, well....

Regardless of what the Washington Nationals SAY, let’s look at what they DO.

To us it looks like Churchie, no matter what you call it, is being PLATOONED since Wily Mo Pena arrived. Church plays against righthanded pitchers only.

On Saturday he sat on the bench against Met lefthander Oliver Perez as Pena made his debut.

On Sunday Ryan played against Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, a righthander. On Monday he played again (this time in center field) against Houston righty Jason Jennings.

But tonight, against Astro lefty Wandy Rodriguez Church sat the bench again.

Some people might say that four outfielders are being shuffled into three spots. Uh, no. Pena and Austin Kearns have played every day. It looks like a Church/Nook Logan platoon to us!

Austin Kearns is an interesting case. Kearns remember has played all season and has been less productive than Church but there has been no talk of trading HIM or of platooning HIM.

Why? Well, he once played in Cincinnati with Wily Mo Pena when, guess who, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, was GM there. Bowden also brought Logan to the Nationals. So of the four contending outfielders only one is not a Bowden recruit—that’s Church. Now all this Reds-ifying of the Nationals may be fine if the Reds had won anything while Bowden was there, but go look it up. They didn’t.

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It’s football season. Here’s Lompoc Locker Room’s first in a series of Lompoc football biographies of current college players. This one comes from Penn State’s official website.

"Making the transition from offense to defense, LYDELL SARGEANT spent most of the 2006 season as an effective reserve cornerback and an important member of the special teams, seeing action in every game. With the move of Tony Davis to free safety at the start of spring practice, the former wide receiver seized the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to become a significant contributor for the defense. He and A.J. Wallace likely will enter preseason camp competing for the starting cornerback spot opposite Justin King, Sargeant's long-time friend and a former classmate in the Gateway school district near Pittsburgh. Sargeant's substantial progress during spring drills gained the attention of the coaching staff, who selected him as the recipient of the Jim O'Hora Award as the defense's most improved player."

Church to Remain a Starter After All

Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta announced Sunday morning that newcomer Wily Mo Pena will not platoon with RYAN CHURCH (photo by Mike Collins http://www.collinsfoto.com/) after all.

Saturday Pena, acquired from the Red Sox on Friday, started in left field as the Nationals brain trust had been saying he would. Church sat on the bench. But on Sunday Acta changed his mind. He told the press that Pena would play regularly in right field, rightfielder Austin Kearns will move to center, and Church, once a centerfielder, will remain the starting leftfielder which he has been all season. The odd man out is centerfielder Nook Logan. The reason, Acta claimed, was better defense. Yet the defensive whiz of this group is Logan. Sound fishy?

Why the change? My guess is that Acta knows, unlike home-run addict General Manager Jim Bowden, that Church brings too many intangibles to the table. He plays good defense, runs the bases well, and has done everything the team has asked. Relegating him to a part-time role upsets team chemistry. Here's the "official" announcement reported by Bill Ladson of MLB.com--

WASHINGTON -- In order to get a better defensive alignment in the outfield, manager Manny Acta decided to put Wily Mo Pena in right field, Ryan Church in left and Austin Kearns in center.

Of the three players, only Kearns is out of position, but Acta believes that Kearns can get the job done based on the great instincts he has in right field. Sunday will mark the sixth time Kearns has played center field this year.

"Instead of two out of three guys out of position, I'm just going to have one guy, but [Kearns] is probably the best suited guy to be there," Acta said. "Kearns has been tremendous. He is one of the best I've seen. When the ball meets the bat, Kearns is already moving. For his size and all that, he moves very well."

As for Pena, it appears he will stay in right and work with first base coach Jerry Morales on the art of playing the outfield. Pena said recently that right field was his best position.
"[Pena] is going to work every day. I already talked to him," Acta said. "He is a hard-working kid. We are going to try to keep everybody at their best position and make them comfortable just like today."

LHS Football Foto Day

The highlight of Saturday's Lompoc High football photo day was not the big guys but Dallas Canley, Cody Bommerbach, and D'Artagnan Canley ready here for their photo opp.

Nats Acquire Pena, to Platoon Church

Bill Ladson of MLB.com reported Friday that Wily Mo Pena had been acquired by the Washington Nationals from the Red Sox and that he will take over left field from RYAN CHURCH against left handed pitchers.


WASHINGTON -- In need of improving their power production, the Nationals acquired outfielder Wily Mo Pena from the Red Sox on Friday afternoon for a player to be named.
Pena, 25, will report to Washington on Saturday, while the Nationals are expected to make an additional roster move at that time....


General manager Jim Bowden declined to say who Washington will give up for Pena at a later date. Besides hitting home runs, Pena strikes out often and is considered a mediocre outfielder. Pena will make $1.8 million this season and Boston will be paying all but the pro-rated minimum.


"His power works at any stadium," said Bowden. "He is a good kid with a big heart. He has got to be driven. You have to stay on top of him. You have to get him to work hard. "I thought we made a good trade. Certainly in Boston's case, Pena is not the guy you carry in a pennant race in the role he had there. He has to play."


Bowden -- who had acquired Pena from the Yankees in 2001 when he was general manager of the Reds -- had pursued him again from the time he became the Nationals' GM in late 2004. This year, according to sources, Bowden was intent on acquiring Pena at a discount because he is having the least productive season of his career. Entering Friday's action, Pena was hitting .218 with five home runs and 17 RBIs on a part-time basis with Boston.


