JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: OUTFIELDER HUSTLES TO HELP JETHAWKS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LAKE ELSINORE - JetHawks outfielder Brandon Simon is a dangerous strikeout.

In Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Lake Elsinore, he reached base twice after striking out. He hustled down the line in the fourth and the ninth after Storm catcher Andres Pagan couldn't handle wild pitches.

On the first strikeout, Simon's hustle allowed Sean Luellwitz to score from third with two outs.

``That's never happened before,'' Simon said of reaching on two strikeouts in one game.

Simon was batting just .154 (6 for 39) going into Friday, but his performance in Wednesday's game showed why he's become a favorite of JetHawks manager Wally Backman.

Simon was 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly in the victory.

``That's the way I like to see kids play,'' Backman said. ``He's got that speed but, he's constantly hustling. I kept telling him (Wednesday), 'Just keep on hustling like you are and you're going to make things happen.' ''

Simon started the season with the JetHawks before being sent a month ago to the parent Arizona Diamondbacks' extended spring training facility in Tucson, Ariz. He was reassigned to Lancaster on Monday and has made several difficult plays look routine, chasing down balls in the gaps that robbed Storm hitters of at least a half dozen hits in the two games he started in center field.

``I'm just trying to go out there and take away base hits,'' he said with a smile. ``I feel like that's my job.''

Offensively, Simon is no Doc Brooks, the player he replaced. Brooks, who was promoted to Double-A El Paso (Texas) this week, batted .391 (25 for 64) with 11 extra-base hits, five homers and a .734 slugging percentage.

However, Simon's speed and defense gives Backman pinch-running and defensive options he didn't have with Brooks.

Simon's enthusiasm is another intangible asset.

``He's just a happy-go-lucky kid,'' Backman said.''

Simon now figures to get more playing time as the JetHawks' fourth outfielder. In his first stint with the JetHawks, he was fifth on a depth chart that featured three top organizational prospects.

``Because of the outfield situation the way it is, he can't play every day but he's a huge asset because even if he's on the bench, he's got the speed for late in the game and the defense,'' Backman said.

``In losing Brooksy we lost a good bat, but we gained speed and defense with Simon. It's a good change for both of them.''

--Rough road: After this weekend's series against Inland Empire, the JetHawks open a 17-game road trip that starts with eight games in seven days, all of which are commuter road trips.

On June 13, the JetHawks play a day doubleheader after a night game at Rancho Cucamonga, meaning they'll be playing three games within a 24-hour period and spending close to four hours on a bus during that stretch. The second game of that doubleheader will be their 29th game in 28 days without a day off.

--Organizational award: JetHawks pitcher Clint Goocher was named the Diamondbacks' organizational pitcher of the month for May. Goocher was 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA, and the JetHawks won the five games in which he started.

--Picture this: One of the 1,000 disposable cameras distributed at tonight's game against Inland Empire will feature a pre-exposed photo of JetHawks mascot ``KaBoom.'' The recipient of that camera will receive a $1,000 gift certificate from Wal-Mart, which is sponsoring the promotion.

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com