Corey Dotzler Athlete of the Week

Dotzler Starring at Hancock

With RYAN CHURCH still inactive due to a concussion he suffered Saturday in an outfield collision, the highest ranking Lompocan in baseball right now, at least the one who is playing games where they keep score, is Allan Hancock standout COREY DOTZLER (the baserunner in this photo by his grandfather.)

Dotzler went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the Bulldogs’ conference opener last week and followed up in a non-conference game with a 2-for-4 day with four RBIs.

To show he can run the bases, even if he was a catcher at Lompoc High two years ago, he scored four times.

For those performances he was named Male Athlete of the Week by the North County Athletic Round Table at its weekly meeting Monday. Then yesterday he doubled in the go-ahead run in a 4-3 victory over Moorpark.

We caught up with Dotzler today and asked how he liked playing third base instead of catching.

“I like it a lot. I only caught for two years, starting my junior year of high school, but infield I’ve been playing pretty much my whole life.” But he had always played shortstop, not third base, and yet at the beginning of the season it was his glove that won him a spot in the Bulldog starting lineup.

“My hitting wasn’t coming around but I was picking it pretty good at third. When my coach saw I could play there pretty well he just left me there.

Pitchers are tougher at the JC level, Dotzler said.

“You’ve got guys throwing a lot harder and spotting up a lot better. It’s a quicker pace. It’s not so laid back like in high school. It’s a lot better quality of baseball.”

Dotzler was blazing hot when the season began but then slumped.

“The last two weeks were pretty low. I was 0-for-4 one game, 0-for-3. I kind of struggled but my coach had some extra hitting for me. I stayed after practice a couple days and it got so I started hitting the ball again. Things have just been happening.”

They’ve been happening so well that Dotzler is batting in the clean up slot. Bulldog batting averages and RBI statistics are apparently a secret, so closely-guarded by the Dawg coaching staff that even Dotzler himself does not know his numbers. “I hope it’s over .300,” he shrugged.

Dotzler injured his knee in a freak accident in June 2006 so he did not play last season. Instead he spent time in the weight room and gained 15 pounds of muscle.

“After fracturing my kneecap thought maybe I wouldn’t play, but my dad kept pushing me and pushing me.”

Dotzler and the Bulldogs are glad he did.

The Bulldogs play tomorrow at 2 p.m. in a rematch with Moorpark, then visit Ventura Saturday before hosting Ventura on Tuesday.

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Minor league baseball

Chris White heads out

CHRIS WHITE will be heading out Sunday morning for Lakeland, Florida, the minor league camp of the Detroit Tigers. Spring Training starts on Monday. For the past two months Chris has been training at Sacramento City College where he played last spring.

The centerfielder was named Player of the Year by the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Tigers. He hit safely in his final seven GCL games from Aug. 20-27, going 14-for-28 with a double, triple, two home runs, four RBIs and six runs scored.

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Duffy in Arizona

Lefthanded pitcher DANNY DUFFY already departed for Arizona and the Kansas City Royals minor league camp.

Chris White Named; Geoff & Jason Lose to NoDak

CHRIS WHITE, who led Sacramento City College in virtually every one of baseball’s offensive statistics, and was named the MVP of his conference before being signed by the Detroit Tigers, has been nominated for Lompoc Athlete of 2007.

The centerfielder was 2007 Big 7 Conference MVP and an All-American. He batted .369 with 30 stolen bases in the regular season and helped his team to the state JC Final Four. He was picked in the 12th round by the Tigers.

White spent much of the summer with the Gulf Coast League Tigers where he caught fire at the end of the season. He was promoted to Oneonta of the New York-Penn League for the playoffs.

White joins Duane Solomon, Ryan Church, Danny Duffy, Wes Hain, Boo Jackson, Miguel Ortiz and Matt Sims on the ballot.

YOU can nominate right now! Just e-mail your nominee to pressboxprod@verizon.net in any of four categories: Male Athlete of 2007, Female Athlete of 2007, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year. Take a look at the nominations list to date in the right-hand column below our sponsors.

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GEOFF (& JASON)

GEOFF WEST and the University of Mary Marauders (now wait a minute, do the virgin Mary and "the Marauders" REALLY go together?") fell Tuesday night to the University of North Dakota 74-55. West contributed six points, two rebounds and two assists in just 15 minutes of play. NoDak was up by 19 at halftime and it just got worse. JASON WEST also logged 15 minutes but did not score. The Marauders (2-4) visit Wayne State Friday night.

Luken Tabs Broadhead, Morehart, Rios

Lompoc High football coach ROBIN LUKEN singled out defensive end SETH BROADHEAD, linebacker JAKE MOREHART, and defensive tackle GILBERTO RIOS for their play in Friday's disappointing loss to Nipomo.


"They did a great job of running around and making things happen," Luken said. "We made a lot of mistakes but those three guys did a great job."


