Heaverlo, 'Hawks find stride

Lancaster scored early and often to back Jeff Heaverlo's performance on the mound in the JetHawks' victory over Lake Elsinore

By CHAD HOLCOMB
Valley Press Staff Writer

Good thing, considering the first-half title is within the JetHawks' grasps with one week left.

The day after Lancaster pulled into a tie for first with San Bernardino, Lancaster picked up early runs, and for his second straight outing, Heaverlo was outstanding as the JetHawks beat the Lake Elsinore Storm 8-4 in front of 3,637 fans at The Diamond.

Heaverlo, who picked up wins in his first three outings, backed up last Tuesday night's outing with another gem Sunday.

The right-hander, who retired the first six in a row, improved to 5-2, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out four.

Tuesday against the league's best team in Modesto, Heaverlo allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out eight.

"Heaverlo competed real well (Sunday)," Lancaster pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He made the adjustments, had better location with his pitches and his sinker was good."

Lake Elsinore sent southpaw Wes Crawford to face the JetHawks Sunday, but Lancaster didn't have the problems that have plagued them with left-handers for most of the season.

In the first, Guillermo Martinez drew a walk and Terrmel Sledge doubled to center to score Martinez. Two batters later, Bo Robinson doubled down the left-field line for a 2-0 lead.

Lake Elsinore cut the lead to 2-1 in the third on an RBI double by Richard Stuart.

Lancaster, retired in order in the second and third innings, opened the fourth with consecutive singles by Juan Silvestre, Robinson, Craig Kuzmic and Harvey Hargrove.

Hargrove singled to center on a ball Storm center fielder Elpidio Guzman let roll under his glove. That allowed Robinson and Kuzmic to score. Scott Maynard followed with a sacrifice fly for a 6-1 lead.

"We jumped out early when we were playing bad," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "We just kept pushing. We had no selfish at-bats today.

"We kept pushing (Saturday night) and that carried over today."

Robb Quinlan had a run-scoring double in the fourth and Bill Mott a two-run single in the seventh off Lancaster reliever Aaron Looper, but that was all.

P.J. Williams welcomed lefthanded reliever Greg Jacobs in the sixth with an RBI single.

Silvestre drove in his leagueleading 60th RBI with a sacrifice fly in the seventh to score Martinez, who doubled.

Lancaster won 2 of 3 from Lake Elsinore.

"Our hitting is a little off and on, but we have a good feel for (Lake Elsinore)," Parent said. "We can use these wins as a confidence thing, but we also must make the adjustments."

Robinson, Kuzmic and Williams each finished with two hits and one RBI.

Looper gave up two earned runs on two hits in two innings of work before Allan Simpson walked one and struck out one in the ninth.

Uploaded June 12, 2000