BASEBALL PLAN HITS SNAG IN CITY COUNCIL.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The City Council declined Tuesday night to grant a Phoenix company the exclusive right to explore bringing a minor league baseball team to Santa Clarita.

Although city officials expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of minor league baseball in Santa Clarita, the council members said more investigation was needed.

``We shouldn't jump into an agreement without doing a thorough investigation,'' said Councilman Bob Kellar. ``We need to do this in a totally responsible manner.''

The vote was unanimous.

The idea of a professional baseball stadium in Santa Clarita has thrilled city leaders and residents alike, many of whom are excited by the by the prospect of old-fashioned family-friendly entertainment.

The company Tri-Century Baseball Inc. helped relocate the minor league River Cats to West Sacramento, a process which they want to replicate in Santa Clarita.

``Without an exclusivity agreement it will be hard to move forward,'' said Tri-Century owner Jay Hemond.

Mayor Cameron Smyth said it would be a shame to let the opportunity to bring minor league baseball to Santa Clarita pass by.

``We need to step up to the plate,'' Smyth said.

Formal discussions about which minor league team would move to Santa Clarita, where a stadium would be located or what role the city would play in wooing a team have not been held, city officials said.

Baseball officials said none of the 250 minor league teams has requested to move to Santa Clarita.

Heather MacDonald, [phone]

heather.macdonald(at)dailynews.com