Meanwhile back in Fresno...

Club Swimming

Paola Hernandez and her Tsunami teammates were back to their old tricks at the Central California Junior Olympics -- three competitors set personal records (PR) in 15 of the 16 races, including prelims, that they swam.
Paola, after moving up to the 13-14 age group, continued her winning ways:

100 M Backstroke (1:11.22) - 1st

200 M Backstroke (2:32.79)- 1st

100 M Freestyle (1:02.70) - 2nd
400 M Individual Medly (5:25.84) - 2nd

50 M Freestyle (29.13)- 2nd

100 M Butterfly (1:09.86) - 4th

Her prelim time in the 50 M Free (28.77) qualified her for the senior sectional meet next March in Mission Viejo.

In the 11-12 age group Rebecca Riley was 13th in the 100 M Breaststroke (1:36.92), and newcomer Samantha Carroll was 20th in the 5o M Freestyle (33.92) and 26th in the 100 M Freestyle (1:15.76).

--- el stato

Hurricane Force ?

Cabrillo sophomore Kiley Shae Aldridge and her fellow Fresno Force members are competing in the ASA National 16U Championships.

Club Softball
Dan Aldridge reports on the Fresno Force/Kiley Shae Aldridge news from Owensboro, KY:

After the opening ceremonies, the team decamped to their lodgings - 50 miles away, to prepare for game 1.

Pool Play: Game 1
Homer Hawks, Ill 5 vs. Fresno Force 1
It was a rough first game. The Hawks jumped out in the first inning and scored a run. They continued to hit and score, including back to back home runs in the 3rd inning. Kiley Shae Aldridge came in in relief with one out in the 3rd. She pitched the remaining 4 2/3 innings giving up 3 hits and no runs. Kiley Shae started a rally in the bottom of the 3rd with a single, stole 2nd and scored on a double from Jessica Simmonds. Kiley Shae led the team going 3 for 3 with three singles, Jocelyn Medina also doubled for the Force.

Pool Play: Game 2 (Tuesday at 12:00pm)
The Fresno Force bounced back. They beat the Ashburn Shooting Stars from Virginia 9 to 4. The game started off a little slow and the Force found themselves behind again 1-0 after the first inning. They came out and tied it back up in the top of the 2nd by scoring a run. They exchanged runs again in the 3rd, but in the fourth inning the Force came out and took charge of the game with a 2-rbi ground rule double by Darcy Ulrich (Buchanan) and a 3-rbi home run by Jocelyn Medina (Madera). Karen Berna (Atascadero) started on the mound and pitched 5 solid innings giving up 3 runs. Kiley Shae Aldridge started the game in right field, went 0-3 with a walk, and pitched the last 2 innings allowing 1 run and 1 hit to earn the save.

Pool Play: Game 3
None,they received one of the many bye's,and entered double elimination bracket play on Wednesday. At 6:00pm, the Force played the winner of the 10:00am game(Arizona Storm vs.Cincy Doom of Ohio).

Double Elimination: Game 1
The Force lost to the Arizona Storm 4-1. Giving up 3 unearned runs, 2 in the second inning. Arizona's pitcher kept them off balance at the plate, allowing only 5 hits in 7 innings. Emily Cloyes (Lemoore) pitched the complete game for the Force scattering 6 hits.

Double Elimination: Game 2
The Milwaukee Competitors at 10:00 Thursday morning (assuming the present tornado watch doesn't affect anything).
From here on out, it's loser goes home.

Kiley has been a versatile performer for the Force - performing well whether
in the field (right),
at the plate,
or in the circle.

---- el stato

White Explodes in A-ball Debut

CHRIS WHITE showed the fans in the A-level Midwest League that his promotion by the Detroit Tigers was no clerical error Wednesday night as he went 3-for-3 with a double, and an RBI and two runs scored in his MWL debut.

White was promoted over the weekend to the West Michigan Whitecaps from Oneonta of the New York-Pennsylvania League where he was batting .230. He immediately pushed his average in the MWL 770 points higher-- to 1.000.

Slotted in the 9-slot, both in the batting order and in the field, in right field, White ripped a line drive single to center in his first at-bat, repeated it again in his second trip to the plate, then blasted a double in his third visit to the dish. The Quad Cities Bandits never retired him as he drew a base on balls in his fourth stroll to the plate.

White opened the second game of the double header with a ground single to center to make his debut truly memorable with four straight hits. White finished the evening batting .667 after the opposition pitching managed to retire him on a fly ball and then a strike out.

Quad Cities is an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Church: Well Maybe Not So Quick

MIAMI -- Every day, every hour, RYAN CHURCH's situation is evolving. So perhaps it should come as little surprise that Wednesday brought yet another change.

Originally scheduled to drive up to Port St. Lucie, Fla., this week to play in a slate of rehab games, Church will instead travel with the Mets to Houston, where he can remain under the direct care of the team's training staff. Church said he was not ready to begin a Minor League rehab assignment regardless of how well his health was progressing, and that he would rather remain with the trainers who have cared for him this week.

