JetHawks washed out
by El Nino storm

The Lancaster JetHawks, who suffered two rainouts in spring training and the first rain delay in the history of The Hangar on April 4, got nailed by El Nino again Saturday. The JetHawks' game at Rancho Cucamonga, which was supposed to wrap up a three-game series with the Quakes, was called due to rain.

Even though there was no rain on the north side of the San Gabriel Mountains, a steady rain started falling on the south side of the range early Saturday morning.

That rain, plus the absence of a tarp at The Epicenter, created a lake on the infield and the cancellation of the game at 4 p.m. Fortunately, the Quakes notified the JetHawks of the cancellation before they had to board the bus for the 75-mile trip south.

A makeup date will not be decided until early this week, when the Cal League office opens. It could be made up as part of a doubleheader when the JetHawks open their next series at Rancho Cucamonga April 25-27, but will more likely be played on an open date since it is a commuter trip.

The rainout was the first during the regular season at The Epicenter since May 17, 1994, against Riverside, a span of 262 consecutive games. The Quakes had three games rained out in 1994. Lancaster was last involved in a rainout June 3, 1997, at Stockton.

Modesto, which will play host to the JetHawks today in the opener of a three-game series, also had its game with Stockton rained out Saturday.