"BRETT FAVRE AND
THE JETS" SONG
(2008)
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LOCAL PROS - MEN
Hurdle: One 'Jam' away from the NBA
© East County Sports.com
BAKERSFIELD (11-7-09) — Former Helix High standout
LANCE HURDLE has been drafted by the Bakersfield
Jam of the NBA Development League. Hurdle, a product
of Miami (Fla.), was the Jam’s No. 5 selection
in an eight-round draft held this week.
A 6-foot-1, 183-pound point guard, Hurdle was among
200 NBA prospects available to the 16 teams in the
NBA D-League. Drafted players will join a group
of returning and allocated players in NBA the various
D-League training camps on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Bakersfield franchise is affiliated with the
Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
“These are real exciting times,” Hurdle
said. “I’m looking forward to playing
professional basketball.”
Upon graduating from Helix in 2005 after averaging
24.1 points and 4.8 assists as a senior, Hurdle
was bound for UC Santa Barbara. When that didn’t
work out, he transferred to San Bernardino Valley
Community College for his freshman season.
He spent the final three collegiate seasons with
the Hurricanes, where he was a starter his final
two years. Hurdle was primarily more of a playmaker
than a big scorer playing in the Big East Conference,
scoring a career-high 9 points during his senior
season.
Ex-Foothiller joins Rockies
© East County Sports.com
DENVER (9-22-09) — Former Grossmont High and
USD infielder MIKE McCOY has been promoted to the
Colorado Rockies for their stretch run for a wild
card berth in the National League playoffs.
McCoy hit .307 with five triples, 102 runs and
40 steals for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the
Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 132 games prior
to his recall.
A 34th round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals,
McCoy reached the Triple-A level as a middle infielder
with the Memphis Red Birds in 2007. He’s spent
the past two seasons in the Rockies ’ organization.
Former El Cap standout joins Blue Jays
© East County Sports.com
| Bellatti
signs with Rays
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (6-26-09) — ANDREW BELLATTI,
a 12th round pick of the American League champion
Tampa Bay Rays, has signed a pro pact.
Bellatti posted a 13-9-1 record with 172
strikeouts in 140 innings in his final two
seasons at Steele Canyon.
Also stationed as a corner infielder, Bellatti
batted .407 (70-172) with 14 home runs and
53 RBI in his last two prep campaigns.
Bellatti had the option of remaining an amateur
athlete as he turned down a baseball scholarship
to Cal State Fullerton.
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TACOMA, Wash. (6-27-09) — It was pregame warm-ups
as usual for KYLE PHILLIPS, the leading hitter for
the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League
Friday night (June 26) in Tacoma.
That is, until pitching coach Andy LaRoche hollered
to Phillips that Las Vegas manager Mike Basso wanted
to see him.
“Since I hadn’t played for eight days
I thought it could be one of two things – either
I was going home or being dropped to Double-A,”
said the 25-year-old El Capitan High graduate.
He was wrong on both accounts. Basso informed Phillips
that he’d been called up to the major leagues
by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was ticketed for a
“red-eye” flight that would allow him
to get to the Rogers Centre in the Canadian city
in time for Saturday’s (June 27) game against
the visiting American League champion Tampa Bay
Rays at 10 a.m. (PT).
“It was an out of body experience,” Phillips
said. “I thought he was kidding me, and I started
looking for hidden cameras inside his office.”
A 10th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins
in 2002, Phillips was batting .338 with three home
runs and a dozen RBI for Las Vegas . He is filling
a void created by Rod Barajas, who was placed on
the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring pull.
Phillips and backup Raul Chavez will serve as Toronto
’s catchers for the time being.
Phillips, whose older brother, Jason (now a coach
with the Seattle Mariners), played for the Jays
in 2006-07, is getting his first chance to play
in the big leagues.
“Kyle had a really good (spring training)
camp," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi
said. "The pitchers like throwing to him. He's
one of those guys that's kind of like a lifetime
Minor Leaguer -- they hang around long enough, they
get a chance. I'm happy for him. He's got to come
up here and help us hold the fort down."
During his 7 ½ seasons of playing minor
league ball, Phillips has had more highs than lows
despite being released by the Twins after four seasons
and then again by the Milwaukee Brewers after two
seasons.
Not to be denied Phillips hooked on with Toronto
and batted .306 at New Hampshire of the Double AA
Eastern League in 2008 after registering a .306
average with 10 home runs and 60 RBI in the Class
A Florida State League the year before.
“When you get released by an organization
it’s like being fired,” Phillips said.
“Since it happened to me twice I was ready
to go back to selling cars at Marvin K. Brown.”
When Toronto pitched him an offer he decided to
hang on a little longer.
“Now I’m one of the top 60 catchers in
the world,” Phillips said. “A lot of people
said I’d never reach the major leagues, but
I never gave up and here I am. As long as they have
a jersey with my name on the back and a paycheck
I need to sign, I’ll be happy no matter how
long it lasts.”
An ironic twist to Phillips’ trek to The Show
was John Leavitt – a major league scout for
the Twins who originally signed the versatile Vaquero
– gave him a ride to the airport Friday night.
“Everybody from Little League on up lives
for this moment,” Phillips said. “I can
tell you all the work you put into it as a kid is
worth it. There is no better feeling.”
Former Norsemen/Griffin cornerback Jones signs
with af2 football team