"I felt good, very good," Church said. "Truthfully, I'm glad I'm going with the team and the guys that know my situation, what's going on with me, know my routine."

Though manager Jerry Manuel had originally pegged next week's homestand as a possible return for Church, that plan now seems unrealistic. Church still must play as many as six or seven Minor League games before he can return to the Mets, and that process will be delayed at least three days with his trip to Houston.

"There was no finger-pointing as to what day I was going to start playing games," Church said. "I was going to go day-to-day and see what happens. You can't go two days [of batting practice] and then go straight into playing games again."

Not even when the batting practice went as well as anyone could have hoped. Before news of Church's new itinerary broke -- general manager Omar Minaya had discussed the plan with trainer Ray Ramirez earlier in the day -- Manuel spent time lauding Church's initial batting practice session on Tuesday.

Those swings were the first Church had taken since landing on the disabled list with post-concussion syndrome.

"He looked real good [Tuesday] in the cage, extremely impressive for a guy a who supposedly hasn't hit for three weeks," Manuel said. "I mean, wow."

Church drove with his wife to their home in Viera, Fla., during Wednesday's game against the Marlins, and will re-join the team on Friday in Houston.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com

Church In the Cage

Church Takes BP

MIAMI -- The prognosis out of Ryan Church's camp has been the same for quite some time: he's fine. But until Tuesday, there was no tangible evidence to that end. Saying he's fine is one thing. Swinging a bat is something entirely different.


Church did precisely that on Tuesday, taking his hacks in an indoor batting cage at Dolphin Stadium and calling it nothing short of "a good day."


"It's not something that's way away," Church said of his return. "Now we're in that last sprint. So hopefully in the next couple of days we'll see how it goes."


Church, who is currently on his second stint on the disabled list with post-concussion syndrome, was cleared to hit Tuesday only after passing every other test thrown his way. He had not swung a bat since July 13, making this his biggest hurdle in some time.


Still, even with Church's optimism -- "I'm batting 1.000," he cracked -- the Mets will not rush him back into game shape this time around. Any relapse could have dangerous implications on his career, which is a risk that the Mets would rather not stomach.


"His situation is somewhat of a mystery to us in baseball right now," manager Jerry Manuel said. "So I don't know if we can fully be as optimistic about it with the history that has gone on with him. I think we would have to proceed with that in mind."


The tentative plan is to have Church hit again on Wednesday -- outdoors this time, if the weather holds -- and mix in other baseball activities, before heading on a Minor League rehab assignment for roughly a week's worth of games. If all remains well, then Church could potentially rejoin the Mets at some point during next week's homestand.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com

White to A Ball; Aguailar 1-for-3; softball

CHRIS WHITE has been promoted by the Detroit Tigers from Oneonta of the short-season New York-Pennsylvania League to the West Michigan WhiteCaps of the A-ball Midwest League.

White's last game for Oneonta was Saturday. The promotion comes at an ironic time for the speedy outfielder from Sacramento City College. He had gone 0-for-9 over his past four games and saw his batting average skid to .230. On the other hand none of the Whitecaps outfielders is batting higher than .256. This could be the jumpstart White has been looking for.

West Michigan is in the same league as the Burlington Bees where DANNY DUFFY pitches for the Kansas City Royals. White and Duffy will not meet however, as the season's series between the two clubs is finished.

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AGUAILAR 1-for-3

BRIAN AGUAILAR got a start behind the plate Sunday for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League and went 1-for-3.

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SOFTBALL TRAVEL

John Carrillo sends the followint on the California Waves softball club.

The California Waves 18u Gold based out of Oxnard is seeking players for the upcoming 2008/2009 season. The team's main focus is getting the girls to the right softball exposure events and to assist them to receive academic and athletic scholarships. The fall schedule includes Sept. R&R Gold Showcase, Oct. Las Vegas Showcase, the Ocktoberfest in Lancaster, Nov Batbusters Prethanksgiving and Diamond Sports Elite Showcase in Plano, TX. Try outs will be Aug 24 and 31 at Pacifica High School in Oxnard, corner of Oxnard Blvd and Gonzalez Road from 10 am to 2 pm. Please come early to complete paperwork and stretch, we will start right at 10 am. Please call (805) 559-5983 or email ca_waves@hotmail.com to confirm yourattendance at the tryout.

The team consists mostly of Central Cal rivals in CIF. Playing together they are a mighty force. Kailey Snyder (SR), Miriah Cochiolo (JR) and CaitlinVoss (SR) all from Saint Joe, Jeana Carrillo - Lompoc (SR), KrissyMackiewicz- Arroyo Grande ( George Washington University), Karina Smyth-Atascadero (JR), Chrystal Hernandez- Pioneer Valley (SR), Caydi Dommeyer-Santa Ynez (CSMB) and Alyssa Abayari- Cabrillo (JR). The remainder of the team resides either in Southern California or from as far north as Visalia. The Waves organization was originally formed out of Goleta where coincidently the new Lompoc High softball coach Margie Ledgerwood once played. The team has traveled this year to the Colorado Fireworks Invitational Tournament which was a showcase for the girls. College coaches from across the country came out to look at some of the young ladies. Las Vegas was another exposure tournament as well as a camp for the girls to perform for and with college coaches. Other tournaments were all over the Southern Cal area, Lancaster, Santa Fe Springs, Ventura, Orange County Bat Busters tournaments as well as a Santa Maria tournament at the beginning of the year where as a group they won their first tournament. Feel free to contact John Carrillo 451-0891 for any question you might have.

