BIG-LEAGUE BALL REMAINS PARRIS' GOAL HIGHLAND PRODUCT ENJOYS LONG BEACH.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - Matt Parris doesn't view Long Beach as the end of the road, just a detour on his journey to the big leagues. After he was released by the Detroit Tigers on the final day of spring training, the former Highland High standout kept his baseball dreams alive this summer as a member of the Long Beach Armada in the inaugural season of the independent Golden Baseball League.

Parris arrived in Long Beach with hard-luck stories similar to those of many players in the league. He's doing all he can to make sure he's among those who revives his career.

Parris, trying to catch the attention of a major-league team, pitched a five-hit shutout with no walks last week against the Japan Samurai Bears to lower his ERA to 2.73 and win the league's California Division Pitcher of the Week award. Long Beach is one of four teams playing in the double-elimination league playoffs that began Friday at Long Beach's Blair Field.

``It's been a pretty big roller-coaster throughout the year,'' Parris said. ``All in all, I'm glad it's been a chapter in my career. I've had an unbelievable experience here.''

The weather and proximity to home are nice perks for Parris, but Long Beach never was an intended destination. When the Tigers took him in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, just after he graduated from Highland, the 6-foot-4 right-hander figured he'd be well on his way to the big leagues by now.

Instead, he spent two years in rookie ball and never advanced past Single-A in five seasons. Parris posted his third consecutive .500 season last year, going 9-9 with a 4.71 ERA for Single-A Lakeland (Fla.).

Parris, 22, thought things were going well in spring training this year and was surprised when he was released April 2. The late cut date left little opportunity to hook up with another organization, so Parris headed to Ventura, enrolled in school and began pondering life after baseball.

While working odd jobs, Parris couldn't stop thinking about being a baseball player. He began working out again, planning to attend open tryouts before next season but hoping to play sooner.

``I was trying to beat everyone's door down, trying to find somewhere to play,'' Parris said.

He signed June 15 with the Armada.

Parris (4-3) split time as a starter and reliever with the Armada. He's shown flashes of brilliance, as he did in last week's shutout, but realizes developing a routine and improving his consistency are the primary things he needs to work on to get closer to the big leagues.

The Golden League has a feel unlike any Parris had experienced, he said. He has a difficult time assessing the level of play.

``It's different,'' he said. ``It's an interesting mix of guys. We've got guys that are in their first year of professional ball and guys who have been in the big leagues.''

One thing all have in common is a passion for the game; pay is minimal.

``The guys here are sort of different than what I was used to,'' Parris said. ``They're all here because they love baseball; they just want to keep living out the dream. It's not like affiliated ball, where everyone's kind of competing (with) each other to move up, and they have a more individual interest. Here, it's all about the name on the front of the jersey. Everyone's having fun and focused on winning as a team. So that's been refreshing.''

The experience has Parris convinced the diamond is where he belongs.

``I can't think of anything better,'' Parris said. ``I go to the ballpark every day and get paid to play a game I love. I want to play as long as I can.''

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com