Last season, however, in Pena's American League debut, he hit .301 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games with Boston. Pena was acquired by the Red Sox on March 20, 2006, from the Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Bronson Arroyo and cash considerations.


As a member of the Nationals, Pena returns to the National League, where he hit 51 home runs in only 302 games with the Reds from 2002-05, an average of one long ball every 16.2 at-bats. Pena's best season came with Cincinnati in 2004, when he hit .259 with 26 home runs and 66 RBIs despite playing in only 110 games, sharing time in the Reds' outfield with Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. With increased playing time and at-bats in '04, Pena averaged one home run every 12.9 at-bats, including one every 9.6 at-bats when facing left-handed pitching.


Nationals manager Manny Acta said he plans to platoon Pena in left field with Ryan Church. Acta said Church took the news well, but Church declined to talk to the media about his reduced role.


"This guy has a lot of potential," Acta said of Pena. "He has not been able to play a full season. We know he is going to strike out a lot. Power guys do that. We are very interested in his potential. We need a power bat in here and I think he is going to bring that over here."


It's no secret that the Nationals have been disappointed in Church's offensive production. Entering Friday's action, Church was hitting .265 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs, while struggling against left-handed pitching. Church has been on the trade block for many months, but Washington hasn't come close to a deal.


"Sometime acquisitions can motivate other players to step up their game. We give players opportunities. No one is ever going to be given a job here," Bowden said. "I think Church has done well lately. ... But this isn't about Ryan. He was not traded. Do I like competition? Sure."


Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

ESPN Zone Interviews Church

By Michael Phillips, MLB.com


WASHINGTON -- RYAN CHURCH's appearance at ESPN Zone had been scheduled weeks in advance, but it couldn't have worked out much better than it did on Thursday.
During Wednesday night's game, Church launched a home run into the upper deck of RFK Stadium, his 10th of the season. Sure enough, the first question he received Thursday was about the home run.


"That time I got it," he said. "You can always tell, it comes pretty light off your bat, and that's a good feeling."


Church was the participant in a monthly series in which notable Nats take questions from fans during the lunch hour at the Washington ESPN Zone. Judging by the fans' response, Church was also the most popular. Before he took the stage, every table in the room had filled. That didn't deter the dozens of people who stood in the waiting area to watch the event.


Radio broadcaster Charlie Slowes moderated as fans asked Church questions on a variety of topics.
Question: What was it like to be standing in left field when Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run?
Church: I'm never going to forget that moment. To be able to say I was there and I saw it, and in the stands; I was actually in left field, and that's the same position Barry plays. I was honored to stand on the same grass. We haven't been in the playoffs, so I don't know what that atmosphere is like, but I think that was probably a playoff atmosphere. I don't even remember seeing the ball in flight because of all the flashes that were popping. I just heard the crack of the bat. It's something I can tell my kids and grandkids, and they'll continue to play it on TV like they did with Hank Aaron's. It was something pretty special.


Question: When I was growing up, the season began in mid-to-late April. Now it starts in late March, which can create weather problems. What do you think about that?
Church: It's global warming (laughter). We have 162 games, so you can't really fault anybody for the scheduling. It's tough because there are so many teams on the East Coast, and that time of year it's freezing, and there's nothing you can do with mother nature. Unless we all pack up and go West, there's really nothing you can do. As a ballplayer, you've just got to put on as many layers as you can and wait for the sun to come and heat you up.


Question: Three of the next four starting pitchers you're going to face are left-handed. How do you prepare for that?
Church: Most lefties that are starters are crafty. They're not going to blow you away with speed, but they have good sliders and curveballs. I think the biggest thing for me is to not try to pull the ball. I try to go over the shortstop and drive the ball into the left-center gap. The biggest thing for us is that if the pitcher does make mistakes, you've got to do something with it. We can't leave guys on base. If we've got the chance to move a guy over, we've got to do that. We've got to take full advantage of every opportunity we get.


Question: In 2005, you swung at a lot of breaking balls, but have made big improvements since then. What did you do to work on that?
Church: The biggest thing for me is laying off the low stuff, because everybody's got a way they're going to pitch to you. If I chase, they'll continue pounding that spot. I want to make sure everything's up. That allows me to stay up and swing off my front foot. It also helps when you've got coaches in the dugout yelling at you to stay off that stuff.


Question: Growing up in California, what team did you root for?
Church: I was actually a Giants fan. My favorite player was Will Clark, until he was traded to the Rangers. My older brother was a Dodgers fan, so we used to go after it and battle -- brother stuff. I actually got to meet Will Clark in 2001 in Hickory, North Carolina, at an All-Star game where he was the guest speaker. It was special. I still am a Giants fan, but I have to keep it on the inside.


Question: What's your favorite ballpark to play in?
Church: That would have to be Cincy or Philly (Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia). They both have really short fences and the ball flies well.


Question: How excited is the team for the opening of the new ballpark next year, and how does it affect the players?
Church: It's just the excitement that it's going to bring, because nobody ever played there before, and we are going to have that opportunity. I was just over there during the last homestand and got a tour of the place, and just wait until you see it. It's going to be spectacular. I think it's going to be one of the best parks out there. Especially for the Minor League guys, they'll have something to look forward to. That's their cathedral. That's where they want to get to. I think when the fans come out there and pack it, that's really going to be something to see.


