When the Outlaws dropped two games to the Flyers in Southern California in a two-game set ending June 18, they managed just five runs. Their 14 hits in the pair of defeats were masked by the 17 runners left on base.

Along with three wins over the Flyers in this weekend's festivities, Chico has posted 24 runs and 35 hits.

The Chico Outlaws picked up their team record 10th straight win in an 11-7 defeat of the Orange County Flyers tonight that saw them put 16 hits and two separate five-run innings on the scoreboard.

Apparently the procedure for preparing to win a 10th straight game calls for lying down in the right-field foul grass area in front of the first-base dugout and doing few a human barrel rolls in the process. That's what Outlaw manager Mark Parent, all 6-foot-7 of him, could be witnessed performing at Nettleton Stadium about 20 minutes ago in some sort of demonstration as his team wrapped up batting practice.

Both teams had their opportune chances to finally break that 5-5 draw over the final five innings. The Flyers will probably rue their biggest of the battle more: with Dave Bacani and Mark Okano on first and second base with only a single out in the seventh inning, Rich Pohle grounded out to shortstop Jesse Kovacs, who began what ended up being an escape-the-threat double play. Thing was, as Pohle crossed first, Jason Van Meetren's effort to retrieve the throw from second appeared to pull him off the bag in the process.

In fairness to base umpire James Lamb, as the play unfolded he appeared to be on top of the call in the position at an angle where he needed to be. No guarantee that's the game right there, but the Flyers are sitting on a two-out, first-and-third situation with Peanut Williams and Scott Goodman, two of the Golden Baseball League's top mashers, next in the order if Pohle's safe. Manager Garry Templeton argued with Lamb afterward and the call stood.

The Outaws improved to 5-1 in one-run games after tonight's theatrics, 3-0 over these past three head-spinning nights. It's easy to forget the harbinger of things to come first came on opening night June 7 -- the 6-5 win in Nevada over the Reno Silver Sox -- and then in a more telling sign three days later in the Nettleton Stadium opener -- that conquest of a 3-0 deficit for the 4-3 victory over Reno.

I asked Outlaw manager Mark Parent what many -- and rightfully so -- might perceive as a weird question following his team's third straight dramatic come-from-behind victory tonight at Nettleton Stadium. Two weeks ago, he seemed skeptical about his offense's ability to climb out of huge holes, which wasn't an issue at the time because the team's pitching staff had been so solid to begin the year.

So a natural query following the 6-5 win in 10 long, long innings over the Orange County Flyers seemed to be if his resurgent lineup had established enough trust yet for him to sit on his hands while weathering a deficit, something Parent has pretty much done on all three occasions in this past trio of nights.

Van Meetren just flied out to right field, dropping him to 0-for-3 on this night with two strikeouts. His struggles only continue to compound. He entered the game with a .154 average, easily the low for Outlaw regulars. This was the same guy who appeared to snap out of this snafu last weekend with a grand slam in one of Chico's wins over the St. George Roadrunners during the four-game sweep.

If you're curious why Outlaw hitting coach John Macalutas wasn't overly thrilled about that, read on:

I mentioned how yesterday marked the first "Thirsty Thursday" of the year at Nettleton Stadium. The final turnout — 1,121 in attendance — wasn't flashy, but I'd say the increase in spirit was pretty palpable. I don't want to pass judgmement based on one night, especially the first, but I'd say the Outlaws will have their hands full in trying to draw away from the always-cherished downtown farmers market.

Whether you've read about it here, heard it talked about by play-by-play man Rory Miller on Outlaws radio or perceived it to be what was really the twinge of excitement at midweek in anticipation of payday this morning, the hype surrounding the current series with the Orange County Flyers lived up to its billing in last night's opener. Lead changes, four-run innings by both teams and a game that went right down to the wire ended in the Outlaws' favor.

Tonight figures to be more of the same, with Nick Singleton and the Flyers' Reed Dickert — two of the Golden Baseball League's more overpowering pitchers this season — locking up in a rematch of last week's 3-1 contest in Fullerton in which Orange County prevailed.

If you think you're a true Outlaw fan and you're not thinking about attending a game against the Orange County Flyers at Nettleton Stadium this weekend like David Kaval is tonight, you might reconsider when seeing what kind of matchup you're team is in for:

Golden Baseball League Chief Executive Officer David Kaval is expected to attend tonight's game between the second-place Outlaws and first-place Flyers. It's his first visit of the season to Nettleton Stadium — probably easily the longest in the league's three-year history he has held off on making his initial trip to Chico.