Locals Key to North Win; Church, TV

The final score of the game in Friday night's Santa Barbara County All-Star Football Game was scored by Lompoc's DARYL AGUILAR (pictured) who ran in a safety for the South to run out the clock for a 10-8 North victory.

At Pioneer Valley High the North led 10-6 with two minutes to play but could not move the ball. On fourth-and-nine they were flagged for delay of the game with three seconds to play. So while the South sent everybody on a block attempt Aguilar went back to punt and kept on going for a two-point giveaway which only narrowed the gap while it expired the clock.

Aguilar was slated to be the North quarterback until he broke a bone in his arm and was limited to punting duty.

BENNIE GARRETT of Cabrillo was the North's second busiest ball-carrier with eight tries for nine yards. His biggest ground gainer was a 27-yard screen pass reception midway in the second quarter which led to the only TD of the game.

Defensive back GREG WATSON of Cabrillo broke up the South's final desperation pass to the end zone after a 13-play drive which brought the South inside the North 20. Also key in the defensive backfield was Lompoc's MASSON BLOW who was featured in the newspapers making an earlier similar play to Watson's.

Also on the North team was Lompoc's STEVEN MOREHART.

The North now leads the series 19-18-1.

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NOONEY, SPRINT TRIATHLON ON TV

California NCAA Division II decathlon champion ROBERT NOONEY will appear on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show on Monday. Nooney, who paced Chico State in the all-around event and was the champion of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, will be joined by PAM STORIE, co-organizer of the upcoming Lompoc Sprint Triathlon.

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CHURCH GETTING READY

NEW YORK -- This time, RYAN CHURCH says, he's going to return.
Church had a medical checkup Thursday and doctors cleared him to resume light cardiovascular activity, which he did during a pregame workout Friday at Shea. Church ran sprints, spent some time on a stationary bike and reported no ill effects from his post-concussion syndrome. He's now gone symptom-free for more than a week, and said he expected to resume baseball activities within a few days.


"I'm itching right now just to go out and grab a bat and jump in there," Church said. "I don't think it will take me that long to be game ready. This time around, my body feels great. I'm not fatigued, and I'm waking up and I've got energy."


Once Church does begin hitting, fielding and throwing, he will need to embark on a rehab assignment with one of the Mets' Minor League affiliates. Though Church remained optimistic that such an assignment wouldn't take long, manager Jerry Manuel said he suspected Church would need to play in roughly six or seven Minor League games. "I'll take the under on that one," Church said. "Hopefully."


Church sustained his second concussion of the year on May 20 in Atlanta. He attempted to return on two separate occasions, each of which ended with a stint on the disabled list. He is eligible to return whenever doctors clear him to do so.


"We don't want to put a timeline on when he's going to be back," general manager Omar Minaya said. "But the fact is that we're very encouraged by his progress."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com.

DUFFY DOES IT A-G-A-I-N

DUFFY ICES HOT HAWKS

SOUTH BEND, Ind.---DANNY DUFFY extended his scoreless inning streak to 10 innings Saturday and shut down the hottest team in the Midwest League in doing it as the Burlington Bees defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 9-2.

Duffy dominated the Hawks, leaders of the MWL Eastern Division and winners of eight straight games at the start of the evening, on two hits over five and one-third innings. He picked up his sixth MWL win of the summer in so doing. He struck out four and walked three.

The Lompoc lefthander retired the first nine South Bend batters in a row and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up a two-out single. He allowed more than one base runner only in the fourth when two walks with two outs placed runners on first and second. No Silver Hawk reached third base against him.

This is Duffy’s second streak of 10 scoreless innings matching two appearances June 4 and June 9 against Clinton and Wisconsin. By posting the 0’s he lowered his Earned Run Average from 2.98 to a season low of 2.75.

After three mediocre performances upon joining the Bees in late May Duffy ignited the jets on June 4. Since then over 10 games his numbers are golden – 10 games, a won-loss record of 6-2, only 33 hits in 51 innings, and just eight earned runs. His ERA for this stretch is a sizzling 1.41. He has fanned 59 and walked just 12 over the period.

Duffy’s next chance to extend his streak would come next Thursday at home opposite the Dayton Dragons barring rainouts. The Silver Hawks are affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks while the Bees are with the Kansas City Royals.

CHS' Aldridge, Force at Nationals

Kiley Shea Aldridge plans to rejoin her teammates on the field at Cabrillo next spring, but there is this other thing to take care of first...



