JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: SCORE ONE FOR THE JETHAWKS : GUENTHER PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS JOB.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

A sharp ground ball explodes through the Lancaster Municipal Stadium infield and skips under the glove of the shortstop. Hit or error?

That's David Guenther's cue. Everyone wants to know what the JetHawks' official scorer is going to rule.

``It depends. Most fans would think that's an easy error,'' Guenther said of the hypothetical situation. ``Was there a bad hop? Was the shortstop charging the ball or backing up on it? Were there runners on base? There are like 10 things to consider.''

Like most of those in his position, the decision requires an official scorer to evaluate all possible scenarios to make a correct ruling. Then again, chances are the call is going to anger someone.

``After a play, all eyes look to me for hand signals as to how the play is to be scored,'' Guenther said.

Those eyes surround Guenther. To his left are newspaper reporters who cover the JetHawks and the opposing team. To his right are the home and visiting radio broadcasters.

The fans that sit directly in front of the press box look up. Some critics in each dugout all turn toward the press box when a go-either-way call is scored.

It's a responsibility that Guenther gleefully chooses to accept.

``What I call can make a difference in a player's career,'' said Guenther, the JetHawks' only official scorer since team owners Mike and Matt Ellis migrated to the Antelope Valley from Riverside prior to the 1996 California League season.

Indeed, a pitcher's line can be either spared or destroyed by a seemingly harmless ground ball that takes a weird hop on a pebble and eludes the fielder. This is where the official scorer plays a supporting role to the players.

And most of those minor-leaguers, the ones fighting for the precious few major-league roster spots in their respective organizations, pay close attention to their statistics.

Guenther knows tales of official scorers being threatened and/or assaulted by disgruntled players.

However, he's confident. He knows baseball, having been an above-average knuckleball pitcher at Quartz Hill High before a shoulder injury ended his career.

Guenther, a successful entrepreneur in the clothing business, carries his baseball rule book with him and studies some of the game's more intricate statutes.

And he's dabbling in the world of major-league scouting as an assistant to St. Louis Cardinals area scout Chuck Fick.

``I really feel that when I hear of official scorers who had problems with players or managers they probably don't have a background as a player,'' Guenther said. ``If a player wants me to explain a call, I think I have the background knowledge to give a good reason for it. . . . It definitely helps.''

Guenther estimates he's scored 18,000 plays during his job with the JetHawks, diligently watching for the seemingly trivial factors committed by fielders and baserunners that determine how to score a call.

Sounds like the duties mandated for scouts evaluating young talent.

Guenther was first approached about a scouting position by the San Francisco Giants. However, the lifelong Dodgers fan couldn't see himself ``helping the enemy.'' Fick and the Cardinals bailed Guenther out.

``The scouting business is a real fraternity. Thousands of people apply for jobs,'' said Guenther, who recently watched a Southern California area pitcher he recommended the Cardinals look at. Though the pitcher left the game early with an injury, Fick showed enough trust in his assistant to add the player to his list of potential draftees.

``Every one of them think they can spot a great baseball player and they probably can. It's easy to check out a high school pitcher who's throwing in the mid-90's with a great delivery and averaging two strikeouts per inning. But when you watch a team with two great players, you have to be able to find the guy that no one notices.

``You have to look for potential. In three or four years, how much he'll fill out. It's really who can spot the unknown guy.''

Now 34, Guenther aspired to play baseball professionally as a young pitcher whose biggest thrill was throwing in the bullpen with an all-star team in Florida, a team watched closely by then Detroit Tigers manager and pitching coach Sparky Anderson and Roger Craig.

His clothing business, J.David's of Santa Clarita, is now a nationally recognized outlet. Among Guenther's clients are professional athletes from the NFL and the majors, high-powered Washington D.C. attorneys and Hollywood movie moguls.

J.David's apparel regularly appears on shows such as ``Melrose Place.''

At 17 he was a part-time employee at a store than known as Parker's Menswear of Lancaster. At 24 he bought out the company and has built it into what it is today.

Guenther's baseball passion is difficult for him to ignore, even with his company flourishing. Ironically, he met Mike and Matt Ellis as his clothing customers when their California League franchise was based in Riverside. When the move to Lancaster was in place, the Ellises offered Guenther the official scorer position.

``Baseball is in my blood and I am fortunate enough to make a living doing the things that I love,'' said Guenther, who lives in Lancaster with his wife Denise, daughter Krysta and son Ricky. ``I appreciate working for Mike and Matt Ellis. They both possess a vast knowledge of baseball not only on the field but in the inner workings of successful team ownership.

``In five years I hope to be a professional scout, scoring at the major-league level and to be in an ownership position in minor-league baseball.''

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Some of David Guenther's favorite moments as the JetHawks' official scorer:

In three-plus years scoring plays, he remembered three that were vehemently questioned, including one during his first day on the job in 1996.

A lazy fly ball to short left by current Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. swirled in the windy conditions common at the Hangar.

Guenther ruled the dropped pop-up an error when three fielders converged on the ball but none got a glove in it. Despite some protesting from then JetHawks manager Dave Brundage, Guenther vowed not to change his calls for either the home or visiting teams.

``I let (Brundage) know I was going to lay the groundwork (for the future). I was going to make that call every time, home or away.''

In 1997, current Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Travis Lee was making his professional debut with the High Desert Mavericks.

``He not only had the game-winning hit but saved the game with two diving plays in the bottom of the ninth inning with the winning run on base. The next day I gave (Lee's) father, who was in the stands, a copy of the play-by-play sheet as a memento.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) David Guenther has been the JetHawks' scorekeeper since the team moved to Lancaster.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

BOX: (Ran in AV Edition only) MEMORABLE MOMENTS (See text)