By midday Wednesday injured tailback MASSON BLOW still had not practiced and was questionable for Friday's game with San Marcos at Huyck Stadium (to be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23). "That's our rule," Luken said. "If you don't practice by Wednesday you don't play."


Quarterback will remain in the hands of sophomore RICHARD HIRZEL, the coach continued. "He saw himself on film. He saw the mistakes he made. He'll be better." Transfer papers still had not arrived on Wednesday for quarterback DARYL AGUILAR and tailback BOBBIE COLLINS, Luken added.

BASEBALL

In major league baseball RYAN CHURCH belted his 13th home run Wednesday night agains the Marlins.... In minor league ball CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-5 Tuesday night but it was not enough to boost his Oneonta Tigers into the New York-Pennsylvania League championship series. The Tigers fell to Auburn 5-4. White batted a blazing .357 in the playoffs with a 2-for-5 game in the opener to go with the fantastic finale. It was a sensational windup after an up-and-down rookie season. White went 1-for-19 in his opening professional games with Oneonta and was sent down to the Gulf Coast League Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There he regained his stroke and posted a .279 batting average, and was promoted back to Oneonta. In his second stint in the New York city he batted .261 though in the record books it will be combined with that let's-just-forget-it start and will appear as .197. But then came the playoffs.....

CHURCH REFUSES TO GO QUIETLY

As the Washington Nationals were nearly no-hit by John Smoltz of the Braves Friday night RYAN CHURCH (pictured left courtesy Mike Collins of wwwcollinsphotography.com) once again was used only as a pinch hitter. He delivered a double, his 38th of the season, to drive in the Nats’ only run. Wily Mo Pena, the hot stuff power guy who was brought in to take Church’s left field job, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Then Sunday Church was given a rare start, rare at least since August 18 when he was benched. And what did Churchie do? He delivered a game-winning three-run homer, his 12th of the season. Here’s the report from Bill Ladson of MLB.com—

“The Nationals were losing, 3-1, when they rallied to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning against right-hander Lance Cormier. With runners on second and third and one out, Church hit a 3-2 curveball over the center-field wall to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead.

“In this case, it was one too many curveballs. In the previous two at-bats, Church struck out on the pitch. In the sixth inning, the curveball hung for Church to hit it out.

"’The first at-bat, he hung one and I tried to crush it, and I swung through it. The second one, I just chased the ball down in the dirt. I was trying to get it up, but I kept fishing for it,’ Church said. ‘[In the sixth], I figured he was going to throw it in that situation -- 3-2, guys on base -- and try to strike me out. I was able to stay on it. In that situation, you want to elevate the ball. I was fortunate it went out. It took nine [curveballs] to finally get it. I was being stupid the first two at-bats.’"

“Since he was benched, Church is 11-for-40 (.275) with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Asked if he feels satisfaction that he could be productive, Church said, ‘It feels good. It's one of those things where you have to take advantage of the opportunity, because you don't know how many times you are going to get it.’"

And Wily Mo Sunday? He went 1-for-5. He’s batting .223. Church is at .266.

FOOTBALL

Before 110,000 fans including his high school coach DON CROSS, starting Penn State cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT made one solo tackle and three assists Saturday, with one of those assists throwing a Notre Dame ballcarrier for a loss. In so doing the Nittany Lions sacked (collectively speaking) Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who was last seen by Lompoc fans at Huyck Stadium a year ago leading Oaks Christian to a lopsided victory. Penn State won this one 31-10. The crowd was the second largest in Penn State history.


Meanwhile before 17,600 at another Big Ten venue, Ryan Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern came from a two-touchdown deficit to stop Nevada 36-31. Running back Luke Lippincott rushed for 140 yards and VAI TAUA did not get a single carry even though he led the Wolfpack in rushing last week. He was on the field but no carries.

In Salt Lake City before 43,000 Air Force dealt Utah its first defeat in five tries Saturday 20-12. MATT SIMS saw action for the Utes but had no offensive stats to report either.

In Kirksville, Missouri, Upper Iowa fell 55-31 to Truman State though defensive end MIKE SLAUGHTER registered two solo tackles and two assists One of the solos went for a five-yard loss. Slaughter was making his first start for the Peacocks in the contest. This after starring at Hancock and sitting out a year at Baylor. Also in the UIU starting lineup for the second week was offensive tackle JUSTICE CLEGG, who as a member of the O-line of course got no statistical mention.

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist advanced its record to 2-0 with a 46-19 victory over East Texas Baptist Saturday night as starting left cornerback DONALD WHITE collected the team high in solo tackles with four.

From Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, at Iowa Wesleyan the word is that RUBEN GARCIA will wear #60 and perform on occasion on the Tiger offensive line. IWU fell Saturday to Ohio Dominican 46-0 but Garcia saw no action. ARYN GARCIA of Lompoc will be redshirting at the school.

