Brent Cookson

Although he is batting .357 at triple-A Tucson, Brent Cookson (Santa Paula, Ventura College) hasn't been called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks because he's been troubled by an injured knee most of the season. He was on the disabled list in May and June, and re-injured the knee a few weeks ago. Only now is he at full strength. An ankle injury derailed his first taste of the big leagues three years ago. He was called up to the Kansas City Royals after batting .

Brent Cookson's long summers playing before nickel-beer night crowds in the minor leagues finally seemed over. The outfielder was back in the major leagues in June 1999 for the first time in four years, the reward for an injury-plagued trip around baseball's bush leagues. Through eight seasons and 10 organizations, Cookson established himself as a power hitter, yet a return to the majors had eluded him. Finally, the call came.

He isn't considered one of the Dodgers' top prospects, but outfielder Brent Cookson does reside among the leaders in the Pacific Coast League. Cookson, a 30-year-old outfielder, is hitting .312 with 11 home runs and leads the league with 38 runs batted in for triple-A Albuquerque. A few more performances like Monday's and he may find himself on the Dodgers' short list. Cookson had two home runs and seven RBIs in a 17-5 victory over Nashville. His two-run homer in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie.

He isn't considered one of the Dodgers' top prospects, but outfielder Brent Cookson does reside among the leaders in the Pacific Coast League. Cookson, a 30-year-old outfielder, is hitting .312 with 11 home runs and leads the league with 38 runs batted in for triple-A Albuquerque. A few more performances like Monday's and he may find himself on the Dodgers' short list. Cookson had two home runs and seven RBIs in a 17-5 victory over Nashville. His two-run homer in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie.

Brent Cookson was on the Dodger Stadium field 12 years ago to accept an award for being a first-team All-CIF selection. Now playing for the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M., Cookson remembers the moment well. "That's as close as I've come to sniffing that park," Cookson says with a laugh. Cookson is hoping to return to Dodger Stadium, this time in center field for the team he grew up cheering for. Cookson leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs with 18 through Sunday.

Keep swinging, swinging, swinging and soon you'll reach breathtaking heights. Every kid who's played on a park swing set knows the sensation. Brent Cookson plays at a park and he swings plenty. In fact, he hopes to swing himself right into another park, one called Candlestick. Brent be nimble, Brent be quick. . . . Cookson, 25, is the hottest hitter for the Phoenix Firebirds, the San Francisco Giants' affiliate in the triple-A Pacific Coast League.

Brent Cookson's long summers playing before nickel-beer night crowds in the minor leagues finally seemed over. The outfielder was back in the major leagues in June 1999 for the first time in four years, the reward for an injury-plagued trip around baseball's bush leagues. Through eight seasons and 10 organizations, Cookson established himself as a power hitter, yet a return to the majors had eluded him. Finally, the call came.

Cal State Long Beach set four school baseball records with a 30-7 victory over the University of Portland Tuesday at Long Beach. The 49ers, who led, 22-2 after three innings, set records for runs, hits (28), runs batted in (27) and doubles (nine). Long Beach scored 12 runs in the second inning to blow the game open. They had 14 extra-base hits. The former records for runs and hits were 25 for each, set in 1983 against Cal Baptist. Long Beach (16-9) is ranked 19th by Baseball America.

Kevin Ogle hit home runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings Saturday as Woodland Hills pounded Pasadena, 20-4, in a Collegiate League baseball game at Pasadena City College. Ogle, a Reseda High graduate who was used sparingly in his freshman season at Cal State Northridge last spring, drove in five runs. Chae-Ho Chong, a teammate of Ogle's at Northridge, also had a home run and five RBIs. Craig Pearson, who played at Moorpark last season, hit a solo home run in the sixth.

Outfielder Brent Cookson (Santa Paula) became the first Tucson player to clear the 40-foot fence in center field in Tucson Electric Park, the triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did it in his first at-bat of the season in the first inning of the opener. Cookson hasn't stopped hammering the ball. He is batting .367, eighth in the Pacific Coast League, and has four home runs.

Brent Cookson was on the Dodger Stadium field 12 years ago to accept an award for being a first-team All-CIF selection. Now playing for the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M., Cookson remembers the moment well. "That's as close as I've come to sniffing that park," Cookson says with a laugh. Cookson is hoping to return to Dodger Stadium, this time in center field for the team he grew up cheering for. Cookson leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs with 18 through Sunday.

Although he is batting .357 at triple-A Tucson, Brent Cookson (Santa Paula, Ventura College) hasn't been called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks because he's been troubled by an injured knee most of the season. He was on the disabled list in May and June, and re-injured the knee a few weeks ago. Only now is he at full strength. An ankle injury derailed his first taste of the big leagues three years ago. He was called up to the Kansas City Royals after batting .

Keep swinging, swinging, swinging and soon you'll reach breathtaking heights. Every kid who's played on a park swing set knows the sensation. Brent Cookson plays at a park and he swings plenty. In fact, he hopes to swing himself right into another park, one called Candlestick. Brent be nimble, Brent be quick. . . . Cookson, 25, is the hottest hitter for the Phoenix Firebirds, the San Francisco Giants' affiliate in the triple-A Pacific Coast League.

Lancaster was tied, 13-13, in a California League shootout Tuesday with the host High Desert Mavericks entering the 10th inning. The JetHawks trailed, 10-9, in the seventh inning before tying the score in the ninth and sending it into extra innings. * Next game: 7 tonight, at High Desert. Up next: vs. Stockton, Thursday-Saturday.

Right-handed reliever Brian Sweeney was promoted by the JetHawks after Sunday's game to double-A New Haven of the Eastern League. Sweeney had 14 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings and a 6.75 earned-run average with the JetHawks. * Up next: At San Jose, tonight-Thursday, 7 p.m. AROUND THE LEAGUES Outfielder Bryan Warner, who played at Glendale College, has signed with the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the independent Northern League.