Dan Aldridge reports that Cabrillo High sophmore Kiley Shae Aldridge is one of the 12 Fresno Force players travelling to Owensboro, Kentucky to compete for the 16U National Championship. With 145 teams from across the U.S. entered. The tournament is set up to play 2 pool games, after that it is a double elimination tournament. The first games are this coming Monday. The Force are scheduled to play the Homer Hawks of Illinois at 8:00am.

Aldridge is the only Sophmore on the squad (6 Seniors, 5 Juniors), which consists of players from eight High Schools -Buchanan, Clovis West, Bullard and Sanger High Schools in the Fresno Area, plus Lemoore High, Porterville High, Atascadero, and our own Cabrillo.

The head coach of the Force is professional player (Fast Pitch Extreme Tour) Randi Berg. Berg was an ASA All-American (Fresno St) & Womens Professional Softball League (WPSL) Defensive Player of the Year. Her twin sister Laura Berg is a 3 time Olympic Gold Medal Winner (and the only starting centerfielder in US Olympic history), who will be competing for her 4th next month.



Kiley Shea, a pitcher, is also working with the pitching coach, Courtney Dale. Dale, the 1999 College World Series MVP won an NCAA Championship (UCLA), Junior Women's World Championship, a Japanese League Championship, and ASA 18U & 16U National Championships. She also followed Lisa Fernadez as an assistant coach at UCLA where she had been 56-5 as a player (while hitting 17 homers). -- el stato

CHURCH IN THE DUGOUT AT LEAST

CHURCH PART WAY BACK

NEW YORK -- RYAN CHURCH sat in the Mets' dugout prior to Tuesday's game vs. the Phillies and offered the same words he has many times this season.

He is fine. Really, Church said he feels 100 percent, and his post-concussion symptoms haven't reared their ugly head -- in his head -- for the past few days

But he's not going to rush it. Visiting Shea Stadium to do some light exercise, Church said any real training toward another return from the 15-day disabled list wouldn't begin until he's felt fine for three, four, or even five days in a row.

For now, Church just continues to wait, maybe taking in a massage or two while anticipating a return to the field.

"Right now I am just laying low," Church said. "They just told me to take a couple days off. Hopefully we'll get cleared.

"They want me to have a couple days in a row of feeling 100 percent. They have told me that since Day 1. I want to start playing now."

By the order of the Mets' doctors, the earliest he could resume baseball activities would be Thursday. Don't hold them to it, though, because his situation has been known to change.

Church first sustained the concussion -- his second of the season -- on a slide into second base May 20 in Atlanta. Then, he hit the disabled list in early June and has been eligible to return from his most recent stint on the 15-day DL since Monday.

"There's no specific date," general manager Omar Minaya said. "It's a combination of how he's feeling and the doctors feeling he is ready to go. I know talking to him he said he's ready to play."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

SHIPMAN RELEASED; White, Aguailar

ANDY SHIPMAN RELEASED

ANDY SHIPMAN was released Friday by the Midland RockHounds. The 26-year old right handed pitcher last appeared on Wednesday when he gave up two earned runs in a one-inning relief appearance against Corpus Christi. His won-loss record is 2-2, his ERA 5.13.

If this means the end for The Ship he can take solace in having reached the topmost minor league level two years ago with the Iowa Cubs of the Chicago organization. There in 2006 he was 2-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 46 games. But in December that year the Cubs let him go and he was signed by Oakland as a minor league free agent. For the A’s he toiled the last two summers in Midland of the AA Texas League. Shipman was named to the league All-Star Game last season after starring in the bullpen and becoming a starting pitcher. His first few starts went well but then his ERA began to rise. He finished at 4-7 and 5.81 based on 18 starts and 10 relief appearance. He totaled 117 innings and gave up 144 hits.

Shipman’s professional career began when he was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2003. After an impressive early season in 2004 with Sarasota in the Class A Florida State League where he saved 13 games and posted an ERA of 3.14 in 22 games he was acquired by the Cubs. He spent 2005 with West Tennessee of the Southern League in 2005 where he was named to the SL All-Star Game. That year he worked 65 innings and set his career high in saves with 15. In 2006 he went 1-1 with a 1.76 ERA in West Tennessee before being promoted to Iowa.

Shipman played at Cabrillo High, Allan Hancock College, Western Iowa Community College and the University of Missouri before signing a professional contract.

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ELSEWHERE IN BASEBALL

CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-7 in a doubleheader Monday as the Oneonta Tigers fell twice to Vermont in the New York-Pennsylvania League. White is now batting .253…. BRIAN AGUAILAR went 1-for-4 Saturday night as the Asheville Tourists downed Delmarva 12-8 in the South Atlantic League. He lifted his batting average, compiled in just 14 games, to .163.

DUFFY DOES IT AGAIN

DUFFY LOWERS E.R.A. TO UNDER 3.00

DANNY DUFFY reeled off his fourth scoreless outing of the season Sunday afternoon in Burlington, Iowa as his Burlington Bees shut out the West Michigan Whitecaps 6-0 in a Class A Midwest League game.

Duffy pitched five innings allowing no runs and only one hit, a single. He struck out five and walked three, a rather high number by his standards, but he did not allow a Whitecap runner to advance to third base.

