JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: JETHAWKS TO GO WITH SHAPPI FOR GAME 2.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - One five-inning start. That's all the JetHawks coaching staff needed to see from pitcher AJ Shappi before anointing him their Game 2 starter in the divisional championship series.

A sixth-round selection in this year's draft out of UC Riverside, Shappi has demonstrated off-the-charts polish and poise for a pitcher just more than two months into his professional career.

At short-season Yakima (Wash.), Shappi was 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA, striking out 65 and allowing eight walks in 67 innings.

He struck out six and allowed two runs, one walk and five hits in five innings Thursday as the JetHawks clinched the second-half title with a 12-4 victory over Inland Empire.

Staff ace Enrique Gonzalez will start the series opener, which the JetHawks will host at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of this week's divisional miniseries (between Inland Empire and an opponent yet to be determined).

``We kind of knew what we were getting and (Shappi) showed it to us the other night,'' JetHawks manager Wally Backman said. ``That's what we were expecting.''

But Shappi admitted learning he'd been named the Game 2 starter just days after being assigned to Lancaster was a surprise.

``I was just expecting to throw out of the bullpen and be the mop-up guy,'' Shappi said. ``To be told that I'm starting the second game is pretty neat. It's kind of a dream to be pitching in the playoffs.''

Primarily a fastball/changeup/slider pitcher, Shappi's strong suit is location, as his strikeout-to-walk numbers at Yakima indicate. But he's also capable of being overpowering with a fastball that's been clocked in the mid-to-low 90-mph range. In Thursday's outing, he threw mostly in the 86-89 mph range, topping out at 91.

But Backman turned to the relative novice to pitch in a high-pressure situation in one of the most pitcher-hostile facilities in all of professional baseball because of his savvy, not his velocity.

``He pitches to both sides of the plate, he can locate all of his pitches, and he has he ability to throw all of his off-speed pitches for strikes, even when he's behind in the count,'' Backman said.

--Foursome, for now: Backman said he's still leaning toward using a four- man rotation in the playoffs, which would allow Gonzalez to also pitch in a potentially decisive Game 5.

However, those plans are subject to change after the series opener, he said.

``If I can keep (Gonzalez) at around 75 pitches and get him out of the game as long as we have a big lead then he'll pitch Game 5,'' Backman said.

--Ouch: JetHawks outfielder Jon Zeringue fractured the tip of his right (throwing) index finger in Thursday's game.

The injury likely will restrict Zeringue to being the designated hitter in the playoffs.

The good news from a JetHawks standpoint is that the injury doesn't seem to have affected his swing. Zeringue has homered twice since suffering the injury, including a towering solo shot to left in Sunday's 8-2 loss to High Desert.

--Numbers game: Among the toughest choices facing Backman going into the playoffs is how to manage an overcrowded outfield.

Backman said he's committed to playing the hot-hitting Doc Brooks every day because of his value as the leadoff hitter, and that Zeringue, a second-round draft pick, should be a lineup fixture as well.

That leaves Jarred Ball, Reggie Abercrombie and Jay Garthwaite competing for one spot.

Backman said a possible solution could be using Garthwaite at first base for the first five innings and then bringing in Sean Luellwitz.

--Miscellany: Backman has yet to name the JetHawks' Game 3 and 4 starters, a decision he said will likely come down to matchups. ... The JetHawks will have today and Wednesday off before their first scheduled workout Thursday. ... Hitters will face live pitching o keep both units sharp in workouts later this week that each will run about three hours. ... All JetHawks home playoff games will start at 6:30 p.m., general manager Brad Seymour said. ... The JetHawks host the first two and possible fifth game of the divisional series. If they advance to the championship series, they would host the last three games (Sept. 18-20).

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com