'HAWKS FLY INTO STORM LANCASTER HOSTS LAKE ELSINORE TONIGHT.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The JetHawks' remarkable turnaround this season has landed them in the playoffs, and make no mistake, despite their 64-76 overall record, they're now among the California League's most dangerous teams.

The JetHawks (40-30 in the second half), who've won seven of their past eight games and 25 of their past 36 since July 28, will play host to the defending league co-champion Lake Elsinore Storm (42-28, 75-65) in Game 1 of the three-game divisional playoffs tonight at 7:15.

The series moves to Lake Elsinore for Game 2 and Game 3, if necessary. The Storm is the only team in the league hotter than Lancaster, having won 10 consecutive games and 17 of its last 18.

``This is what we've been working for all second half,'' JetHawks first baseman Corey Myers said. ``We've put together a great second half and so have they, so I think it's going to be two teams that are hot matching up. It should be a great series, and win or lose I think they're all going to be pretty (hard-fought) ballgames and they're going to be pretty close ballgames.''

The JetHawks, who had one of the worst records in all of professional baseball for most of the first half, are trying to become the first team in league history to win a championship with a losing record.

Salinas won a league championship in 1957 with a 68-67 regular-season record, the worst of any league champion to date.

The JetHawks, who are making their fourth playoff appearance since the inception of the franchise in 1996, have never before entered the postseason with a losing record.

If the JetHawks survive the first round, they'll play the San Bernardino Stampede - the first-half champion that has a bye for the divisional series - in a five-game divisional championship series that would begin in San Bernardino on Friday.

Despite the formidable challenge Lake Elsinore presents, the JetHawks figure to be a tough opponent because of their starting pitching.

Inconsistent throughout most of the season, the JetHawks now feature a starting rotation that's been revamped over the past five weeks, when Greg Aquino, the first of four of their new starters, was added to the rotation.

The new additions to the JetHawks staff - particularly the three scheduled starters for the Lake Elsinore series - have been difference-makers.

Tonight's starter, right-hander Beltran Perez, a top organizational prospect who came to Lancaster from Double-A El Paso (Texas) after experiencing an arm injury, is 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA in five starts.

Right-hander Edgar Gonzalez, who's scheduled to start Wednesday night's game, has been even better. One of the most accomplished pitchers in Single-A baseball this season according to JetHawks manager Bill Plummer, Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four starts since being sent to Lancaster from Single-A South Bend (Ind.), where he was 11-8 with a 2.91 ERA.

Aquino, also a right-hander, who's slated to start Game 3, might be the most dangerous of the three. He's 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA. Aquino, who developed a slider during the offseason that's driven up his stock value within the organization, was clocked in the high 90s in his most recent start.

Lake Elsinore features outstanding pitching, as well. Right-hander Duncan McAdoo, the Storm's scheduled Game 1 starter, is 8-4 with a 4.01 ERA, and right-hander Justin Germano, a Single-A Fort Wayne (Ind.) call-up, is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts.

The Storm hasn't yet announced its Game 3 starter.

``I think when you go into a playoff series, starting pitching is always going be to your biggest key,'' Plummer said. ``Lake Elsinore has outstanding (starting) pitching and an outstanding bullpen also.''

The Storm's bullpen features two of the league's best relievers, Rusty Tucker and Mike Nicolas, who've been sharing setup and closing duties the past two months.

Tucker, a left-hander, is 2-3 with a 2.43 ERA and has 14 saves. The right-handed Nicolas is 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA and has nine saves.

``You don't want to be behind in the ballgame going into the eighth inning, not with Nicolas and Tucker coming out of the bullpen,'' Plummer said.

The same can be said of the JetHawks bullpen. JetHawks right-handed closer Brandon Medders (4-8, 5.44) has converted 15 of 17 save opportunities since taking over the job from Jesus Silva in early July. Lancaster's bullpen doesn't have an equivalent 1-2 punch as Lake Elsinore, but it has considerably more depth with left-hander Carlton Wells (3-1, 3.99) and right-hander Joey Cramblitt (3-7, 3.92), among others, pitching in front of Medders.

The JetHawks are 45-7 when leading after five innings, 51-4 when leading after the sixth, 53-1 when leading after the seventh and 53-1 when leading after the eighth.

New additions Brian Barden, who batted .335 (90 for 269) with eight homers and 46 RBI in 64 games, and Scott Hairston, who hit .405 (32 for 79) with six homers and 26 RBI and had a .797 slugging percentage in 18 games, have nicely complemented Myers (.290 average, 84 RBI) and Jesus Cota, the league's RBI leader with 102, making the JetHawks among the league's most feared hitting teams as of late. Lancaster led the league with a .313 batting average for the month of August.

Myers had a 33-game hitting streak - the longest in all of minor-league ball this summer - that ended Saturday.

``They can swing the bat, especially up there in their park,'' Lake Elsinore outfielder Jeremy Owens said. ``I know this last month-and-a-half, we've been making a run to try to win a division and they've been neck and neck with us. They're playing good ball, as well. It's going to be an exciting series.''

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

South Division Mini-Series, Game 1

LANCASTER JETHAWKS vs. LAKE ELSINORE STORM

Time: 7:15 p.m., Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

Radio: 1470-AM.

Matchup: JetHawks RH Beltran Perez (3-2, 2.51 ERA) has gone at least six innings in each of his five starts since being sent to Lancaster, striking out 30 batters and allowing three walks. Storm RH Duncan McAdoo (8-4, 4.01) has won five of his past six decisions and has gone at least six innings in nine consecutive starts, allowing 21 earned runs in 58 2/3 innings.

Notes: The JetHawks have won seven of their past eight games and 25 of 36 going back to July 28. The Storm has won 10 consecutive games and 17 of its last 18. ... Lake Elsinore will be without all-star second baseman Jake Gautreau, who recently was sent home because of a stomach ulcer.

Remaining games

-- Game 2 -- 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Elsinore

-- Game 3 -- 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Lake Elsinore (if necessary)

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) JETHAWKS MANAGER BILL PLUMMER

(2 -- color) - Corey Myers

JetHawks first baseman

Box:

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFFS (see text)