'HAWKS MAJOR STRIDES VETERAN MARK PARENT TAKES OVER STRUGGLING LANCASTER.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The JetHawks will break in another inexperienced field manager this season.

But with former major-leaguer Mark Parent coming aboard as the franchise's fourth skipper, the JetHawks' front office is actually looking forward to its new staff.

Hitting coach Dana Williams returns for his third season in Lancaster, and Steve Peck is taking over as pitching coach.

``I think we're going to have a breath of fresh air on the coaching side and with the front office. So I'm really looking forward to a very good season,'' said first-year general manager Kevin Younkin.

Parent won't bring managerial experience to the JetHawks, but his playing career lasted 21 years, including 10 as a big-leaguer.

Last season, the parent-club Seattle Mariners assigned Darrin Garner to Lancaster as manager all the way up from Rookie-level Peoria of the Arizona League.

The JetHawks struggled under Garner, finishing 55-85. The hiring of Parent offers new-found optimism.

``We're hoping for a better team on the field,'' said JetHawks vice president chief operating officer Matt Ellis.

``Mark Parent is top notch . . . He has impressed me with his work ethic and his concepts on how he runs a team. I'll tell you what, we're jazzed as a front office that our team is going to be good.''

Rick Burleson managed the JetHawks in 1997 and 1998, taking teams with questionable talent to the playoffs before he moved on to the Dodgers organization.

Burleson guided rival San Bernardino to the 1999 California League championship and earned a promotion to manage San Antonio of the Double-A Texas League this year.

``We always felt that, no matter what our team was that came to us on opening day, Rick Burleson was going to make that team better,'' Ellis said. ``We have the same attitude with Mark Parent. We feel no matter how good or bad our team is going to be on opening day, our team's going to be better by the end of the season.''

--Prospecting for talent: Baseball America's Top 10 prospect list for the Mariners includes several young players who could be assigned to Lancaster.

The possibilities include catcher Ryan Christianson (No. 2). The Mariners' 1999 first-round selection has played in the Antelope Valley before. His Riverside Arlington High team played a playoff game at Highland in Palmdale last May.

Christianson, now in big-league camp with Seattle, figures to start a notch below the JetHawks at Wisconsin of the Midwest League.

Pitcher Jeff Heaverlo (No. 4) also should start at Wisconsin. But the Mariners like the University of Washington product's maturity and want to see the right-hander progress quickly.

Potentially, the JetHawks could have a loaded middle infield if Antonio Perez (No. 6) and Willie Bloomquist (No. 10) are sent to the high Single-A Cal League.

Perez, acquired by Seattle in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade, seems ready for this level after the 18-year-old batted .288 with 20 doubles and 35 stolen bases at Rockford of the Midwest League.

Bloomquist hit .287 at short-season Everett, but the Mariners could give the 1999 third-round pick from Arizona State a crack at high advanced Single-A.

Seattle's top prospect, Ryan Anderson, skipped Lancaster a year ago in favor of Double-A New Haven and will probably be at Triple-A.

Former JetHawks pitcher Joel Pineiro was named No. 9 on the list. Other ex-JetHawks recognized include first baseman Peanut Williams (No. 11) and pitchers Chris Mears (12), Jordan Zimmerman (14) and Sean Spencer (15).

--Watts powered: Josh Watts might not have been the most talented player ever to suit up for the JetHawks, but his tattooed body and tough-guy attitude made him easy to notice.

Now Watts, a former third-round pick who was released by the Mariners in 1998, is giving college football a shot.

Watts, a star football and baseball player at Ironwood High in Glendale, Ariz., signed with Division I-AA Northern Arizona after playing two years as a linebacker for Glendale College.

--Check swings: Jason Regan, a three-year member of the JetHawks who is the club's career home run leader, was released by the Mariners. Joel Ramirez, who spent three seasons (1997-99) in Lancaster, was also let go. Two other former JetHawks, outfielder Mike Burrows and catcher Scot Sealy, retired.

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Photo: (color in SAC only) Mark Parent, here hitting a three-run homer for the Baltimore Orioles, played 10 years in the major leagues.

Tom Pidgeon/Associated Press