Right now there's a Bud Light van rolled up to the main concession area at Nettleton Stadium unloading kegs. Tonight is the first of six "Thirsty Thursday" promotional installments the Outlaws are putting on this season. Beer will be sold for $2 off the regular price (and soft drinks $1 for that matter.)

While in Fullerton last week, I was told a similar promotion put on by the Orange County Flyers was experiencing limited success. We'll soon see what Chicoans make of it.

And Jason Van Meetren had his own opinion of Yuma manager Mike Marshall's decision being mulled heavily in Arizona this morning to pull the indomitable White in favor of Stephens to shut the door on the Outlaws in the ninth inning. Van Meetren, those who were there or listening will remember, crushed a double off Stephens to begin the three-run rally delivering the 3-2 win.

Van Meetren, who was hitless against low-velocity White before getting on against Stephens, said this in response when asked if the same results would have been delivered had White been left in:

Mark Parent did spend 20 seasons in the minor and major leagues combined, so maybe the Outlaw manager's take on last night's dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Yuma Scorpions is worth pondering, even if he was half-joking. In reference to Yuma starter and Corning native Evan White's hometown cheering section at Nettleton Stadium jeering Scorpions closer Amad Stephens in the ninth inning, Parent had this to say:

After watching the Yuma Scorpions' middle-order hitters take batting practice this afternoon, it's plain for me to see why the team has 14 home runs compared to the five pieced together by the Outlaws 18 games into the year. The group, particularly outfielder Maikel Jova, absolutely crushes the ball on each pitch. The difference in sound off their bats and the ones of harder Outlaw hitters is palpable.

No joke, as I was just writing that, Yuma's Yosvany Almario drove a Phil Springman offering well past the left-field fence to give the Scorpions a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Many people went gaga over the way the Yuma Scorpions started their season with an offensive rampage (117 runs in their first ten games), but now that they have been pulled down to earth by injuries and general slumps by top hitters, the mantle as top Golden Baseball League scoring attack has been passed.

Sorry Outlaw fans, one big series against lowly St. George pitching and a 15-0 win over Yuma on Monday were certainly satisfying, but no team is consistently producing as well at the moment than the Orange County Flyers, who have scored at least six runs in eight of their last 10 outings. That has helped put the Flyers (13-6) at top of the GBL standings ahead of the Outlaws (12-6) going into tonight's action.

I'm no maker of miracles, but I did manage to get Jason Van Meetren to (semi) admit he has been affected by the quad injury he sustained at the tail end of the Outlaws' last homestand over a week and a half ago.

Tyler Pearson was dazzling in his 78-pitch, complete-game shutout in Monday’s series opener against the Yuma Scorpions, but there is potential for such outings to become more routine for the 22-year-old right-hander. Since being signed during the team’s first homestand, Pearson has worked his way from the bullpen into the starting rotation by showing off a quality fastball clocked regularly in the low 90 mph range.

A link to the feature story on Daniel Nava in today's Enterprise-Record:

http://www.chicoer.com/sports/ci_6221134

That Outlaws hitting positively dormant at the beginning of the week is batting .373 in the current St. George series. You can't rule out poor St.George pitching, but at least Chico is taking advantage. That wasn't the case last week when the Roadrunners nearly tripled the Outlaws' total hit output during a surprising 2-1 series win.

This may sound silly since the season began just a little over two weeks ago, but the Outlaws are entering what is essentially the most crucial part of the first-half schedule. About to open a seven-game homestand with the Yuma Scorpions and the Orange County Flyers, the other two other Golden Baseball League teams appearing serious about going for the first half trophy, the Outlaws can do wonders for their chances by completing a sweep of the St. George Roadrunners tonight before attempting another 5-2 sprint through a week in Chico -- the team's record on its last home swing.

The Outlaws aren't about to dwell on a defensive issue after last night's offensive revival -- Extra! Extra! Eleven runs in ONE game! -- but it's kind of funny how pitcher Derrick Loop has the team's best record while being arguably its most inconsistent starter.

The Golden Baseball League has awarded its first players of the week for the 2007 season. Who's shocked they're both members of the (10-1 and first-place) Yuma Scorpions? More on that below, but a heads up for those wrapped up in Yuma's rocket start to the season: A five-game series this weekend against the Orange County Flyers (7-5), who have proven to be a respectable group at the very least, should provide a nice little test for Yuma and its spry offense.