The victory gave Duffy a 5-4 record for the season and the shutout lowered his earned run average below 3.00 to 2.98, the lowest it has been this season.

Even better, in his last ten outings his ERA has been a sensational 1.99. His strikeout to walk ratio is now a phenomenal 73-14.

Even better yet, and speaking to Duffy’s competitiveness, his victory came at the expense of Jonathan Kibler, the Whitecap hurler who entered the contest ranked No. 2 in the league in ERA at 1.92.

The Bees are a Kansas City affiliate, the Whitecaps are with the Detroit Tigers. Duffy graduated from Cabrillo High just 13 months ago.

Church Not Expected Back Quickly

CINCINNATI -- The Mets' hopes to move closer to full strength before they engage the Phillies next week have been dashed. Neither Ryan Church nor Angel Pagan is expected to return to active duty by Tuesday, when the top two teams in the National League East begin a three-game series at Shea.

The club had hoped to have both disabled outfielders back -- Pagan for the series against the Reds, which began on Thursday, and Church for the set with the Phillies.

Manager Jerry Manuel characterized Church's situation as "kinda ticklish," referring to the effects of the concussion Church sustained on May 20.

"He's feeling real good," said Manuel. "He wants to do things, but they're being very cautious about it, and rightfully so."

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com

Softball Update

Dan Aldridge reports:

Last week, Park City, Utah, was the site for the 12U Triple Crown World Series for fastpitch softball. The Central Coast Express qualified and entered the tournament. The team consists of girls from as far north as Templeton and down to Lompoc. The two Lompoc Valley players for the team are Ariana Abayari (3rd base) and Tancy Aldridge (2nd base). They are both VMS students and little sisters of Cabrillo High Varsity softball players.

The Express placed 17th out of 45 teams. In the process they faced teams from Colorado, Utah and 2 of the top 3 teams one from Arizona and one From Murrietta, CA. -- Thanks Dan

Also, don't forget the Lompoc Stars chicken BBQ fundraiser in the Walgreens parking lot from 11 AM to 3 PM on Sunday. Cost is $7 and presale tickets are available by calling 736-8441 or just show up on Sunday.

Proceeds help defray the expense of traveling to the 10U Western Nationals. --- el stato

DUFFY GOOD, NOT GREAT; Shipman, White

DANNY DUFFY suffered the first-inning blues Monday night at Lansing, Michigan but he rebounded to shut out the homestanding Lugnuts in a Burlington victory.

Duffy gave up three doubles and two earned runs in the first inning and departed after four innings trailing 2-0. Fortunately his mates took him off the hook by winning 4-2. His ERA rose slightly from 3.17 to 3.27.

In addition to the doubles Duffy also gave up four singles. The total of seven hits he surrendered is the largest number in any game he has pitched for Burlington this season. But on the positive side he struck out five while walking one. The walk was his first in three games. His strikeout-to-walk ratio since June 4 is now an unbelievable 50-6.

Interestingly, the last time Duffy gave up more than one earned run in a game was June 14 at Peoria and those three earned runs came also in the first inning. The word around the Midwest League must be "Get Duffy in the first or you won't get him."

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Shipman Another Clean Frame

In Midland, Texas ANDY SHIPMAN authored his fourth shutout performance in a row Monday night by shutting down Corpus Christi for one inning. The Ship did the same for an inning and two-thirds on Friday and for one-third of an inning on Saturday. This after getting one key out on July 7. His Texas League ERA is now 4.89.

White Doubles

In the New Yorkk-Pennsylvania League CHRIS WHITE garned one of Oneonta's three hits, a double, Tuesday night as the Tigers fell to Williamsport 3-0. White is now batting .205.

Local Tennis and Softball

Jim Steffey (LHS Tennis assistant) checked in with this tidbit about the LHS #1 singles player: "I wanted to let you know that Alex Jensen continued his stellar play ...by winning his age group (16s) at the Santa Maria Country Club Grand Prix Tennis Tournament. I was only able to see Alex's championship match, which he won against Miles Seemann (from Santa Ynez), 6 - 2, 6-2. Alex did not appear to be seriously challenged in this match."

Danny Aldridge passed on this info about the local softball scene:

"All the travel/club teams registered to play in the Amateur Softball Association Junior Olympic Organization in Central California met to play in double elimination tournaments. The top two teams in each age group (10U - 18U) advance to the National Championships at the end of July.

The tournaments were held in Clovis, Ca where the temperature was topping 111 degrees. After the dust settled, there were a few young ladies from the Lompoc Valley that were members of the championship teams:

In the 16 and Under division, the Fresno Force team won it all. In four games they had three shutouts and allowed just 2 runs total. Kiley Shae Aldridge, from Cabrillo High, pitched one of the shutouts for the Force. They are now planning the trip to Owensboro, Kentucky to compete for the national championship.

The 14 and Under division was won by the Coastal Extreme, based out of Santa Maria. Two Lompoc Valley players on the team are: Sierra Lujano and Natalia Powers. Both players are starting high school in the fall and will certainly make an impact next spring in CIF play. The Extreme are destined to compete in the 14U national Championship in Midland, Texas."

