JETHAWKS' BROCK GROUNDED IN BELIEFS.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

Growing up in Southern California, JetHawks outfielder Tarrik Brock had more than sports.

In Hawthorne, Brock saw what can happen to those who have neither direction nor distraction.

``I guess you would say it was a tough neighborhood. There were a lot of friends that you would know when they were 13 and sometimes wouldn't see again until they were 21,'' said Brock. ``Kids would drop out of school or just get in trouble.''

Brock went to school and avoided trouble. He was good in sports, excelling in football and baseball for Hawthorne High School. And, he attended the Lighthouse Church with his parents, Barbara and Bernard, and his two sisters.

``Growing up with church and my family, my Christian beliefs stuck with me,'' said Brock, whose JetHawks opened a three-game series with Rancho Cucamonga at The Hangar on Wednesday. ``My parents raised me to be a good Christian and I didn't want to cause much trouble.''

As a senior, Brock had a scholarship offer from USC to play both baseball and football. Brock chose to sign with the Detroit Tigers, who had selected him in the third round of the amateur draft in 1991.

Brock spent six seasons in the Detroit system. Last Dec. 9, Brock was back home in Hawthorne when he received two phone calls within 20 minutes of each other. The first was from the Tigers, who notified him that he was selected by Seattle in the Rule V Draft. When the phone rang 20 minutes later, a Mariners representative was on the line.

``It was a surprise to me. I didn't know it was coming,'' Brock said. ``But I just went to spring training (as a member of the Mariners) to have fun and play hard.''

Hard is a good description of Brock's stay with the Tigers. In 1995 alone, he played in four leagues, beginning the season at Triple-A Toledo (Ohio) of the International League.

His stay at the level directly below the major leagues lasted just nine games and 31 at-bats (he hit .194). The other stops were at Double-A Jacksonville (Fla.) and Single-A Lakeland (Fla.) and Visalia.

In 1996, Brock split time among Jacksonville, Lakeland and Fayetteville (Ark.) of the South Atlantic League.

``It was good for me to get all the experience I've had the past few years,'' said Brock, batting .252 with two home runs, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases through Tuesday. ``But it was tough to fit in and learn your role on the team when you weren't there very long.''

Despite his bouncing around, Brock has yet to break free of Single-A. He has played in A leagues in six of his seven seasons, although he has 55 games and 159 at-bats combined in Double-A and Triple-A.

Brock, who is active in the JetHawks' team chapel, draws strength from his faith and his wife, Kanika, a former USC track and field athlete.

``We both had the same upbringing, and she keeps me up when things are going down for me,'' Brock said.

``You have to take it like a man. All you can do is pay your dues and play hard and let everything fall into place. Just being able to show up at the ball park and smell the fresh-cut grass is fun. It's doing something that you enjoy.''

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