Rain washes out JetHawks

Tuesday's storm caused the first home rainout in JetHawks history. The game will be made up today as part of a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday's series opener with the Lake Elsinore Storm was rained out by the latest weather system to dump precipitation on the Antelope Valley. It is the first time the JetHawks have been rained out at home during their two-plus seasons in Lancaster.

"My reputation is I'm one of the toughest guys to get a rainout called," Ellis said. "I've proven that."

But Ellis had little choice when he looked at the solid band of rain that was expected to soak the area until late Tuesday night. He came to the determination after looking at radar maps on the Internet along with JetHawks broadcaster Rick DeReyes, a former weatherman for KABC-Channel 7 in Los Angeles.

"If it stopped raining at 7 o'clock, we could get the field ready in 30 minutes," Ellis said. "But if you look at the radar, it's not going to let up until 10 or 11 (Tuesday night). We're not going to play charades."

The JetHawks were the last team to call off their game Tuesday, as the night was a complete washout for the entire California League.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. today. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

"Our fans are not familiar with this, but it's two games for the price of one," Ellis joked. "Both games are seven innings."

While a Cal League doubleheader may be new to the Antelope Valley, it's a sight the JetHawks are certainly becoming familiar with. Tuesday's rainout brings the total of weather-related cancellations the team has been involved in this season to a half dozen.

Lancaster already has played doubleheaders in Modesto, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino and High Desert, and had to make up another rainout Monday in San Bernardino on a day that was supposed to be an off night.

Lake Elsinore also has been involved in six rainouts, including a frustrating one Monday. The Storm traveled all the way to Stockton to complete a suspended game and make up a rainout, only to see both games washed away.

"It's really frustrating," Ellis said. "We don't look at it as a day off, but as a lost gate.

"We figure if we didn't want to be here, we'd be in a different business. My staff and I did everything we could, but it wasn't enough."