Question: Watching the team sign its top 20 Draft picks, how important is that to have a good farm system?
Church: I think the biggest thing is that they always said they wanted to restock and replenish the farm system. I think it's true when [general manager] Jim Bowden says there are arms down there and they're coming sooner rather than later. I think there's some can't-miss guys that you're going to be seeing in the next couple years, and we're looking forward to learning how to play and win together.


Question: You showed good patience at the plate earlier this season. Is that something you've learned how to use to your advantage?
Church: I'm trying to get back to that. Manny [Acta] last month mentioned something to me about what my batting average was in certain counts, and it's important at this level. These guys have game plans; they're going to pitch you certain ways. It's about laying off stuff and being patient and waiting for your pitch. Lately, I'm getting back to where I was at the beginning of the year. A big part of success at this level is being a patient hitter.


Question: What kind of exercises do you do before the game?
Church: We have a team stretch before batting practice, but for me personally we have our own team masseuse, with the shiatsu massage. I want to be able to run out there every day and avoid injury, so I get stretched out and make sure I stretch after the game. The main thing is about 20 minutes before the game I go out to the field and run a couple sprints.


Question: Does it bother you to hear your name mentioned with trade rumors?
Church: That's something that as players, we can't control. It's just like the media, when they write something bad you've just got to brush it off. For me personally, I just want to finish strong this year. It's up to the front office, all I can do is make it hard on them.


Question: What's the Nationals clubhouse like?
Church: Dmitri [Young] comes in there and is a big teddy bear. He always has a smile on his face, and if you're having a bad day he'll cheer you up. [Ronnie] Belliard is the same way. We're just one big unit and that's how we go out and play. It's a big thing. If you have stuff going on with guys fighting, we saw in 2005 the team will start lose that unity. We have it; we're all a tight-knit group and we're having fun.


Question: What do you do in the offseason?
Church: Golf (laughter). I just take a month off, then start hitting the weights, throwing and hitting. But yeah, I play a lot of golf.


Question: What's it like facing Tom Glavine and John Smoltz?
Church: Those are two names I grew up watching. I was a big fan of the Braves when I was a kid, too. It's a great feeling to step into the batter's box against those guys and be able to say that I did that. It's even nicer if I can say I got a home run off of them.


Michael Phillips is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Pepe Torres Leads Young Bulldogs

There’s up-and- coming Lompoc baseball talent you may want to keep an eye on.



The Central Coast Bulldogs, with a mix of Lompoc, Orcutt, and Goleta 14 year old players finished last year's fall season at .700, winning club league tournaments up and down the coast.



Some players to watch are Lompoc’s speedy center fielder PEDRO (Pepe) TORRES and pitcher THOMAS WHITE. The Bulldogs took the championship at their season opening tourney in Santa Barbara this past weekend where stocky Torres crushed one out of the park in game three, and then forced repeated pitcher changes in the championship game hitting back to back to back homers.



That’s right, four home runs in one day! When asked, manager JIM WHITE reported, "It was hot and Pepe was suffering from what looked like some kind of heat exhaustion. We sat him down, but when it came his time to bat, he asked to go back in. One carefully located pitch later and he was rounding the bases. We were shocked to see it happen at his next two at bats."



Also, getting plenty of attention is the lanky White, brother to Tiger Rookie Leaguer Chris White. Last year White finished the fall season with a 1.43 ERA and batted .327. He hopes for the same or better performance this year. In his season opening weekend he faced 39 and struck out 13.

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Speaking of home runs RYAN CHURCH boomed his 10th of the season tonight against the Phillies. He connected on a solo shot off rookie righthander Kyle Kendrick. The tenth round-tripper matches his career high for a season. Going 1-for-3 his average remains at .265…. In the Gulf Coast League CHRIS WHITE went 1-for-4 Tuesday. He has now hit safely in four of his last five games. He is batting .243.... KIRK FRIDRICH has made his choice. The former Lompoc Brave righthander will be playing baseball at Allan Hancock College next season.

Jones Leaves Door Open for 2008

In an interview Friday airing now on Lompoc Locker Room—the TV Sbow, ANDREW JONES said he may return to Bologna of the Italian Football League in 2008 or he may hook on in the United States.

"Right now I’m just concentrating on getting my teaching credential and coaching at Lompoc High," said the onetime LHS, Hancock, and Upper Iowa quarterback. "We’ll just have to see what turns up." A hamstring strain makes a tryout this month for the new All-America Football League doubtful, he added, though a couple arena league teams have expressed interest in him.

The last 12 months for Jones have been a travelogue. After quarterbacking the Lompoc Braves to a CIF title in 2002, and appearing in the state JC championship game with Hancock two years later, he entered his senior year at Upper Iowa in 2006 vying with two competitors for the UI QB job.

Then new Offensive Coordinator Ben Morie entered the picture. "He came from Bemidji State. He brought a spread, wide-open offense. It was a fun offense to be in. He just gave me the marker. ‘If you don’t like the set, get out of it,' he told me. 'Get us in a better situation.’ Right away I got the hang of that and that’s what put me over the top above everybody else.

