JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: SCARBERY LEARNS LESSON THE HARD WAY.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - JetHawks pitcher Chad Scarbery said he won't contest the 15-game suspension he was issued for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

But he denies that he used steroids.

Scarbery said the positive test result indicated use of an over-the-counter supplement that he didn't know was on the banned list.

``That's what got me,'' Scarbery said.

Baseball's newly implemented, more-stringent drug policy includes tests for anabolic steroids, so-called steroid ``precursors,'' supposedly undetectable designer steroids, and masking agents, including diuretics, for major- and minor-league players.

Minor-leaguers also are tested for other substances, including amphetamines, pro-hormone nutritional supplements, ephedrine and human growth hormone. They also are tested for recreational drugs.

Baseball essentially uses a pass/fail system for its drug tests and does not make public the substances for which players test positive.

``I don't know exactly what it was,'' Scarbery said. ``It just showed up as a performance-enhancer. When first I got the news, I was shocked, obviously.''

JetHawks manager Bill Plummer said it's a player's responsibility to know what supplements are on the banned list. He said players are encouraged to confer with trainer Adam Weyer if in doubt about a specific supplement.

The rules regarding banned substances that are sold at nutritional stores can be confusing, Arizona Diamondbacks roving instructor Lee Tinsley said.

``I looked at the list,'' Tinsley said. ``It's like trigonometry.''

Scarbery was among three players baseball suspended in the most recent wave of failed drug tests. Sixty-four minor-leaguers have been suspended for failed drug tests this year.

He acknowledged the experience has been painful and embarrassing.

``I've got buddies calling me from all over the country, asking me what's going on,'' he said. ``It's not something you want to be attached to, obviously. I know it makes me look bad, but I know what's going on, and that's all that really matters.''

Under baseball's rules, Scarbery is permitted to work out with the team during the suspension. He continues to do so and charts pitches in the stands during games.

He called the ordeal a ``15-game learning experience.''

``Just because something looks good and they sell it in the store, it doesn't mean it's OK,'' Scarbery said. ``I'm going to serve these 15 games and try not to let it bother me the rest of the season.

``I'm going to finish out the season strong. That's the plan.''

--Big win: Sunday's dramatic 5-4 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm was important for several reasons.

The JetHawks rallied in their last at-bat for a victory for the second time in three days against the Storm to improve to 6-0 against Lake Elsinore. With High Desert's 9-5 loss Sunday to Inland Empire, the JetHawks (23-21) moved into second place in the California League's South Division and two games over the .500 mark, both season firsts.

It also meant the JetHawks were playing for first place Monday against the Storm (23-20).

--Also: JetHawks catcher Miguel Montero went 1 for 4 Sunday, extending his team-leading hitting streak to 18 games. ... JetHawks outfielder Alex Frazier suffered a left (non-throwing) wrist sprain diving for a ball Sunday. It likely will sideline him five to seven games, Plummer said.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com