TOUR OF THE WEST

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

Chico Heat

Chico, Calif.

Location: Chico, on California 99, is a 1 1/2-hour drive north of Sacramento

Club established: 1997

Ownership: Principal is Steve Nettleton, the club’s president, a retired grocer

Manager: Bill Plummer, who grew up in Northern California, was backup to Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench for Cincinnati from 1968-77. Plummer concluded his 10-year major league career (in which he appeared in 357 games) with the Seattle Mariners in 1978.

Most famous player: Pitcher Terrell Hanson, who was signed three weeks ago. He played last season for Plummer at Jacksonville (Fla.), the Detroit Tigers’ double-A team in the Southern League.

Home stadium: Nettleton Stadium on the Chico State University campus was built in 1952 and refurbished by Steve Nettleton in 1996; capacity is 3,500.

Chico baseball history: The Chico Colts participated in the independent Sacramento League from the mid-1910s through the 1950s. Before that, Chico fielded a team in the Trolley League from 1908-1915.

Chico is famous for: Bidwell Park, one of the nation’s largest state parks, and its mountain-biking trails. Home to Sierra Nevada beer, one of the first microbreweries in the U.S.Chico State has a reputation as one of the country’s most notorious party schools.

Next play Vigilantes: Aug. 18-20, at Mission Viejo; Aug. 24-27 at Chico

Sources: Chico Heat, Chico Museum