Jones was so successful he was named National Co-Offensive Player of the Week by D2.com when he threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns in defeating Wisconson-Stout. – "I actually didn’t start the game," Jones remembered. His shoulder had been bothering, but his replacement went down early. "I just went in there and got after it. They were playing man-to-man the whole time and they just never changed anything so I was going to my two main guys. They were just always open. Stout blitzed a lot, like on every other play but our offensive line held strong. Every play I was just going, ‘pass, pass, pass.’ I don’t know the last time I threw 65 passes in a game. I think I had something like 45-for-62 or something like that, more than one year at Lompoc."

For the season Jones connected at a 59% clip throwing for 2,215 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns. After the season he was named all-Northern Sun Conference Honorable Mention and to the NSAC All-Academic Team. Then came a surprise.

Over the Christmas break coach Morie phoned Jones to tell him about an opportunity in Italy. Soon coach Moe Ankney of the Bologna High-Tech Media Warriors called him. Jones sent film and Ankney handed over the quarterback job without a tryout. "They faxed me the contract, I signed it, I got a passport and I was in Italy March 1. "

Football in Italy is different, Jones found. "Football they don’t take as serious as soccer. You’re only allowed two Americans per team. The two Americans get paid. About 15 guys on the team didn’t get paid or anything. They were there because they love the game."

But they don’t know a whole lot about it, Jones found. "They don’t start playing football until they’re 15 years old so some of the players need help with fundamentals. Some of the guys didn’t know how to get into a stance. For me I also had to coach the offense. So it was quite an experience." Bologna made the playoffs but was eliminated in the first round.

Now an assistant to ROBIN LUKEN at LHS Jones is finding talent in the offensive backfield. "Daryl Aguilar and Richie Hirzel will be quarterbacks, running backs will be Little Alonzo and Masson Blow, Favi Vargas and two Moreharts. I don’t have all the names yet."

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Elsewhere DANNY DUFFY issued yet another stellar performance in the Arizona Rookie League Tuesday. He pitched five innings and allowed one earned run on two hits. He struck out a whopping nine and walked three. The run he gave up, just his second of the summer, came when the leadoff hitter for the AZL Brewers rapped a ground single to center, advanced on a wild pitch, stole third, and came home during a double play. With runners on first and third and no outs Duffy kept his head and induced that double play ball. Heady stuff. His nine K's equalled his best of the season.

It's fair to say that the lefthander's statistical totals have reached the "spectacular" mark. He has an ERA of 0.66. He has struck out 48 and walked 14, nearly a 4-1 ratio where 2-1 is considered good. He has given up just 16 hits in 27 innings where anything below a hit/inning is good. Best of all he has pitched 11 innings in his last two outings. They were his two longest performances of the summer, and, since he is limited to 60 pitches per outing, they indicate increased economy of effort. What more could the Royals want?

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In the major leagues RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-3 against the Phillies Tuesday night but the Nationals' bullpen gave up three runs in the eighth to lose the game. The Nats totalled only six hits and only Churchie had more than one. He is now batting .265.

Coe Predicts Four-Minute Mile

MICHAEL COE, pictured here running at the head of the pack in last Spring's Cal-Stanford Big Meet, thinks the four-minute mile is within reach. Not just for others, but for HIM.

In an interview Friday now airing on Lompoc Locker Room-- the TV Show, the Cal miler predicted he would run a 4-minute mile in 2008.

"We don’t run too many miles. This year I did a 4:04. I think I can drop four seconds from there."

He said his first goal however is to make the Olympic trials. "If I can drop three seconds from my 1500 time I can qualify for the trials. I don’t know about making the Olympic team. That’s probably not that realistic." Coe ran 3:46 this year in the 1500. That converts to about a 4:03 mile.

"I also hope to place better in the Pac-10—at least in the top five in the Pac-10 and top five in the regionals."

The high point of Coe’s 2007 season was doing so well in the Pac-10 that he qualified for the NCAA Regional at Oregon and then made the finals there. "It’s a pretty stacked region in the 1500 so making the final heat and running in front of a full crowd at Hayward Field against some of the best runners in the country was definitely a highlight." Coe finished in tenth place, the second freshman. "Next year I hope to be more competitive, maybe be in the top three. The top five qualify for nationals," he said.

Coe added he found the Pac-10 competition far stiffer than in high school on the Central Coast. "I don’t run away with races anymore," he explained. "In high school I could make a move mid-race and it would be over. But in college 1500 races come down to the final kick, the last 200-300 yards. So it’s a whole new level. My kick is good but not as good as some of the top guys. Once I develop my kick I’ll be doing more damage. Some guys have gears I didn’t even know existed."

Coe said the classroom at Cal was as big a challenge as the track. "I had to change my study habits to where I spent a lot of hours reading, studying and cramming for finals. We have good academic support in the athletic programs. There’s academic advisors for each sport. They helped me out a lot." Coe notched a 3.2 grade point average in the fall, 3.5 in the spring.

Coe also commented on his onetime Cabrillo teammate DUANE SOLOMON, the nation’s third best 800 runner. "I don’t know what Duane is capable of," Coe said. "He just keeps surprising people. I’ve known him since my freshman year in high school. For him the sky’s the limit. I think he’s looking at the Olympics next year as a real possibility if he keeps improving. I don’t see what’s stopping him. He’s an amazing talent." Air times for Lompoc Locker Room-- the TV Show are seen on the left.

