Visalia Oaks

Club established: 1977, with the Minnesota Twins as the team's major league affiliate. Visalia was a Diamondbacks affiliate from 1993 to 1996, but since has ties with the Oakland Athletics. Affiliation: Athletics' Class-A team. Ownership: The California League took over ownership of the team from Japanese Sports Systems (JASS) at the end of June. New owner Jim Wadley, who also owns the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the independent Northern League, will take control Saturday.

When California League rivals Visalia and Modesto open a four-game series Thursday in Modesto, many fans will cheer for both teams, opposing players will talk about getting together after the game and brushback pitches probably won't be thrown. "I think if we wanted to move one of their guys off the plate," Visalia utility man Jason Basil said, "we would get our catcher to tell them before throwing one high and tight."

Dave Walsh shut down the Visalia Oaks for seven innings, allowing six hits and one run to help the Ventura Gulls to an 8-1 California League victory Thursday in Visalia. Walsh, a left-hander from Woodland Hills who attended El Camino Real High, evened his record at 1-1 while allowing no walks and striking out seven. William Shanks pitched two scoreless innings to close out the win for the Gulls, who improved their record to 30-17 in the Southern Division standings.

Club established: 1977, with the Minnesota Twins as the team's major league affiliate. Visalia was a Diamondbacks affiliate from 1993 to 1996, but since has ties with the Oakland Athletics. Affiliation: Athletics' Class-A team. Ownership: The California League took over ownership of the team from Japanese Sports Systems (JASS) at the end of June. New owner Jim Wadley, who also owns the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the independent Northern League, will take control Saturday.

night after being no-hit, the Visalia Oaks jumped on Ventura County Gulls pitcher Hugh Brinson for five hits in the first two innings and went on to defeat the Gulls, 4-2, on Wednesday night at Recreation Park. The Oaks, who lead the California League's Southern Division by three games, did not get a hit against two Ventura pitchers Tuesday, but wasted little time getting started Wednesday. Visalia trailed, 1-0, entering the bottom of the first but got a leadoff single from Tom Thomas.

When California League rivals Visalia and Modesto open a four-game series Thursday in Modesto, many fans will cheer for both teams, opposing players will talk about getting together after the game and brushback pitches probably won't be thrown. "I think if we wanted to move one of their guys off the plate," Visalia utility man Jason Basil said, "we would get our catcher to tell them before throwing one high and tight."

Brett Hinchliffe is in an episode of the "Twilight Zone." He keeps finding himself in the same nightmare. Hinchliffe continued to be unable to make it through a start without one disastrous inning. On Saturday night it was a five-run first, putting the JetHawks in a deep hole before they even touched a bat. "It's my fault, I've got to make the pitches," Hinchliffe (5-8) said after the JetHawks lost, 8-6, to the Visalia Oaks at the Hangar. "I haven't been going out and giving us a chance to win."

Brendan Kingman had three hits and drove in two runs, and Brian Fuentes (4-4) struck out 12 in Lancaster's 9-4 victory over the Visalia Oaks on Tuesday night at the Hanger. Matt Sachse had two hits for the JetHawks (9-10). SUNS Ryan Seidel delivered a two-run single in the sixth and scored in the ninth to lead the Suns (12-29)over the Chico Heat, 5-3, on Tuesday night at Chico.

Scott Ciasson allowed two hits and struck out nine in seven innings as the Visalia Oaks defeated the Lancaster JetHawks, 6-0, Saturday night at Visalia Recreational Park. Visalia (31-24) broke the game open with four runs in the eighth inning. Juan Silvestre, Travis McClendon and P.J. Williams had hits for Lancaster (31-24). * Today: At The Hangar, vs. Modesto, 5 p.m. On the radio: KUTY-AM 1470.

A fifth-inning error by pitcher Marino Santana enabled the Visalia Oaks to score the go-ahead run Sunday night in a 5-3 victory over the JetHawks at Recreation Park. The Oaks added an insurance run in the seventh against Santana (7-13), who gave up four earned runs and had nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Brett Hinchliffe is in an episode of the "Twilight Zone." He keeps finding himself in the same nightmare. Hinchliffe continued to be unable to make it through a start without one disastrous inning. On Saturday night it was a five-run first, putting the JetHawks in a deep hole before they even touched a bat. "It's my fault, I've got to make the pitches," Hinchliffe (5-8) said after the JetHawks lost, 8-6, to the Visalia Oaks at the Hangar. "I haven't been going out and giving us a chance to win."

night after being no-hit, the Visalia Oaks jumped on Ventura County Gulls pitcher Hugh Brinson for five hits in the first two innings and went on to defeat the Gulls, 4-2, on Wednesday night at Recreation Park. The Oaks, who lead the California League's Southern Division by three games, did not get a hit against two Ventura pitchers Tuesday, but wasted little time getting started Wednesday. Visalia trailed, 1-0, entering the bottom of the first but got a leadoff single from Tom Thomas.

Dave Walsh shut down the Visalia Oaks for seven innings, allowing six hits and one run to help the Ventura Gulls to an 8-1 California League victory Thursday in Visalia. Walsh, a left-hander from Woodland Hills who attended El Camino Real High, evened his record at 1-1 while allowing no walks and striking out seven. William Shanks pitched two scoreless innings to close out the win for the Gulls, who improved their record to 30-17 in the Southern Division standings.

Three of the newest JetHawks made the biggest contributions as the team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 13-4 victory over the Visalia Oaks on Monday night before 3,937 at the Hangar. Right-hander Greg Wooten (1-0) gave up two runs in six innings. Doug Carroll hit two home runs and drove in four runs and Scott Smith drove in three runs. All three were promoted from Wisconsin last week.

The Lancaster JetHawks' magic number for making their first appearance in the California League playoffs remained at four Monday night, thanks to a 11-6 loss to the Bakersfield Blaze at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the JetHawks (39-25) and dropped them three games behind the Valley Division-leading High Desert Mavericks (42-22) in the race for the second-half championship.