And, of course, we can also remind you that the Lompoc Stars 10U squad finished second in their group and are headed to the regional in Las Vegas, Nevada. This delightful group of young ladies grace us with their presence on Monday's Lompoc Locker Room TV, appearing on TAP TV Channel 25 @ 5:30 PM. The Stars need your help to make the trip and are selling enchiladas through Thursday (call 737-0048) and will stage a BBQ at Walgreens next weekend to finance their trip to Las Vegas. --- el stato

Boo to Headline TV Monday

Boo, Stars, K-square on TV Monday

The next edition of Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show will feature BOO JACKSON (pictured) the likely starting quarterback for the University of Ohio Bobcats in the fall, K-SQUARED, the Lompoc women’s distance racing team aiming for the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon, and the LOMPOC STARS, now 10-2 and qualified for the Western National Softball championship in the 10-and-under division.

The Stars are selling enchiladas now through Thursday (call 737-0048) and will stage a BBQ at Walgreens next weekend to finance their trip to Las Vegas.

The show will be seen Monday at 5:30 p.m. on Comcast channel 25.

Duffy Stars Again -- White, Aguailar

STILL ANOTHER STRIKE BY DUFFY

DANNY DUFFY has hit his stride.


Wednesday night in Midland, Michigan Duffy notched his fourth straight blue chip performance, his sixth in his last seven outings.


Duffy shut down the Great Lakes Loons, the Dodgers’ affiliate in the Midwest League, on four hits over five innings while striking out seven and walking none.


Burlington won 5-3 but Duffy had to settle for a no-decision rather than a victory because his Burlington Bees could not score during his time on the mound. Thus he is still 4-4.


But his other pitching numbers, and his totals since May when he arrived from Arizona are definitely on track for a promotion to High-A ball or AA next season.


Wednesday night he gave up three singles and a triple. The Loons scored in the fourth against Duffy on a single, a wild pitch and a single. In the first inning they got a two-out triple but Duffy stranded the runner with a strikeout. In the third they got a runner on first only to have Duffy pick him off, and in two innings against him they went down 1-2-3.


His totals now are these-- his official ERA is 3.17, the lowest it has been since he arrived in May. If you take his last 36.2 innings since his breakthrough outing June 4 his ERA is a SENSATIONAL 1.47. In that stretch he has allowed only 23 hits. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 63-10 overall and in his last 36 innings 45-5. This is good stuff, sports fans.


Barring rainouts Duffy’s next start should be on Monday in Lansing, Michigan against the first half MWL champion Lansing, Lugnuts.

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WHITE & AGUAILAR RAP BASE HITS

CHRIS WHITE went 1-for-4 and scored a run Wednesday night at Staten Island, New York as his Oneonta Tigers won 5-4. White is now batting .246…. In Hagerstown, Maryland BRIAN AGUAILAR was given a rare DH opportunity as his Asheville Tourists nipped their hosts 6-5. Aguailar contributed a base hit and lifted his average to .167.

Church Back to Disabled List

Second Time to DL

NEW YORK -- For nearly a month and a half, Ryan Church has been immersed in his own head.

One day, he's back hitting and fielding, his post-concussion symptoms a distant memory. Then, on days like Tuesday, he's just exhausted.

Church doesn't want to hurt the team by playing at anything less than 100 percent, and the Mets don't want to continue to deal with the day-to-day spectacle that is Church's changing status.

Church was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Sunday, the second time he has been rendered inactive with symptoms related to a concussion suffered on May 20 in Atlanta. Outfielder Nick Evans was brought up from Double-A Binghamton to take Church's spot on the roster.

"We have been in a little bit of a cycle now, a time frame, where you say, 'Hey, look, we see improvement, but we are not seeing quote-unquote improvement that we would like,' " general manager Omar Minaya said. "As time goes on, you say, 'More and more, if you are not 100 percent in this time frame, we may have to start taking things away from you more than we allowed before.'"

A migraine headache forced Church out of Saturday's game against the Phillies in the eighth inning, and he did not play on Sunday or Monday. On Sunday night, Church was told by the team to head back to New York to see a concussion specialist on Monday and get an MRI on his head and neck. Both tests came back negative.

But when Church was re-evaluated on Tuesday, the Mets' team doctor, along with Minaya and Church, determined that it would be best to use the upcoming All-Star break as an opportunity to rest. There is no way of knowing if the headaches were brought on by post-concussion symptoms, Church said, but it is still uncomfortable for him to play with the feeling of his brain "swishing" in his head, which is the discomfort Church said results from a migraine.

"It could be related, it could not be related, we don't know," Church said. "The thing is, I don't feel 100 percent, and, like I said, I can't keep going out there and run myself into the ground. I just feel like I'm hurting this team not being able to do anything."

The recovery process has been a back-and-forth experience for Church, who was originally put on the DL on June 9 to recover from post-concussion syndrome. He returned on June 29 for the last game of the Subway Series vs. the Yankees, going 2-for-4.