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Other stuff-- ANDY SHIPMAN returned to the Midland RockHounds' bullpen Sunday after two months as a starting pitcher. His numbers read 4-7 with a 5.60 ERA.... CHRIS WHITE went 1-for-3 Saturday and 1-for-5 Monday after going 2-for-4 Friday to string together a three-game hitting streak in the Gulf Coast League. His batting average is .250.... A correction regarding MIKE WAKEFIELD who is pictured below with his dad, TEXAS BOB WAKEFIELD. The younger Wakefield is not a teacher, but an Assistant Principal.... Bill Ladson of MLB.com is reporting that the Washington Nationals plan to move hard-hitting Dmitri Young from first base to left field next year. Not so quick, says Mr. En Fuego. That's RYAN CHURCH's spot and he's not going without a fight!!

Churchie's Biggest Hit of the Year

The Washington Nationals came back twice Sunday to salvage one game of their three-game series in Arizona. A key blow was RYAN CHURCH's ninth home run, a two-run shot in the eighth inning that MLB.com's Bill Ladson says could have been his biggest hit of the year. Why? Because Church hit it off a lefty and there are decision-makers in Washington who would like to make Churchie a platoon player: against righties only.



"Left-hander Doug Slaten entered the game for Arizona and gave up a two-run homer to Church to tie the score at 5," wrote Ladson. "Church knew it was gone the moment he hit it as he stood and watched it go over the right field fence.


"For Church, it was arguably his biggest hit in a Nationals uniform. All year, he had problems hitting lefties. He was hitting .222 with no home runs this season against southpaws.


"'In that situation, I was able to get in a good hitter's count -- 3-1 -- got a fastball and did something with it,' Church said. 'Coming up through the Minor Leagues, I have always been able to hit lefties. It's just one of those things where you want to get in there on an everyday basis and see them at-bat after at-bat.


"'These guys that come out of the bullpen -- those lefty specialist -- they are dirty and they are supposed to do one job and that's to get you out with that nasty stuff up there. I hope it carries over the next time I face another lefty out of the bullpen.'"



Church went 2-for-4 to lift his batting average to .262. The Nats are idle Monday. They arrive in Los Angeles August 27.

Bowling: Buenaventura

By Karl Corser

Locker Room Correspondent

A STAR IS BORN

About five years ago a young man walked into Larry Craig’s Pro Shop in Ocean Lanes and asked: "I want to be one of the better bowlers in this bowling center. Can you help me?"

The young man was Jake Buenaventura. Today Jake is one of the premier bowlers on the Central Coast and one of the highest average bowlers at Ocean Lanes.

He and Larry worked for several months developing Jake’s skills, drilling bowling balls to fit his hand and his style of delivery, and learning how to "read" lanes, that is, ball reaction when rolled over different spots on the lanes. Jake also read books written by professional bowling instructors, talked with many of the better bowlers in the area, and had his bowling delivery video taped by one of the best instructors on the Central Coast, Tom Shepard of ZoDo’s, Bowling and Beyond in Goleta (CA). Jake took all of this information onto the practice lanes and spent hours and hours developing his style, learning how to pick up spares, and putting into use all that he had learned during the preceding months and hundreds of hours of practice.

Jake averaged a very respectable 179 for his first year of competitive league and tournament bowling. He thought his average should be higher but he quickly realized that knocking down pins was not as easy as it looked and as he thought it would be. Jake pressed on.

Year two was more hard work, hours of practice, and developing a positive mental attitude for as he quickly found out, there would be many of "those" days when the pins wouldn’t fall regardless of what he did. He raised his average to 199 in year two, just on the edge of his ultimate goal, a deuce average. Why a deuce? It was considered to be an achievement of greatness, similar to a 300 average for a baseball player or a par 72 by a golfer. And lets be honest, carrying a deuce singled him out to be one of the best of the best amongst his peers. All athletes want this acknowledgement.

Year three was Jake’s year. He rolled in six leagues and averaged a deuce in all six with a high of 214. He bowled in many local, state, and national tournaments and although he didn’t win any team or individual titles, he established his credentials as being "the new super star from Lompoc."

Yes, Jake had arrived. But Jake did not limit his energy to just self, he extended his expertise to his wife, Lerma, who is one of the better women bowlers in the Valley, and his two sons, Jeremy and Justin, both up and coming stars in the junior bowling program. He also became a coach for the junior bowling program and a major supporter of youth bowling for Santa Barbara County.

The sport of bowling has many stars, international, national, and local. Within the local community, one of the most famous stars is Jake Buenaventura. Put a bowling ball in his hand and he is a force to be reckoned with. Put him amongst a group of junior bowlers and he is a leader, a teacher, an inspiration and role model for the stars of tomorrow.

Sports Poet Dave Ochs

Death and Baseball

Tonight

I watched the Yankees

until the seventh inning.

They were winning

one to nothing

when I left

and by now

the game

is over

and in the event

they lost

and I found out

I’d be sad.

So maybe it’s better

not to know

which makes me wonder

what if death

was kept a secret.

