Play Ball!

'Hawks start in Bakersfield

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

"Graig Nettles and Dave Brundage exchanging lineup cards at home plate. It was a cool night, and I don't think I've ever seen so many photos being taken," Ellis said, remembering the first game in franchise history, which was held April 4, 1996 at Bakersfield's Sam Lynn Ballpark.

A little more than three years later, the JetHawks return to Bakersfield tonight to open their fourth Cal League season at 7:15 p.m., in the very same place they opened their first.

Much like in that first game, the JetHawks open a new era tonight.

After two successful seasons under the direction of manager Rick Burleson and pitching coach Jim Slaton, Lancaster opens 1999 under a new coaching staff.

Darrin Garner officially takes the reins as manager, while Greg Harris assumes pitching coach duties and Dana Williams returns as hitting coach after working with Garner at rookie-level Peoria in 1998.

"I'm sure we're all going to be a little jittery and nervous at first," Garner said. "But that's a part of opening day no matter what level you're on. You're always excited to get things started."

Garner and Harris won't be the only new faces in the JetHawks' purple road uniforms and brandnew all-purple road caps tonight. In fact, of the 25 players on the Lancaster roster, 15 will be making their Cal League debut, and only four of the remaining 10 players have seen extensive duty with the JetHawks.

Because of that inexperience and a couple of other factors, Garner feels it may be his team's advantage to open on the road.

"I know when I was a player, I always liked opening on the road," the JetHawks manager said. "It's that home opener that really gets you excited, and by the time we have our home opener (April 14 against San Bernardino), we will have already worked through some of that nervousness."

Right-hander Jeff Farnsworth, who is slated to start tonight's game, will make his first appearance since 1997, when he went 1-1 with a 6.97 ERA in five starts with the JetHawks before being placed on the disabled list. Farnsworth missed all of 1998 while recovering from a right elbow injury.

He will be opposed by Bakersfield's Manuel Bermudez, who was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 24 starts at San Jose last season.

Brian Fitzgerald and Brandon Parker are slated to start the remaining two games in Bakersfield for the JetHawks before the team travels north for a three-game series at Visalia.