'Hawks rewrite record books

Catcher Rafael Lopez became the first player from Lancaster to hit for the cycle as the JetHawks routed Lake Elsinore

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

Of those nine, none were for triples and only one was a home run. In fact, in his four-year career, Lopez had only six triples and 12 home runs in 964 at-bats.

With those kind of numbers, the catcher probably wasn't the most likely candidate to become the first Lancaster player to hit for the cycle. And it certainly would be difficult to predict he would accomplish the feat in only four at-bats.

But with his fifth-inning tworun homer that just cleared the right-center field wall, Lopez reached a milestone that nobody who had ever pulled on the purple pinstripes had ever attained.

"I'm not sure it's sunk in yet," Lopez said. "I'm happy about it right now, but I think it's something I'll have to go home and think about."

Lopez was far from the only Lancaster player to have a big night, though, as the JetHawks thoroughly embarrassed the Lake Elsinore Storm with a 27-5 lynching before 3,567 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

Lancaster, which ended a twogame losing streak and improved its minor league-worst record to 43-77 overall and 20-30 in the second half, set six franchise records, one California League record and tied another in the offensive outpouring. Included among the single-game records were:

The most total bases (63) in California League history, topping the 53 Rancho Cucamonga had Aug. 10, 1997, against Visalia.

Eight home runs, which matched the Cal League record set one night earlier by Modesto.

The most runs in franchise history, topping the 24 the team scored June 6, 1998, against Modesto.

The most hits (28) in franchise history, which fell only one short of matching the Cal League record and beat the 23 gathered against Modesto last season.

The most extra-base hits (16) in franchise history, which previously stood at 10.

The largest margin of victory in franchise history, topping the 21-run win against Modesto last year.

"Everybody was swinging the bat well," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "It was fun to watch."

Every Lancaster starter had a multi-hit game, and three had four-hit games, as the JetHawks sent 14 batters to the plate in a 10run fourth inning and nine more in a six-run fifth. Seven players hit home runs, and Patrick Williams had two, while Alex Fernandez drove in seven runs.

Harvey Hargrove, Williams and Fernandez all missed hitting for the cycle by just a triple.

Lopez got that leg of the cycle in his second at-bat in the third inning, when he sent a fly ball over Nathan Haynes' head in center field, scoring Jerry Amador with one of his four RBI on the night.

"When I got that, I wasn't thinking about hitting for the cycle," Lopez said. "I was just happy to get a big hit."

Lopez doubled and scored on a bloop triple by Joel Ramirez in the second inning and picked up an RBI single in the fourth, as the JetHawks started turning the game into a laugher.

All that remained for Lopez to hit for his first cycle on any level was the homer, which he got on a 2-1 pitch from Storm reliever Jacob Brooks.

"It's a big thing to hit for the cycle for a player," Lopez said. "I'm very happy about it."

Brandon Parker was very happy to get all the help from Lopez and his teammates, as he held the Storm to two runs through six innings to improve to 8-5. Juan Ramos got his first save of the season.

Uploaded August 16, 1999