Church now hits the DL once more with a .307 average, which would be a career high for the 29-year-old lefty.

"I just can't keep going out there and basically keep making it worse," Church said. "We're taking the right steps now to hopefully correct this."

Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

Church to NY to See Doc/ White, Aguailar

PHILADELPHIA -- Instead of being in right field in Philadelphia Monday Mets right fielder RYAN CHURCH was in New York for more tests after a migraine forced him out of Saturday's game against the Phillies and resulted in him sitting out on Sunday.

According to the Mets, Church saw a concussion specialist on Monday and was given an MRI for both his head and neck. Both tests came back negative, and Church is listed as day-to-day.

Church was pulled in the eighth inning Saturday for symptoms that a doctor in New York diagnosed as a migraine. But with recent issues surrounding Church and his health, including a bout with post-concussion syndrome that landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 9, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said the club was taking extra safeguards.

In fact, the choice to see a doctor was not made by Church, and Minaya said that decision was "taken out of his hands" by the team.

"He was feeling OK, much better, but that being said, we wanted to take a precautionary [measure] and send him back to New York," Minaya said before Monday's game aqainst the Phillies.

Minaya said this visit would be to one of two doctors Church has consulted with in the process of trying to recover from this injury. Church suffered his second concussion of the season on May 20, when Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar's knee collided with Church's head as he slid into second base.

No decision has been made as to whether Church will receive more rest before resuming play, as Minaya said they will wait for the test results to come back and then re-evaluate the situation based on how Church feels on a day-to-day basis.

Minaya said that the Mets' doctors have called Church's symptoms -- such as the burning sensation in his eyes -- as "normal" signs of a migraine. He even remembers Church dealing with headaches when both were in Montreal.

Admittedly, Minaya is learning every day from Church's concussion, much like he did with Carlos Beltran's in 2005, because Minaya said no collision could get much worse than the one Mets center fielder had with Mike Cameron. But if Church is to see the field in the coming weeks, it will be after the team doctors are assured that his headaches are not associated with post-concussion syndrome.

"He's going to be playing when our doctors give him clearance to play," Minaya said. "If they give clearance, he will play."

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Minaya also assured reporters that he was not out looking for another corner outfielder to replace Church or Moises Alou, another Met who has missed time due to injury.

Alou, Minaya said, could get a rehab start this week. Church, if all goes well, could be in the Mets' lineup as soon as Tuesday. But "could" isn't "definitely," and with the July 31 trade deadline nearing, and both injuries not completely resolved, the Mets had to ponder "what if" on Monday.

The club would rather not move into August without making a move and continue to see both of their ailing corner outfielders sit. Without Church and Alou, role players such as Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis and Marlon Anderson have been forced into regular playing time.

"Do you feel that those guys might wear down, that they aren't used to playing that much? That has to be put into the equation," said manager Jerry Manuel, who admitted that the Mets do have to at least consider the possibility of adding a veteran bat if these injuries persist.

Alou is scheduled to get a Class A rehab start this week, provided the 41-year-old veteran doesn't feel any more soreness in the strained left calf that landed him on the disabled list twice this season. He was scheduled to play in Florida last week, but rainouts and some further aches and pains in Alou's calf set back his rehabilitation.

Minaya said on Monday that he doesn't anticipate the Mets being in the market for a starting corner outfielder. That's not to say they aren't making calls, because Minaya said that Indians general manager Mark Shapiro told him that the Mets had the Minor League players necessary to get pitcher CC Sabathia before he was dealt to the Brewers on Monday.

As of Monday night, the Mets are holding roster spots open for Alou and Church in anticipation that they will both return to the lineup.

"I'm hoping that at some point these guys are back," Minaya said. "If they are not back, we'll have to reconsider, but I feel pretty good that these guys will be back."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com

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WHITE HITS AGAIN

Monday night CHRIS WHITE hit safely in his sixth straight game for the Oneonta Tigers as they defeated the State College Spikes 4-1. The hit lifted his batting average to .245... and in Asheville, North Carolina of the South Atlantic League BRIAN AGUAILAR got his first start behind the plate in nine days Saturday opposite the Rome Braves. Considering how little he is used it was not surprising he went 0-for-3. His batting average fell to .176.

Church Sits Sunday

After being held out of the Mets' lineup Friday "to protect him from a lefthander" according manager Jerry Manuel, Church left the field early Saturday due to dizziness. Then on Sunday he did not play. MLB.com had this explanation:

Ryan Church said he didn't play Sunday because of lingering effects in relation to migraine headache -- not post-concussion syndrome -- and he would have been available to pinch-hit. Manuel explained that Church definitely wouldn't play, because it was his policy not to put someone into action who he had to pull from the lineup the night before. "It's an extra step of being cautious," said Manuel, who removed Church from Saturday's game when he started complaining of headaches in the eighth inning. "He's available, he could play, but we are just going to take it out of his hands and rest him." -- MLB.com

CHURCH: DIZZINESS ONLY A MIGRAINE

Says It's Not Related to His Concussions

PHILADELPHIA -- Ever since RYAN CHURCH was put on the 15-day disabled list with post-concussion syndrome, the slightest sensation within the right fielder's head sets off alarms within the Mets' clubhouse.