Wouldn’t

life be much happier

if we didn’t know

of the inevitable end

of our existence;

our ceasing to be?

But what if

the Yankees won?

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And in the Gulf Coast League CHRIS WHITE burst out of a 1-for-16 slump Friday to bang a triple and single for three RBI. His average is now .222.

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Wiener to Wakefield... and Duffy

Sometimes startling changes are necessary. These two happy men are father and son, father and son with the same surname.

The man on the right is onetime Lompoc High basketball and baseball standout Mike Wiener. Or he was.... He changed his name to MIKE WAKEFIELD a few years ago. He's now a teacher in Texas. The happy father is Locker Room Correspondent (and longtime Lompoc sports columnist) Texas BOB WAKEFIELD. Here's Texas Bob's e-mail--

"Hi, Folks,
"There’s no easy way to say this, but here goes: Bob Wiener is no more. That’s right; he has changed his name to Bob Wakefield, the same last name that son Michael has had since he was a junior in college.

"That fact alone is a good reason for the change --- to have father and son with the same last name.

"Earlier today, I legally became Robert Michael Wakefield. There is a heap of work ahead to get all my records, subscriptions, etc. changed, so I’ll deeply appreciate your holding back any questions you might have. Give me a month, at least, to notify the commercial elements of my life.

"By the way, there is one other, small change for those of you who have me in some address book. My ZIP Code has been changed from 78628 to 78633. That’s already in effect.

"Also, you may get this message more than once --- if you’re on more than one list that I maintain (e.g., best friends, sexiest, richest, etc.). ’Hope you’ll forgive."
Bob W

We forgive, Bob. We remember the service you gave this community.

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And in Arizona Thursday night DANNY DUFFY posted one of his most spectacular performances to date. He pitched six sparkling innings against the Arizona Rookie Brewers giving up but three hits. He struck out nine, walked none, but plunked one. His ERA over 22 innings is now down to 0.40. His strikeouts total 39, his walks 11.l. Think the Royals are starting to get excited?

The Joy of Victory

Lompoc Locker Room.com does not have to be limited to blah-blah-blah from writers. It can also portray in pictures the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. In this case it's STEVIE PICO of the Lompoc Grange Sprouts as he accepted the Lompoc Little League championship trophy a couple months ago. Look at the smile on Pico's mug. The photo was taken by the alert camera of SUSAN PICO. Thanks to Sprout manager BEN GONZALES for sending this one in.

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And other stuff-- Veteran bowling writer KARL CORSER says he took his first look at Lompoc Locker Rooom.com and immediately placed it on his favorites list... Correspondent JIM WHITE writes, "According to ISAAC SIMMONS mom, BENNY ORNELAS will go to Lewis & Clark. According to Mrs. Simmons, Isaac and Benny will room together."

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Piemme, Schmidt Set Five More Records

FRANK PIEMME and JURGEN SCHMIDT, Lompoc's distinguished masters swim duo, combined for five national records in relay events over the weekend at the Southern Pacific Region Long Course Masters Swim meet in Mission Viejo.

In addition Piemme, 82, won seven individual events, all he entered in his 80-4 age group, and Schmidt, 84, won three, in the same age category.

The relay records came in the 80+ age group in the 200 freestyle for men, 400 free for men and the 400 mixed medley, all of which involved both Piemme and Schmidt paired with two other swimmers. In the medley Piemme swam the butterfly, Schmidt the backstroke. The two Lompocans split up by age group for the 800 freestyle mixed event to team with other partners and set two more records. They came in the 70+ age group for Piemme and the 80+ for Schmidt with both Lompocans swimming the backstroke leg.

In individual events Piemme won the 50, 100 and 200 free, the 200 IM, 100 breast, 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke. Schmidt took the 400, 800 and 1500 free and placed second only to Piemme in the 100 and 200 free, and the 200 IM, all in the 80-4 age group.

“As we get older in our age groups our expectations of individual accomplishments diminish,” Piemme said. “But we can still combine to do big things in relays.”

The next big event for Lompoc’s Masters Maestros will be the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George, Utah, October 10-12.

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In golf Locker Room Correspondent GARY PRUCHA reports RICK CHAVEZ, LHS 1996, tied for first place with Bobby Barajas, Santa Maria teenager, in La Purisima Golf Course's 1st Annual Impossible Open. Both scored 78. Barajas won the event with a birdie on the first playoff hole. The golf course for the IO was set up to mimic the Augusta Masters conditions: Played at over 7000 yards with the rough, especially around the greens, allowed to grow to 6 inches or more, and lightning fast greens, the Open tested both the golfer's skill and patience. One hundred forty golfers tested the conditions. PERRY HALLMEYER, LP's Head Professional {competing but not eligible for prizes}, carded a 75 for the best score of the day.

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And more stuff---Monday night in San Francisco while all eyes were on Barry Bonds RYAN CHURCH boomed his first triple of the season. Saturday DANNY DUFFY suffered what by his standards was a rough outing. In 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the Arizona Rookie League Royals he gave up four hits and three bases on balls, though he struck out five of the AZL Padres. His miniscule earned run average shurnk even lower to 0.55. In 16 innings he has now fanned 30… Also Saturday CHRIS WHITE went 4-for-7 in a doubleheader for the Gulf Coast Rookie League Tigers. He rapped a hit in three trips in the first game, then three hits in four at-bats in the nightcap against the GCL Phillies. He also totalled three stolen bases... the Sporting News’ College Football Preview predicts that A. J. Wallace could challenge LYDELL SARGEANT for his starting slot at cornerback at Penn State.