In California community college play BOO JACKSON completed 18 of 28 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night but Bakersfield connected on a last second TD (0.00 on the clock) to defeat top-ranked El Camino 33-31. “Sometimes all the hype gets into a player's head,” Jackson told David Saunders of the Torrance Daily Breeze. “This was a real wake-up call.” After two games this season Jackson, an El Camino captain, has completed 31 of 49 passes for 478 yards (63%) and no interceptions. According to Boo’s mom the two schools hottest in the running for his services next season are Oregon and LSU. Jackson wears No. 8…. Hmmmmmm, who else from Lompoc wore No. 8 in college……??

Also on the field Saturday night in Bakersfield was TYLER CHAGOYA, wearing No.33 for Bakersfield.

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In minor league baseball CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-5 Sunday as the Oneonta Tigers nipped the Auburn Doubledays 1-0 in 11 innings in the first of their three-game New York-Pennsylvania League playoff series…. With the Northwest League season ending Sunday, catcher BRIAN AGUAILAR’s closing statistics are available. AGUAILAR posted a solid .311 batting average in 2006 for the Tri-City club, a Colorado Rockies’ affiliate but injured himself early this spring. As a result he came off the disabled list only in July, was sent back to the same club, and never really got a chance. In just 34 at-bats in only 11 games over two months he collected three hits (.088).

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On Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show BRAD MEMBERTO talks about sports writing and broadcasting and DANNY DUFFY talks about pitching in Arizona. See the schedule on the left.

Luken Rates Braves Highly Despite Loss

Lompoc High’s football team did well despite its 49-14 defeat at the hands of Oaks Christian last Friday, coach ROBIN LUKEN declared Wednesday.

“They played hard, they never quit,” said Luken, who was absent due to a visit to the Air Force Academy where his two sons are cadets. “Our overall effort in the second half was very good. I was pleased especially with the six-minute drive in the third quarter.” That 12-play scoring march came against the Lions’ first-team defense. “We still had the old Brave character."

Luken identified conditioning and a surge from the defensive line as areas for improvement however. “The word this week is surge,” he chuckled.

The coach rated sophomore JAKE MOREHART on defense and senior MASSON BLOW highest on defense after viewing film of the game.

Luken said the Brave lineup will remain the same this Friday night at Nipomo and that if CIF paperwork arrives tailback BOBBY COLLINS, Lompoc's leading rusher last season, may even play.

Luken also revealed that his son DERRICK LUKEN will not perform this season for the USAFA junior varsity as had been expected. “He’ll be filming with his brother,” he said with a sense of resignation. “Sooner or later your career ends. That’s life.” Young Luken hopes to get another chance in the spring or next season, his father said.

Game time Friday night in Nipomo is 7:30. The game will be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23.

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Lompoc cross-country runner ARIANA FABING of Allan Hancock College is the featured Athlete of the Week in the weekly Santa Maria Sun published today.

Fabing, 19, suffered stress fractures last season so did not compete at Hancock, but this year will be different, coach Louie Quintana said.

“I think she’ll be our top girl,” Quintana told the Sun. “She did really well at Lompoc. I expect a lot of things from her this year. If we keep her healthy.”

Fabing’s season will begin tomorrow at the Ventura Invitational.

“I feel fine and stronger this year,” Fabing told Sun reporter Laura Kasavan. “It’s pretty cool to be one of the top runners.”

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In baseball RYAN CHURCH got his first start in a week and went 1-for-3 Wednesday in a 6-4 win over the Marlins…. CHRIS WHITE had a 3-for-6 night in the New York-Pennsylvania League playoffs Wednesday night as the Oneonta Tigers defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore) 14-8. It was White’s second three-hit game in three nights.

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.

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…

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.

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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Grand Opening

Hi,sports fans. More or less as promised Lompoc Locker Room.com is open for business starting right now.

July was interesting in Lompoc sports-- in pro baseball CHRIS WHITE caught fire and raised his batting average 100 points, DANNY DUFFY still has not given up an earned run, and RYAN CHURCH remains in the Top Ten in doubles though I know he'd like his batting average to be higher. On the downside we lost longtime runner and colorful character RAY GIL who passed away during the month.

At the Pan Am Games who was the only American still running after the preliminary rounds in the 800? Not Khadevis Robinson, not Nick Symmonds, but DUANE SOLOMON! He finished fourth in his semifinal heat so did not qualify for the final, but his showing was the best of the three Americans. Updates of these stories and more will be showing up right here in coming days.

Let me know which athletes and which sports interest you the most and we'll try to get on them. Just e-mail at pressboxprod@verizon.net and tell me what you think.

And if you want to call direct I'll be appearing on YNTV Friday at 6 p.m. on TAP-TV (Channel 25). Lompoc Locker Room TV show, the new version, can be seen on Channel 25 on the dates shown at the left.

So let's hear from you!!!!!!!