© 1997 Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, California, USA (805) 273-2700
They might have to look even higher next year.
On Thursday, the JetHawks announced that two-thirds of the coaching staff that led them to their first-ever playoff appearance will return in 1998. Manager Rick Burleson and pitching coach Jim Slaton will be joined by new hitting instructor Henry Cotto.
"All three of those guys spent at least 10 years in the major leagues," Ellis said. "I think it's real easy for the younger guys on the team to look up to those guys and respect them."
The respect starts at the top with former Boston Red Sox and California Angels shortstop Burleson, who led Lancaster to a 41-29 second-half record last season and a 74-66 record overall. It was his first season as a professional manager after several seasons of coaching in both the major and minor leagues.
The JetHawks clinched a postseason berth with a 3-0 win in a one-game playoff against Modesto. Lancaster went on to beat Stockton in three games in the first round of the playoffs, before eventual-champion High Desert swept them out in the second round.
"We had a team that wanted to win all last season, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to Rick and Jim," Ellis said. "Rick brought an intensity into the clubhouse that we lacked in previous years."
Slaton, who was a standout at AV High and Antelope Valley College before going on to a solid professional career with Milwaukee, Detroit and the Angels, showed a lot of patience last season with a young staff that endured numerous injuries and the infamous High Desert winds at The Hangar.
The JetHawks finished seventh in the Cal League in team ERA (4.74) in 1997 after sitting at the bottom for most of the season.
"Jim is one of the best pitching coaches I've ever met," Ellis said. "He took a staff that suffered a lot of injuries and had a couple of guys that weren't quite ready for this level yet. He made our star pitchers better and took the younger guys and helped them develop."
Slaton is also excited about the opportunity to return to the team in his hometown for a second season.
"This is my home, and I'm thrilled," he said. "I'd rather stay here than move up to Double-A or Triple-A at this point. It's real nice here. We have some great fans and a great stadium. I'm real excited to be back."
Cotto, who has coached professionally for two seasons in the Mariners organization, comes to the JetHawks from Class AAA Tacoma. He coached in Class AA Port City in 1996.
A utility outfielder, Cotto played 10 seasons in the major leagues, including the 1988-93 seasons with the Mariners. He also played for the Chicago Cubs (1984), New York Yankees (1985-86) and Florida Marlins (1993). For his career, Cotto hit .261 with 44 home runs, 210 RBI and 130 stolen bases.
He replaces Dana Williams, who will be a coach with the Peoria Mariners of the Arizona Rookie League.