Mighty Mears has struck them out

By JON MICHAELS
Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor

Seven months since the crowd's screamed "Peanuts" and been rewarded with a tape-measure Peanut Williams home run, seen the the fireworks illuminate the space shuttle scoreboard, do the vaunted Chicken Dance or done the seventh inning stretch with Kaboom.

All the excitement returned Wednesday evening as the JetHawks opened the home portion of their season.

But something else returned to the Hangar that has been missing for even longer - the promising minor league talent that has the ability to contend for a California League title.

What makes Lancaster a contender each time it takes the field is the superior starting pitching, which the visiting Mudville Nine got an upclose look at.

One of the JetHawks' top prospects, Chris Mears, who started Wednesday's home opener, was solid on the mound once again.

But unlike his first start of the season, where he was touched for two longballs in a no-decision, Mears limited the flyballs and was even more effective.

"I was very happy with the way I pitched," Mears said. "It was a big improvement over my last outing. I was throwing strikes, and the game is a lot easier when you do that."

Mears gave up two hits in 6 innings, striking out six Nines. Mears (0-0) walked three and gave up one earned run, which came home from second base after Mears retired for the evening.

Unfortunately, Mears - Lancaster's player of the game - walked leadoff hitter Jeff Deardorff in the sixth, and allowed the Mudville third baseman to advance to second on Mears' second wild pitch of the evening.

After Mears struck out Eduardo Fugueroa, Lancaster manager Mark Parent came out with the hook and called on right-handed reliever Allan Simpson to try and end the threat.

Simpson - making his first outing of the season and recovering from a sore shoulder - responded by giving up an RBI double to Obispo Brito, a walk and a three-run homer to light-hitting Mark Ernster that stripped the win from Mears. But Lancaster rallied in the ninth to steal a 5-4 victory.

Of Mears' 19 outs, seven were groundball outs (three comebackers), six were via strike out and five were flyballs, none of which were very threatening.

"Chris stayed down in the strike zone," pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He got into a groove there for about four innings. You can't get your pitches up in the zone if you're a sinker-ball pitcher and Chris kept his pitches low and it had some good activity."

Mears landed in Lancaster midway through the 1999 season after a stellar start in Wisconsin. The right-hander was 10-1 with a 2.43 ERA in 13 games for the Timber Rattlers before heading west.

Mears' outing was the latest in a string of strong performances by Lancaster pitchers. Overall, the 'Hawks are second in the California League with a team ERA of 2.87, only three-one hundreths of a point behind Lake Elsinore.

Leading the talented crop of hurlers is Jeff Heaverlo, who improved to 2-0 on Tuesday and has an unblemished 0.00 ERA. Josue Matos (1-0) has also not been touched for an earned run this season.

The pitching has kept Lancaster in each game this season. The JetHawks have held a lead in all seven games this season.

Uploaded April 13, 2000