No Shortcoming Without Lanza

The JetHawks played Wednesday night without shortstop Mike Lanza, who was sick with dehydration.

Second baseman Jason Cook started at shortstop, his college position. Cook also has started at third base and in left field.

“Cook’s a pretty solid shortstop,” Manager Dave Brundage said. “There’s not a lot of difference between Lanza and Cook defensively.”

Lanza might play tonight.

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While The Famous Chicken may be new to Lancaster, he’s familiar to most of the JetHawks, who have seen him in various minor league stops.

When the well-known mascot performs tonight at the Hangar, it will be at least the 25th time he’s been seen by Brundage, who played in the minors for nine seasons and has managed for 1 1/2. And don’t think just because Brundage was busy playing that he didn’t get a laugh out of The Chicken.

“He’s just as funny the 20th time as the first time,” Brundage said. “He’s got some good [routines].”

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Tonight’s Game: Rancho Cucamonga (Ryan Van De Weg, 4-3, 5.07) at JetHawks (Trey Moore, 1-0, 1.29), 7:15 p.m.