Ex-Salinas Manager Will Coach Vigilantes

Former Salinas Manager Steve Hendricks has been hired as the Mission Viejo Vigilantes’ third base coach and hitting instructor, Manager Buck Rodgers said.

Hendricks replaces Brad Lesley, who resigned at the end of last season after Rodgers said he wanted a greater hand in coaching the team’s pitchers.

“Having Hendricks work with the position players will allow me to concentrate more on the pitching,” Rodgers said.

Hendricks played professionally for seven years as an outfielder/first baseman, including four (1987-90) in the San Diego Padres’ organization.

Salinas, which Hendricks led to a 43-47 record in 1997, will not field a team this year as club officials are negotiating a relocation to Redding or Oceanside for 1999.

Vigilante General Manager Paula Pyers, who along with team president Pat Elster are minority owners in the Salinas franchise, said Hendricks is signed for a year, with the understanding that he can manage the Salinas franchise next year when its relocation is complete.

“What we get is the benefit of having an experienced guy on loan, sort of, for the year,” Pyers said.

Joining the Western Baseball League this season are the Pacific Suns, who are located in Oxnard after leaving Palm Springs in 1996 and sitting out the 1997 season.

In other moves, the Vigilantes signed former Cypress College right-hander Carlos Castilla to a contract.

Castilla pitched briefly for the Luka Braves in Taiwan last season but was limited to 14 innings because of tendinitis. He had planned to sign with the Vigilantes in 1996, when they were in Long Beach, but was signed by the Angels.

Castilla, 27, originally was drafted by the Dodgers in 1991. Besides the Dodgers and Angels, Castilla has pitched in the Twins, Tigers and Red Sox organizations.

The Vigilantes open their 1998 season on May 23 against the Chico Heat at Saddleback College. Home games begin at 7 p.m., except on Sunday, when they start at 5:30.

The Vigilantes’ 1998 schedule:

May 23--Chico; 24--Chico; 25--Chico; 26--Sonoma; 27--Sonoma; 28--Sonoma; 29--at Chico; 30--at Chico; 31--at Chico.

June 1--at Chico; 2--at Reno; 3--at Reno; 4--at Reno; 5--at Bend; 6--at Bend; 7--at Bend; 9--Grays Harbor; 10--Grays Harbor; 11--Grays Harbor; 12--Tri-City; 13--Tri-City; 14 Tri-City; 16--at Grays Harbor; 17--at Grays Harbor; 18--at Grays Harbor; 19--at Tri-City; 20--at Tri-City; 20--at Tri-City; 21--at Tri-City; 23--Reno; 24--Reno; 25--Reno; 26--Bend; 27--Bend; 28--Bend; 30--Pacific.

July 1--Pacific; 2--at Pacific; 3--at Pacific; 4--at Sonoma; 5--at Sonoma, 6--at Sonoma; 7--at Sonoma; 9--Pacific; 10--Pacific; 11--Pacific; 12-14--All-Star break; 15--Chico; 16--Chico; 17--Chico; 18--Chico; 19--Sonoma; 20--Sonoma; 21--Sonoma; 22--Sonoma; 24--at Chico; 25--at Chico; 26--at Chico; 28--at Reno; 29--at Reno; 30--at Reno; 31--at Bend.

Aug. 1--at Bend; 2--at Bend; 4--Tri-City; 5--Tri-City; 6--Tri-City; 7--Grays Harbor; 8--Grays Harbor; 9--Grays Harbor; 11--Reno; 12--Reno; 13--Reno; 14--Bend; 15--Bend; 16--Bend; 18--at Tri-City; 19--at Tri-City; 20--at Tri-City; 21--at Grays Harbor; 22--at Grays Harbor; 23--at Grays Harbor; 24--at Pacific; 25--at Pacific; 26--at Pacific; 27--at Pacific; 28--at Pacific; 29--Pacific; 30--Pacific; 31--at Sonoma; Sept. 1--at Sonoma; 2--at Sonoma.