JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: JETHAWKS' PLAYOFF HUNT CONTINUES.Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer The JetHawks can claim the final California League The California League is a minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth playoff spot tonight in San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. . In the Valley Division, Stockton, the first-half champion, hosts the wild-card team on Tuesday night in the first game of a best-of-three series. The second-half winner, either current division leader High Desert, the JetHawks (a long shot) or Modesto (the longest of long shots) gets a bye into the second round. The most likely scenario would have High Desert, sporting the best overall record in the Cal League (80-56 through Wednesday) as the champion and the JetHawks opening the wild-card round at Billy Hebert Field Billy Hebert Field is a stadium in Stockton, California. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home field of the Stockton Ports until the moved to Banner Island Ballpark in 2005. The stadium continues to be used as a venue for high school baseball playoffs. in Stockton on Tuesday. The series would shift to Lancaster Municipal Stadium the next day, and if necessary, returning to the Ports' home field for Game 3 on Thursday. The Freeway Division playoff picture is a little less muddled. Wild-card winner Visalia travels to first-half winner San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. on Tuesday, with Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. awaiting the survivor.
The divisional finals and Cal League championship series are best-of-five formats. JetHawks playoff tickets would go on sale at the stadium ticket office the day following their clinching of a playoff spot. Kid stuff: Few Cal Leaguers are younger than Modesto pitcher Julian Leyva, 19. A fifth-round draft pick by Oakland in 1995 out of Arlington High School Arlington High School can refer to one of several American high schools:
Leyva, who went seven innings but was tagged with loss No. 8 in his previous outing on Aug. 22, dominated the JetHawks using just two pitches and drawing rave reviews from his opponents. ``He had good stuff. He only threw fastballs and curves, but they were pretty effective,'' said JetHawks pitcher Ivan Montane mon·tane adj. Of, growing in, or inhabiting mountain areas. [Latin mont  nus, from m ,
who watched the game from the dugout.
For the first seven innings, the JetHawks failed to get a runner as far as second base, collecting just two singles and two walks. ``He dominated the boys,'' manager Rick Burleson said, sounding like a disappointed Little League father. ``You have to give the kid credit. He overpowered o·ver·pow·er tr.v. o·ver·pow·ered, o·ver·pow·er·ing, o·ver·pow·ers 1. To overcome or vanquish by superior force; subdue. 2. To affect so strongly as to make helpless or ineffective; overwhelm. 3. us.'' A leadoff error by shortstop Art Paulino helped end Leyva's night four batters and two outs into the eighth. Jason Regan's grand slam was not enough for the JetHawks, however. Modesto took advantage of two defensive blunders to score three early runs and Jose Ortiz blasted a three-run homer off reliever Aaron Scheffer to pad the lead. The Stoner ston·er n. 1. One that stones. 2. Slang a. One who is habitually intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. b. One who is a delinquent or failure. age: Critics may point out he plays half of his games in one of organized baseball's true launching pads, but when it came time for the Cal League's post season All-Star selections, Mike Stoner was the logical choice for Most Valuable Player. The 23-year-old High Desert left fielder made a case for finding a spot on the Arizona Diamondbacks' 25-man roster when the expansion franchise joins the majors in 1998. Stoner will probably come up just short of winning the triple crown. He made a farce out of the 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 race with 137 (through Tuesday). He would have run away with the batting title had departed Visalia catcher Ramon Hernandez (promoted to Double-A) not produced enough plate appearances to qualify. As for home runs, Stoner's 32 was just one behind Bakersfield's Mike Glendenning. Stoner will complete the season leading in several categories: hits (197), doubles (42), slugging percentage (630), runs scored (112) and extra-base hits (79). The JetHawks were one of two Cal League teams, Lake Elsinore being the other, without an All-Star. Among a quintet of honorable mention selections. |
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