But for possibly the first time this season, Church's head began to ache midway through the Mets' 9-4 win against the Phillies, and when he was pulled from the lineup in the eighth inning, manager Jerry Manuel could stop holding his breath.

It was a migraine. Nothing more, Church said. For that, he could breathe a prolonged sigh of relief.

"My eyes were hurting, and then the dizziness came on and they assured me it was because of a migraine," Church said after the game, admitting that he still had a slight headache as he stood in front of his locker.

Church has dealt with migraines since his freshman year of high school, and the doctor back in New York who he has consulted for his post-concussion syndrome assured him it was nothing related to the May 20 collision in Atlanta that eventually landed him on the DL.

"Caffeine, anything, light can do it; there are just a lot of things that can trigger it," Church said, "so there is nothing that I can really do about it."

If there was ever a time Manuel wishes he was a doctor, it would be to understand every intricacy pertaining to Church's head. The second he saw the water in his eyes and heard his outfielder complain of dizziness, Manuel was instantly warped back to the weeks that the Mets spent worrying whether his head would ever be right again.

Instead, Manuel was kept at ease by Church himself, who said he has been pulled from games because of migraines before. It's something he has dealt with extensively during his career, and even though Church said his post-concussion symptoms could trigger more migraines, he was more than sure that the medication he will have sent to Philadelphia on Sunday will clear up any future dizziness.

So despite missing Friday's game to avoid facing another lefty, and a short part of Saturday's game for a migraine headache, Church said he won't miss any more playing time in this series as long he can give Manuel the OK before Sunday's game.

"This is something he has had before," Manuel said. "He probably has a feel when they are coming on, so if he can tell me, 'Hey, I have one of those migraines,' and he won't play."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

Church's Dizziness Returns

PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Church left Saturday's game against the Phillies with dizziness, it was reported by MLB.com. He was replaced in right field by Endy Chavez.

Church recently came off the 15-day disabled list after battling post-concussion syndrome, which dated back to a May 20 game in Atlanta, getting a knee in the head after trying to break up a double play.

Since coming off of the DL against the Yankees, Church had played in all four games in St. Louis, hitting safely in each, but got a day off on Friday against Philadelphia, which manager Jerry Manuel said was to protect him from facing another left-handed pitcher, the Phillies' J.A. Happ.

Church batted 1-for-3 on Saturday before being pulled in the eighth inning. He was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

Church Missing; White Bats Third

Mets Lose Opener Without Church

In the most important series of the season the New York Mets fell 3-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies Friday.

And surprisingly, their top hitter for average, RYAN CHURCH, was not in the starting lineup. This despite Church hitting successfully in five straight games after coming off the Disabled List. Over that period he was rapping the ball at a .381 pace to lift his season's average to .308.

Church did make a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth inning, popping out. Church's non-appearance resembled the two week stretch after his May 20 concussion in Atlanta when concussion-related symptoms kept cropping up. The Mets gave no explanation for Church's absence.

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WHITE IN THREE HOLE

In Oneonta, New York CHRIS WHITE was shifted from the two hole in the batting order to the all-important three spot Friday night. In response he want 1-for-4, drove in a run and lifted his season's average to .231. Unfortunately his Oneonta Tigers fell 5-2 to the Auburn Doubledays.

Duffy Sharp Again; Church, White

Duffy sharp again

In Geneva, Illinois Thursday night DANNY DUFFY gave up just one earned run in four innings in his fourth straight solid performance in the Class A Midwest League.

Unfortunately his Burlington Bees teammates could give him no support and he departed behind 2-1 and took his fourth loss. The final score was 7-2 in favor of the Kane County Cougars.

Duffy gave up four singles, two in the first and two in the third, and struck out five. He walked nobody. With this outing his ERA inched downward further to 3.32. His strikeout- to -walk ratio is now a spectacular 56-10. His won-loss record is 4-4.

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Church Runs Streak to Five

ST. LOUIS -- RYAN CHURCH doubled in an 11-1 Mets victory over the Cardinals Thursday. The hit extended his current hitting streak to five games, every game since he returned from the Disabled List. His batting average is now .308.

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White Triples

CHRIS WHITE tripled in four at-bats Thursday night in Oneonta, New York. The extra-base blow lifted the switch-hitting leftfielder's batting average to .229.

DIAMOND DUST

RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-5 Wednesday night to make him 7-for-17 since returning to the New York Mets from the DL. That’s a .412 pace which lifts his season average to .310…. In the Texas League ANDY SHIPMAN’s four straight clean pitching performances came to an end Monday night as he gave up two earned runs in two and 1/3 innings to Springfield. His ERA is back up to 4.87…. In the New York-Pennsylvania League CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI Wednesday night. He lifted his batting average to .226…. In the Midwest League DANNY DUFFY is scheduled to take the mound again Thursday night.... In the South Atlantic League BRIAN AGUAILAR was given another day off. He has not played since last Thursday.