JetHawks land at Hanger with few surprises

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

With the exception of newly retired infielder Rick Southall and the promotion of outfielder Alex Fernandezto to Class AA New Haven, the squad remains mostly intact from the last week of spring training.

"Rick just didn't want to play anymore," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "He was excited about coming here but being a baseball player just wasn't in him."

Parent's club currently has 25 members but, as is the norm, should change and evolve as the season progresses.

"We have 13 pitchers and 12 position players," Parent said. "Hopefully we'll have enough work to keep them busy this year.

"We have a good mix of some younger guys and a few older guys. I'm sure we'll lose a few of them during the course of the year."

The public will get its first look at the club before they leave on a six-day swing to Bakersfield and Modesto on Wednesday night. On Wednesday the JetHawks will hold an evening workout at 6:30 p.m. It will be open at no cost to the public and the gates will open at 6:15 p.m.

Before their arrival the team and staff had to endure a six-hour plus drive from the Phoenix area that began at 9 a.m. on Monday.

"That drive was pretty long," outfielder Harvey Hargrove said. "I wasn't expecting it to be as long as it was."

Hargrove looks determined to force the Mariners into a midseason call-up after spending last season, the Fall League season and the start of this year in Lancaster.

"I'm going to come out and play as hard as I can. I'm going to do whatever I can to move up, but if I don't I know I'll have done my best."

For other members of the team, the meaningless games of spring have given way to the competitive full season.

"I'm excited that spring training is over with and the real games can begin," third baseman Bo Robinson said. "I know the fans here are great and it's going to be fun. The facilities are awesome, it's going to be great."

The overall appeal of the Antelope Valley and its facilities was not lost on the group on arrival day.

Those that had already spent time in Lancaster had a high opinion of the area, the fans and the franchise and that filtered down to the newcomers.

"This area is kind of different, but I like it," infielder Vaughn Schill said. "Everything here is first class.

"It looks like everything will be a smooth transition. Everyone says that it's nice here and that there is plenty to do. They have all said that the people, fans and league are great."

Uploaded April 4, 2000