Maybe the Outlaws are just a poor road team 12 games into the season. Because their first two trips away from home this season sandwiched a seven-game homestand, it's easy to forget they haven't won in an opposing stadium since opening night at Peccole Park in Reno on June 7. In addition to finding out where exactly they stand generally, the four-game series in Utah against the St. George Roadrunners beginning tonight should reveal quite a bit about this team's mettle outside of Nettleton Stadium.

Outlaws manager Mark Parent reiterated after his team's 8-2 loss to the Orange County Flyers the organization is on the verge of a dip into the free agent market. Look for, at the very least, a power hitter to arrive for next week's homestand with Golden Baseball League leader Yuma and second-place Orange County.

Normally clean-shaven, Outlaw pitcher Steve Jones was hassled by a friend last night for showing the makings of a stubble on his face. Jones' explanation was simple.

"Just watch, it will be gone (Tuesday) night," he said. "I always wait for my starts to get rid of it."

Yes, Jones will take the mound tonight in the capper of this brief two-game series against the Orange County Flyers and look to thwart the Outlaws' current three-game slide. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-hander out of Elk Grove has been steady overall in his first season of professional baseball after lighting it up during spring training. He is yet to record his first victory after two starts, but his 2.31 earned-run average is tops among Outlaw starters.

Whenever the Outlaws travel to Southern California to play the Long Beach Scorpions or the Orange County Flyers in Fullerton, as they are at the moment, there is quite a family atmosphere since so many players are from around the area. Last night, second baseman Eric Pringle (Inglewood) tied the team's stolen base record while his father, Tom, sat behind the Chico dugout. Shortstop David Pierson (West Covina) was batting in the leadoff spot for just the third time this year in front of his father, Anthony, and mother, Akiko. First baseman Scott Dragicevich (Westlake), pitcher Phil Springman (San Clemente) and reliever Todd Gelatka (Lake Elsinore) also had family and friends present that they visited with after the game.

Outlaw manager Mark Parent had a lot to say last night about his team's most recent offensive debacle. Outlaw hitters were sent down on strikes 13 times in the 3-1 loss to Orange County and it was no coincidence they stranded runners on base consistently (for the record, nine ended up being LOB, though it seemed liked quite a bit more if you watched the game.) As you'll see below, Parent's biggest concern is that his hitters are going to the plate with too much of an agenda to worry about.

Probably the single biggest goal of this blog right now is to post various live updates from Outlaws games being covered by the Enterprise-Record. I am in Fullerton right now preparing to head to Goodwin Stadium to cover tonight's Chico-Flyers series opener but may not have live posting capabilities just yet. One live update I can give is that it's barely 80 degrees and sunny gorgeous here in Southern California. Outlaw players, who boarded a bus for a nine-hour trip down Interstate 5 just 30 minutes after their loss to the St. George Roadrunners at Nettleton Stadium last night, can at least enjoy the fact they aren't taking batting practice in 100-degree temperatures. That was the case last week when Northern California's first major heat wave of the summer pummeled Chico.

The contest is going to be a particularly big one for Outlaw starting pitcher Nick Singleton. The 24-year-old righty entered this year slated to be the team's top arm after a 7-6 season in 2006 that many times bordered on brilliant. So far to start 2007, he's 0-0 in two starts with a 5.76 ERA (a far cry from last season's 2.79.) It's not like he's been awful -- with 15 strikeouts, he's second only to his opponent tonight, Reed Dickert, who has 16.

With six teams slugging it out over the course of a 75-game season all summer, the Golden Baseball League has become a haven for natural rivalries developing on the fly. Tonight's first meeting of the young GBL year between the Outlaws and the Orange County Flyers is no exception.

What's up gang? Patrick Kinmartin, sports writer at the Chico Enterprise-Record, fancy meeting you, too. Whether you're an Outlaw fan treating your sunburn at the office on this fine summer Monday afternoon after partaking in last week's seven-game Golden Baseball League homestand at Nettleton Stadium, an independent league baseball enthusiast amazed we in Northern California don't shun what many view to simply be Major League Baseball's underworld or just someone making this today's pit stop during another journey through the blogospheric universe, you're in the right place.

Plenty more details to follow as we roll along...