Atchison's first win comes at opportune time for Lancaster

Scott Atchison earned his first win and P.J. Williams had a three-run triple as Lancaster moved back atop the South Division standings.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

Big innings. Great pitching. Blowout wins.

They were all there in Lancaster's 9-1 win over High Desert before a crowd of 1,101 at Mavericks Stadium.

After their disappointing loss at the hands of San Bernardino on Tuesday, the JetHawks (38-28) went up a game on the Stampede, with four to play in the first half, after San Bernardino's 3-1 loss at home to Rancho Cucamonga.

"It was really reminiscent of earlier in the year," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said. "Good pitching and the offense looked really good. The guys ran the bases hard and hit the ball.

"Last night was kind of a downer, so it was nice to see the guys bounce back."

Starter Scott Atchison turned in what is easily his finest performance in six starts.

Atchison (1-3) scattered six hits over five innings, giving up one run and striking out three.

"The last few outings have been a little rough," Atchison said, "Tonight I made some good pitches and the defense played real well behind me to get me out of those innings.

"I felt I had command of my pitches for the first time."

The win was Atchison's first of the year, that included a brief stint in Class-AAA Tacoma.

"Scott had real good command of his fastball on both sides of the plate," Lancaster pitching coach Scott Budner said. "That's the only real difference in what he was doing tonight."

A literal parade of pitchers followed Atchison to the hill.

Aaron Looper, Neil Longo, Denny McDaniel and newest JetHawk Omar Obando all came in to throw one scoreless inning each for Lancaster.

"Atchison's outing allowed us to get a lot of guys some work," Parent said. "They all did a good job for us tonight."

The big inning came in the second for Lancaster against High Desert starter Robert Shabansky.

With the bases juiced, Shabansky walked home Bo Robinson with Scott Maynard at the plate, for the games first run.

Center fielder P.J. Williams followed with a three-run triple down the right-field line that broke the inning open for Lancaster.

"It was a big hit for me," Williams said. "I've been working on staying back and going with the pitch. He kept going outside, so I went with it.

"Most of the pitchers have been throwing me away, so I was ready for it. Normally with people on, I think I'm as good of a hitter as anyone else."

Williams also legged out an infield single in the ninth.

"He put the ball in play like he is supposed to," Parent said. "With a guy with his speed, striking out does nothing for him or the team. We've been working with him to put the ball in play more."

Willie Bloomquist finished the scoring with a double that scored Antonio Perez, as the JetHawks took a comfortable 6-0 lead.

The double was Bloomquist's first extra-base hit since coming off the disabled list this week.

Several JetHawks powered the offense on Wednesday including Williams (3-for-5, 4 RBI, 3B), Harvey Hargrove (3-for-4) and Craig Kuzmic (2-for-4, 3 runs scored).

Uploaded June 15, 2000