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Lingle to Thompson, Lingle to Luken

Pictured in the photo on the right is VIC THOMPSON (81) the U.S. Air Force Academy's leading receiver last season. Below is Vic (right) with B.J. LINGLE at last May's commissioning ceremony. Both are Cabrillo grads.

Thompson, a wide receiver for Patt Foster at CHS, was among the prize recruits of the late RANDY LINGLEof Lompoc. You may remember Lingle. He used to run B.J.'s Yogurt next to Albertsons. Actually his wife PAT LINGLE ran it. Randy talked sports with the customers.

In his spare time Lingle recruited, connived, counselled and cajoled a series of Lompoc kids into the academy, his son B.J. among them. (Lingle also deserves credit for planting the seed for this website but that's another very long story) Last October Randy passed away after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's Disease. The weekend after he passed, Vic Thompson dedicated his game to Lingle's memory. It turned out to be Thompson's biggest collegiate game. The Falcons nipped Colorado State 24-21 with Thompson pulling in five receptions including the winning touchdown.

Last May when he graduated and was commissioned, Thompson had not forgotten Lingle. To take Randy's place Vic invited B.J., now an English teacher at USAFA, to join him.

Then today this message came from B.J. at the academy:
"JMac -- We just got our class rosters today and guess what... it looks like DERRICK LUKEN will be in one of my freshman comp classes. Classes don't start until Thursday and things can still change, but how cool is that? RL must be at work!"

Ornelas Pursued by Blue-Chippers

BEN ORNELAS, the slugging centerfielder for state community college runnerup Cypress College, has attracted the interest of two blue-chip 4-year schools. North Carolina, an NCAA finalist, and Lewis-Clark State, the NAIA champion, have emerged from a larger group, all seeking the switch-hitter's services.

His parents VEDA and ERIC ORNELAS said today that Ben will make a decision any day between the two.

"He hasn't seen the campus in North Carolina," said Veda Ornelas. "He gets a trip back to see it and that's what they're working out now. Both schools have accepted him." Ben is not playing this summer while he sorts out his decision.

Ben batted .318 as a sophomore for Cypress and caught fire in the championship series going 6-for-16 (.375) with four doubles and three RBI in four games. In his freshman year Ornelas batted .360.

He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the late rounds a year ago but chose not to sign. He was not drafted this year, at least partially at his own request, his parents said. "He told them he wouldn't sign. He'd be returning to school."

If Ornelas chooses Lewis-Clark State he will join Lompocan ISAAC SIMMONS who batted .367 for the Warriors in spot duty last season.

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Elsewhere in baseball Locker Room Washington Correspondent BARRY MARKS quoted RYAN CHURCH Sunday morning on his 33 doubles this season. Church wants to reach 50. "That's my goal - 10 a month. I want seven more this month and 10 in September," Church said. No sooner had Marks sent his post than Church banged #34 off Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals. Church's total ranks fourth in the National League. Church's base hit in two at-bats Sunday lifted his batting average to .262. He will appear in California over the next four days as the Nats play in San Francisco Monday through Thursday. The first three games are night games (7:15 p.m.), while Thursday is a 12:30 p.m. start. Next weekend they play in Arizona. They appear at Dodger Stadium August 27-29.

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Two More College Gridders

The number of Lompocans playing four-year college football this fall has risen to ten.

Tackles RUBEN GARCIA and ARYN GARCIA of Lompoc High have agreed to attend NCAA Div. III Iowa Wesleyan in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Ruben Garcia announced today.

“I’m leaving Wednesday,” he said from his job as a checker at Vons. “We’d been talking to them for a while, but it just came through. All I have to pay for is my airplane ticket.”

The Garcia’s are not related but played in the same line for the Braves last season. Aryn Garcia is a bit heavier at 235 while Ruben goes 225. Both stand about six feet.

“It’s Division III so technically its all financial aid,” said 17-year LHS coach ROBIN LUKEN. “But it doesn’t matter what you call it. They’re both gettting their education paid for.

“Ruben has played football in Lompoc since he was eight years old and he’s improved tremendously. He was respected enough by his peers to be voted captain. When you’re a captain you’re in the elite group. He was a great competitor and a great kid.” Garcia was a participant in the recent County All Star Game.

Aryn Garcia arrived from Clovis West for his senior year at LHS. He is a nephew of Brave trainer TOM BLANCO. “I only had him for one year,” said Luken. “But he became the strongest guy on our team. He’s a real coachable kid and I like coachable kids.”

Iowa Wesleyan, an NAIA school, had only four Californians on its spring football roster but plenty of athletes from outside Iowa. Fifty-three of 61 on the spring roster were from out-of-state including several from New York, Florida and Hawaii. The Tigers had a rough year in 2006, going 1-9. They were 0-8 in the Midwest League which includes such schools as St. Ambrose, Trinity International, William Penn, Quincy, St. Francis, St. Xavier, Olivet Nazarene and McKendree. The Tigers won only their opener, 10-3, over Waldorf.

