TOUR of the WEST

A team-by-team look at the Western Baseball League

Sonoma County Crushers

Rohnert Park, Calif.

Location: A one-hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101.

Club established: 1995

Ownership: Principal is Bob Fletcher, a retired IBM executive who serves as president and general manager.

Manager: Dick Dietz, a minor league manager since 1990, played eight seasons in the major leagues as a catcher for the Giants (1966-71), Dodgers (‘72) and Braves (‘73) and was an All-Star selection in 1970. He is perhaps best known in the Southland for nearly costing Dodger Don Drysdale his major league record (since broken) for scoreless innings pitched. On May 31, 1968, in the ninth inning with the bases loaded, Drysdale’s pitch hit Dietz; however, plate umpire Harry Wendelstadt ruled interference, saying Dietz leaned into the pitch. Dietz flied out and Drysdale worked out of the jam to record his 45th consecutive shutout inning--a streak that would eventually reach 58 2/3 innings.

Most famous player: Outfielder Kyle Washington, who recovered from surgery on his knee to become the league’s MVP in 1995. He’s the answer to the trivia question: Who did the Baltimore Orioles trade to the Cleveland Indians in 1992 for relief pitcher Jose Mesa?

Home stadium: Rohnert Park, built in 1981, has a capacity of 4,138.

Rohnert Park baseball history: Home of the Redwood Pioneers, the Angels’ Class-A team in the California League from 1981 to 1985. In 1986, the Pioneers moved to Palm Springs, where they played as the Angels until 1994, when they relocated to Lake Elsinore as the Storm.

Rohnert Park is famous for: It’s in the heart of the Wine Country.

Website: www.webcom.com/rmd/baseball/sonomacounty.html

Next play Vigilantes: Tonight-Friday at Rohnert Park; Saturday-Monday at Mission Viejo.

Information provided by Sonoma County Crushers