BASEBALL: SLUGGER KEY TO PLAYOFF HOPES JUNIOR'S STRUGGLES PUT POSTSEASON IN QUESTION FOR CANYON.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY - Can Canyon High baseball slugger Johnny Hay finally break out of a season-long slump? That's a key issue heading into the final stretch, as third-place Canyon (10-10, 6-4) hopes to hang on to the Foothill League's last remaining playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. spot with five games remaining. Considered the league's brightest young star a year ago after batting .460 with two home runs and 16 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in in an injury-shortened 17-game sophomore season, Hay hasn't been the same this year. The 5-foot-10 outfielder is batting just .233 and has struck out 17 times in 60 at-bats, though he leads the team in home runs (three) and RBI (17). ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what's wrong. I'm just kind of off right now,'' Hay said. ``I feel like I'm getting out of it a little bit but not completely. I do think I need to break out and help my team out. ``It's been rough but there's nothing I can really do to get out of it. I'm trying.'' Coach Chuck Crim ``I think Johnny is getting it together because he had a couple of home runs over two games just recently. A lot of times, he's just barely missing,'' Crim said. ``Then, when you find yourself not squaring up with the bat and you struggle a little, it gets into your mind and becomes a slump.'' Another problem is Canyon doesn't have enough top sluggers to pick up the slack 1. (operating system) slack - Internal fragmentation. Space allocated to a disk file but not actually used to store useful information. 2. (jargon) slack - with the exception of J.T. Adams, who's batting .407 with three home runs but just seven RBI. Canyon has scored three runs or fewer thirteen times. Such a lack of production, coupled with 38 errors and seven passed balls, has caused Canyon to waste some great pitching from Adams, Anthony DiGiacomo and Tommy Kimmerle, all of whom have ERAs of 2.64 or lower. Hay believes Canyon can turn things around over the final two weeks. ``We definitely have the kind of team that can score 10 runs. That's for sure,'' he said. Hay has maintained a positive outlook, and that's an important factor who any player who's hoping to break out of a slump, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Crim. ``What I love about Johnny Hay is his passion for the game,'' Crim said. ``He's always been a gamer, not to mention a five-tool player In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities. In Major League Baseball, players considered five-tool players have included Hall of Famers Willie Mays , and he's a pleasure to coach because he has a great attitude. I think he's learning a lot about pressure this year.'' SOFTBALL softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' : The leader of the pack for Hart softball Catcher provides everything team needs to succeed NEWHALL - A seasoned sophomore with talent beyond her years, Hart High softball standout Caitlin Stiglich does a little bit of everything - and she does it all with excellence. Stiglich is among the Foothill League's top defensive catchers Catchers was an Irish Indie Pop band formed in 1993 and led by singer-songwriter Dale Grundle. The band consisted of Dale Grundle (vocals/guitar), Alice Lemon (vocals/keyboards), Peter Kelly (drums), Ger FitzGerald (bass, until 1995), Craig Carpenter (bass, 1996 onwards) and and best hitters, and is also a spirited team player who has helped carry Hart to an 11-6, 3-2 record heading into Thursday's late Foothill League showdown against first-place Valencia (17-2, 4-1). ``Whatever you need Caitlin Stiglich to do, she does,'' coach Cathy Giordano said. ``She'll get a base hit, she'll sacrifice, she'll squeeze. She does her job and does whatever has to be done. Plus, she's a great pitch caller. She's a quiet kid, but once that game starts Caitlin is all business.'' Stiglich is batting .340 with one home run and 15 RBI in 47 at-bats. She's also walked nine times and has committed just one passed ball. Stiglich has been especially strong at the plate in her past four games, going 8 for 11 with eight RBI. She's also an honor student who posted a 3.5 grade-point average last semester se·mes·ter n. One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year. [German, from Latin (cursus) s . To Stiglich, her most important contribution is being a leader on the field - a key attribute for a catcher. ``I definitely try to make sure I'm always talking out there and that I let everyone know the number of outs and what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. in the infield and the outfield, and helping the pitcher out,'' she said. ``Plus, I think I'm doing a little better this year because I've got a year of experience. I really like it when I get a chance to come through for my team and let them know I've got their back.'' With the season winding down, Hart will be hard-pressed to stay with Foothill League rivals Valencia and Saugus (15-3, 4-1), two of California's top teams. Stiglich, however, believes her team has what it takes to be successful. ``I definitely think so because there's really no pressure on us,'' she said. ``All we have to do is go out there and play our game, and whatever happens, happens.'' Perhaps one reason Stiglich remains on an even keel keel 1. the ventrally directed large surface of the bird's sternum, the site of attachment of the major muscles of flight. Called also carina. 2. the prominent area over the sternum in Dachshunds. is her love of country music, as opposed to rap and hard rock like most of her teammates. ``I suppose rap is good pump-up music, but I'd rather listen to Tim McGraw. He's my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. ,'' she said. Gerry Gittelson, (661) 257-5218 gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 5 boxes Photo: (1) Canyon junior Johnny Hay hasn't produced as much as he had as a sophomore, making wins tougher to come by this season. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer (2) Hart High softball catcher Caitlin Stiglich is solid with bat and glove, but she also provides valuable leadership for the team. David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: (1) STANDINGS (2) LEADING OFF (3) COMING UP (4) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK (5) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK |
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