© 1998 Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, California, USA (805) 273-2700
It's for you, Rick Burleson, the real Manager of the Year in the California League, who won in spite of the albatross of Woody Woodward and his malignant neglect. You came back to the game because you wouldn't leave on someone else's terms; now you're going to make a great manager for someone else in The Show. . .
It's for you, Jim Slaton, who spits in the wind and keeps turning out pitching prospects in the place pitching goes to die, The Hangar. . .
It's for you, Cirilo Cruz Jr., who has crafted a breakthrough season, and whose smile has put a face on an entire season. . .
It's for you, Jayson Bass. Never mind those big guns that have defied sleeves all season, your greatest muscle thunders right in the middle of your chest. . .
It's for you, Brendan (Hit)Kingman. We love this Australian Rules Baseball you're playing. . .
It's for you, Chris Dean, Joel Ramirez and Karl Thompson, who've temporarily sacrificed personal upward career mobility to give this Valley another September to remember. . .
It's for you, starters Brian Fuentes and Julio Ayala, targets of batted balls that are really assassins' bullets.
Your perseverance here will reward you later, just ask Ken Cloude, Joe Mays, Brett Hinchliffe and Patrick Dunham.. .
It's for you, Anton French, the special hero of every hospitalized child in the high desert. You've given children the hope of a simple day without pain. Here's hoping your major league dreams come true. . .
It's for you, Greg Connors. Thanks for showing there's escape from that indescribable earthly paradise, Wisconsin. . .
It's for you Ramon Vasquez. Remember us when you're starring in the major leagues. . .
It's for you, Pete Janicki, for letting Lancaster help you relocate that UCLA magic in your arm. . .
It's for you, Kevin Gryboski, for just shutting up and pitching. You've made me and Penn State proud . . .
It's for you, Brian Sweeney, who was an all-star as a person long before last June's well-deserved all-star game honor. . .
It's for you, Troy McIntosh, whose training room was so crowded you may be subpoenaed for Congressional hearings on health care reform.
It's for each and every one of you in the home clubhouse who wore the crimson and pinstripes with such class and dignity that purple as a color is no longer a color of self-mortification, but of selfesteem and goose-bumped pride. . .
It's for you Kevin Younkin, John Laferney and Chris Hale, the indispensable foot soldiers for whom JetHawk baseball will always be a labor of love. . .
It's for you, Mike, Matt and Judy Ellis, the MacMurrays and the other owners. You could not have been better about a spring that held 50,000 fans hostage. Instead, you made The Hangar a place to melt the spring chill, and an oasis of community unity.
It's not for you, Woody, nor Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy and the rest of your Clueless-in-Seattle crowd.
No thanks to you, the bandwagon is full.