'Hawks partially rebound against Storm

The squad halfway redeemed itself with a 7-7 tie of the Storm in a game marred by errors and mental mistakes from Lancaster.

"Defensively, the outfield really hurt us today," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said. "We had a guy in left field (Harvey Hargrove) who had never played there.

"We just wanted to see if he could do it."

Hargrove misplayed several balls in left and one key error helped Lake Elsinore into a fourrun sixth.

Lancaster, down 7-4 at that point, was able to nickel and dime its way back into the game.

The team scored one run in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the game.

On the hill, Melqui Torres - considered by many to be a top pitching prospect in the organization - tossed four strong innings.

His one mistake was a 3-1 hanging slider that third baseman Mike Christensen deposited over the right-field fence for a two-run homer.

Potential closer Omar Obando pitched to just seven batters in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the Storm.

"I was really happy with the pitching and our offense," Parent said. "Torres and Obando both looked real sharp out there.

"I just wasn't happy with our defense, especially the outfield."

The offense got an early spark from major league catcher Tom Lampkin, who batted second in each of the first four innings.

Lampkin finished his day early, going 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly that scored outfielder P.J. Williams.

Despite the distraction of Lampkin and new second baseman Willie Bloomquist, the JetHawks found themselves calm enough to mount the comeback.

Bloomquist, the Mariners' third pick from 1999, found himself designated to Lancaster after an extended stay in the major league camp that ended on Sunday.

He comes to the Mariners as the PAC-10 player of the year last season, his junior year at Arizona State. As a Sun Devil, he posted a .394 average with 100 hits and scored 95 runs in just 60 games.

JetHawks hot and cold

Outfielder Terrmel Sledge, team MVP in 1999 at Rookie League Everett, finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of smartly hit singles.

The lefty started the spring off slow, but is finding his groove as the end of camp looms.

"My timing is really coming back," Sledge said. "I was really trying to hit the ball and take it the other way.

"I'm getting there, but I'm just not where I usually am."

Also collecting multiple hits were first baseman Rick Southall (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and shortstop Antonio Perez (2-for-4, 2B) who looks ready to break out of his recent slump.

Designated hitter Mike Marchiano was the lone spot in the lineup not to get a hit Monday.

After hitting a pair of doubles Sunday, Marchiano flew out twice, grounded out and reached on an error on Monday.

Uploaded March 29, 2000