JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK AN OPPORTUNITY GANDOLFO TRYING TO SQUEEZE INTO THE LINEUP.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

STOCKTON - In his collegiate baseball career at tiny Indiana University of Pennsylvania, playing time was never an issue for Robert Gandolfo.

Gandolfo, a four-year starter for the Division II Indians, led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a senior with a .419 average, striking out only three times in 117 at-bats.

But now, as a Single-A player in the respected California League, Gandolfo finds at-bats and ground balls have become scarce commodities.

``Obviously you want to play every day,'' Gandolfo said. ``It's a little bit easier playing every day. You get a little more comfortable at the plate, you know the strike zone, and you know the umpires a little better.

``I'm just trying to learn how to deal with not playing every day. It's hard to stay focused, and it's easy to get down on yourself. And that just causes more problems. It gets frustrating, if you have a bad night, you don't have the next day.''

JetHawks manager Mark Parent, a former major-leaguer, knows the stories of many players who've stayed the course awaiting their turn, but they don't all have happy endings.

``You hang on, hang on, hang on - keep working, keep working, keep working, and then if there's a window of opportunity you take it. That's got to be your goal,'' Parent said. ``Sometimes it doesn't even open, it never opens. That's the cold facts of the game.''

Signed by the Mariners in November as a non-drafted free agent, Gandolfo was at the team's extended spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz., when he was called to Lancaster after utility infielder Vaughn Schill retired.

Although listed as an infielder, Gandolfo is a utility player who can play second, third, shortstop and each of the outfield positions. He says he can play first, and even catch in an emergency.

But with an infield loaded with talent - Willie Bloomquist, the league's leading hitter, at second, Antonio Perez, who has nine homers since early June, at shortstop, and Bo Robinson, the Mariners' 1999 minor league player of the year, at third - combined with an abundance of outfielders on the team, Gandolfo hasn't seen much action.

Earlier in the season, when Bloomquist and Perez each missed several weeks due to injuries, Gandolfo had an opportunity to get in the lineup on a regular basis, but an ankle sprain suffered in early May at Visalia led to two stays on the disabled list.

By the time Gandolfo got well, so had his teammates, and it appeared that his window of opportunity was closed.

Although it wasn't the scenario that he had hoped for, Gandolfo was called into action Thursday night when Bloomquist suffered a contusion to his right thigh in the bottom of the first inning in a game against the Mudville Nine in Stockton, when Jon Macalutas slid hard into second trying to break up a double play.

And while Bloomquist is listed as day to day, Gandolfo will try to make the most of his opportunity.

On Thursday night he had two key hits and made several outstanding defensive plays which helped lead the JetHawks to their 13th straight win, 6-2 over Mudville.

Gandolfo was 2 for 3, including an RBI single in the top of the fifth that gave the JetHawks a 2-0 lead, and one of two hits in a four-run rally in the top of the seventh, when which Lancaster capitalized on two errors to score four runs on two hits and four walks.

Gandolfo saved a run, as he backhanded a ball hit 10 feet to his left in the bottom of the fourth when spun around to throw out Mark Cridland at first. Mudville had a runner at second with one out at the time.

He saved another run in the fifth when he threw out Opisbo Brito, who was trying to score from second on a Jason Fox single to right.

--Pitchers in control: Every morning when Parent walks into his office, the first thing he looks at is the walks allowed statistics in the California League.

Parent has stressed that he can live with hits and homers, but that walks do get under his skin.

Understandably, Parent has had a lot to feel good about the past few days.

In the last three games, JetHawks pitchers have allowed just one walk. The one walk came in with two out in the bottom of the ninth Thursday night, when reliever Caleb Balbuena walked Brito.

In his best start, Enmanuel Ulloa improved to 7-3 as he gave up only five hits, striking out seven in seven innings.

Ulloa's performance follows Scott Atchison's complete-game performance on Monday and a strong seven-inning outing on Tuesday from Melqui Torres in victories over Lake Elsinore.

``The guys are starting to feed off each other, trying to outdo the next guy,'' Parent said. ``I just hope they keep going out there and trying to improve.''

JetHawks pitchers have consistently led the league in fewest walks allowed, giving up only 292. In contrast, the Modesto A's have walked 332, the second-lowest total in the league.

Rancho Cucamonga has walked a league-high 517.

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JetHawks shortstop Antonio Perez has hit nine home runs since early June. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer