JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: 'HAWKS PROBLEMS GLARING.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Early start times were designed to take some of the edge off the often bitterly cold April and May nights and give fans a chance to see the end of JetHawks games on school nights.

An unanticipated consequence of the time change - April and May weeknight games were moved from 7:15 p.m. to 6:30 last season - is that the sun impacts infielders for about the first 10 minutes of games.

The setting sun makes it nearly impossible for infielders to get force plays at second base on balls hit to the left side of the infield when second basemen face west.

``The ball just disappears,'' utilityman Steve Garrabrants said. ``You just can't see it.''

The blinding sun figured in a disastrous four-run first inning of an April 21 home game against Rancho Cucamonga.

With one out and a runner at first base in a 1-0 game, the Quakes' Bobby Wilson hit a potential double-play groundball to third baseman Edgar Varela. Varela made a perfect chest-high throw to second baseman Erik Schindewolf, who couldn't see the ball, and it went into right field.

Varela said he'd spoken to Schindewolf about making low throws on such plays. Varela admits he lost focus on keeping his throw down after Wilson's ball took a high hop.

So instead of being out of the inning, the Quakes had runners at first and third with one out. The dynamics of the game changed when the next batter, Matthew Pali, hit a three-run homer that set the tone for an 11-4 JetHawks loss.

JetHawks manager Bill Plummer said dealing with imperfect stadium configurations is part of the game. He pointed out that at the JetHawks' parent Arizona Diamondbacks' short-season Yakima (Wash.) affiliate's stadium, where he managed the past two years, first basemen have a hard time receiving the ball on pick-off attempts early in games.

``Those are some of the little things about minor-league ballparks that kind of give it character,'' Plummer said. ``Good and bad character.''

JetHawks infielders have discussed options for dealing with debilitating glare, including having infielders on the left side playing up or back. Another possibility is taking the sure out at first.

None of the options are good.

When playing up, an infielder's range is significantly limited. Play back, and a routine grounder becomes an infield hit. Give up a force play, and an opponent has a runner in scoring position.

``It's hard to tell a kid that when you teach them for so long when you get a groundball in that situation, you go to second,'' Plummer said. ``It's just unfortunate that it happened that way (in the Rancho Cucamonga game). Things might've been different if we at least get the force on that play.''

--Also: After playing 22 of their first 31 games on the road, the JetHawks play 18 of their next 26 games at home. They opened a seven-game homestand Tuesday night against Inland Empire. ... The game Thursday against Inland Empire is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. ... A fireworks show will follow Friday night's game against High Desert. ... The first 1,500 children attending Sunday's game against High Desert will receive commemorative JetHawks 10th anniversary logo baseballs. ... The city of Lancaster will provide free high-speed wireless Internet access at Clear Channel Stadium the rest of the season.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com