Miller graduate Chavez is pitching well for Las Vegas AAA team - Fontana Herald-News

LAS VEGAS - As one of the nicest guys you are going to meet in all of pro sports, Fontana A.B. Miller High School graduate and right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez, signed a contract over the off-season with the Toronto Blue Jays after being claimed off of waivers and finds himself pitching at the team’s AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s.

Chavez, 28, has been with six organizations (although one of them, Tampa Bay, was just for a day or two in December 2009) since he signed his first pro contract with Texas in 2003. He’s been both a reliever and a starter, and it looks like Toronto is trying to get him back in that starting role.

He’s doing well there, picking up a win over Colorado Springs on April 22 at Cashman Field in Las Vegas to improve to 2-1 on the season with a 3.32 ERA. Against the Sky Sox, Chavez threw five and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits to go along with seven strikeouts and one walk as the 51s triumphed, 9-2.

“I feel comfortable in a starting role for the first time in a couple of years,” Chavez said. “Just the feeling I got when I got called by the Blue Jays, and the feeling I get from the coaches and the front office, too, is great. There are no gimmicks. They gave it to me straight.”

Chavez, 28, pitched in the Big Leagues with Pittsburgh in 2009, but was traded to the Rays during the Winter Meetings for just a few hours before going to Atlanta. He was then traded at the deadline â€" July 31, 2010 â€" to Kansas City, where he went down to AAA Omaha and became the closer.

“I don’t know why they sent me down (to Omaha), but I’ve been the closer,” he said. “I’ve always had that job and wanted to get it done for them.”

Chavez said before he knew it, his next employer was north of the border.

“I don’t know what Kansas City had in their plans, but Toronto jumped on me and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a rotation,” he said. “I love it. It’s a good feeling.”

Chavez still is being clocked between 92 and 95 mph and throws a fastball, cutter, change up and curveball. He is also hoping to make it back to the bigs.

“As long as I keep doing what I’m doing â€" throwing strikes, attacking the strike zone, making them put the ball in play and staying down in the zone â€" that’s the key,” he said.

AND ONLY IN VEGAS â€" Cashman Field must be the world’s lone ballpark where they sing, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and some quarters for the slots...”

Yes, even if you aren’t Pete Rose, you can gamble at this ballpark!

IN CAL LEAGUE BASEBALL, despite a fabulous pitching performance by Nick Maronde, the Inland Empire 66ers let a 2-0 lead get away on April 27 at San Manuel Stadium and fell to the High Desert Mavericks, 5-3.

Maronde pitched seven shutout innings on three hits, while striking out seven and walking just two. In fact, Maronde has been named this week’s Cal League Pitcher of the Week.

However, the bullpen couldn’t make it stand up, allowing five runs to score in the eighth inning. Relievers Bryant George and losing pitcher Tyler Kehrer couldn’t get anyone out in the inning and let the game get away before lefty Manuel Flores got to the mound to restore order.

“It was a good game,” 66er catcher Jett Bandy said after all was finished. “It’s just a tough loss, but that’s why we have tomorrow. We’ve got to put this one behind us. We hit a lot of balls hard tonight. As the season goes on, it’s just a matter of time before these at-bats get better and better.

IF YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF 66ER BASEBALL, the 66ers have a new way for their fans to follow them. Now not only can 66ers fans see their 66ers at the ballpark or hear them on the radio, but they can also follow them on their phones with the 66ers’ new smart phone app.

The app includes a listen live feature to hear 66ers games, videos and pictures updated throughout the season, bios on your favorite 66ers and front office members and a fan zone featuring a “fan of the week” competition and the chance to upload your own photos.

You’ll also find a constant stream of news and notes on the team and a lot more. The app is free on the I-phone and is expected on the android market shortly. Fans can find it by searching Inland Empire 66ers in their app store.

IN PRO SOCCER, it was a frustrating match, but the Los Angeles Galaxy will take it.

In a battle that typified the Galaxy’s entire year of missed scoring opportunities, the Galaxy’s Pat Noonan scored a goal at short range in second half stoppage time to tie up FC Dallas, 1-1, Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson and gain one point in the standings.

Down 1-0, Noonan got the ball in a crowded Dallas penalty zone and put a shot past Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz into the lower left-hand corner of the goal.

“It was a very good goal,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said after the game. “I think it was a good game. We got a goal in extra time. We can’t complain. There weren’t many chances to get a goal in the game, maybe three or four chances. So, we’re happy to get the goal. We were fortunate to be able to do that. It’s not as easy as it looks out there. This is a game of inches sometimes.”

Los Angeles missed two clear-cut opportunities in the first half. At the 10-minute mark, captain Landon Donovan clearly beat Seitz to the right of the goal, but his shot went off the post.

About 32 minutes later, forward Robbie Keane fooled Seitz on a penalty kick as Seitz guessed wrong and jumped to his right. However, Keane’s shot went wide of the goal to the right.

IN COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER, Summit High School graduate and San Bernardino Valley College sophomore defender Mario Villafana recently announced he made a verbal commitment to play soccer with the University of Redlands.

Villafana was named second team All-Conference along with three other players from the 2011 team.

SBVC ended the regular season undefeated at home for the first time in team history and the team won 14 games on its way to winning its first-ever Foothill Conference title and its first playoff berth since 1994.

The 14 wins led to other firsts â€" a ranking of 20th in the state and 10th in Southern California.

(Shel Segal is a freelance writer based in Arcadia. He can be reached at ssegal@sgvjournal.com.)

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