The other eight four-year school gridders from Lompoc are cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT at Penn State, tight end MATT SIMS at Utah, running back VAI TAUA at Nevada, tackles JUSTICE CLEGG and MICHAEL SLAUGHTER at Upper Iowa, defensive back DONALD WHITE at Ouachita Baptist, linebacker RICK AGUILAR at Southwest Missouri, and lineman DERRICK LUKEN at the US Air Force Academy.

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The rough patch in the AA Texas League continues for ANDY SHIPMAN. Friday night the righthander gave up 11 hits and seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings at Corpus Christi. Over his last 10 outings for Midland The Ship is 0-5 with an ERA of 7.83. For the season he is 4-7 with his ERA at 5.42. During April and May he worked from the bullpen where he posted a 2-0 record and a sparkling 1.17 ERA. When he was promoted to a starting role his first few starts were promising. Then dark clouds descended.

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Centerfielder CHRIS WHITE of the Gulf Coast League Tigers boomed the first home run of his professional career Friday with a two-run shot against the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. It was a two-run shot in the fifth inning. White is now batting .258 for the Tigers’ rookie club.

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Duffy's Pitch Count Limits Innings

If you’re wondering why DANNY DUFFY has accumulated only 13 innings during all of July for the Kansas City Royals Rookie League team in Arizona you’re not alone. The young lefthander reported late in June but after Monday’s outing he had pitched just 13 2/3 innings. His performance was brilliant— only one earned run for an ERA of 0.66, 25 strikeouts [two per inning and three times his eight bases on balls], and only seven hits against him—so why not more innings? He threw 58 in two months at Cabrillo this spring.

His dad, DAN DUFFY, clarified the issue today. “He’s a hard-throwing strikeout pitcher,” the elder Duffy pointed out. “He uses more pitches than some others.” And the Royals are not tabulating innings. They count pitches. Duffy added that there was a two week stretch when Danny was shut down after overall body soreness which came as a result of a swim workout. Duffy hastened to add it was not in any way an arm problem but the Royals wanted to be cautious. “Everything is good,” Duffy said. His son has even been selected to participate in the Royals’ fall instructional league, a strong indication the club continues to think highly of him.

AL HUNT, writing today in the Santa Barbara News-Press, pointed out that Duffy’s four inning performance Monday was his longest of the season. The inquisitive Hunt even got Duffy’s manager, Lloyd Simmons, to comment: “He’s a good prospect,” Hunt reported Simmons saying. “He’s been sharp here.” Simmons told Hunt that Duffy would throw 60 pitches every fourth game all month.

Duffy is expected back in Lompoc for two weeks in September before reporting to the fall instructional league.

Miscellaneous—RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-5 tonight against the Cincinnati Reds and boomed his 33rd double. He banged two hits last night and two on Tuesday for a 6-for-13 (.461) series against the Reds whom the Nationals swept. Church’s 33 doubles rank fourth in the National League. His batting average is now .261… SHELDON CANLEY on Bill Walsh: “Remember, he was a San Jose State Spartan”… former Lompoc High, Hancock, Upper Iowa, and Bologna Italy quarterback ANDREW JONES will be a guest on the next Lompoc Locker Room TV show set to air Aug. 13. He will join Cal miler MICHAEL COE on the show… B.J. LINGLE seems to like the web site: “was just checking out the site, and it is awesome. I have a new place to surf to now. I'll do my best to keep you posted about the Falcon football Lompoc connection”… Lingle will be keeping his eye on DERRICK LUKEN as he debuts with the U.S. Air Force Academy JV team….

PS—If anybody knows how the LGSA girls U-16 all-star team is doing in Salem, Oregon, let us know. Same for the LGSA U-10 girls in Las Cruces, New Mexico….

Whoops

Like Bill Buckner's ground ball or Chris Webber calling a timeout he did not have, the Grand Opening of Lompoc Locker Room.com contained a ... well, an error. Actually a couple of them. Great start, eh?

First that comment about DANNY DUFFY finishing July in the Arizona Rookie League without giving up an earned run. It was true on Sunday night when I checked, but it was not true by the end of the month. Duffy gave up his first earned run Monday. He worked four innings and gave up just two hits. He struck out four and walked two but he gave up an earned run and took his first loss. He is now 1-1 with an ERA of 0.66. First rate work, but not quite what we wrote here.

And about DUANE SOLOMON being the best of the Americans in the 800 at the Pan Am games. Technically that was correct but it was sort of misleading. He was the best American partially because he was THE ONLY American. Both Khadevis Robinson and Nick Symmonds passed up the Pan Ams to concentrate on the Worlds later this month in Osaka, Japan.

Duane said today that he was not happy with his fourth place, and non-qualifying, finish in the semifinals. "Everything went pretty bad," he said. "I kind of got boxed in and my spikes broke."

Getting boxed in was a problem for Duane in the NCAA finals as well. The solution he said is to run more on the outside and in the front. "I think I could have run harder," he admitted.

Duane will be working out this week and next at Cabrillo's track, then head back to USC where he'll train before leaving for Japan. Our interview with Duane is still showing on Channel 25. Check the times on the left of your screen.

LLR-TV's next interviewee will be Berkeley miler MICHAEL COE. That interview should air Aug. 13.