MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
* Name: Mark Loretta
* Team: San Diego Padres
* Local Ties: St. Francis, class of 1989
* This Season: Entering Friday's game against the visiting Seattle
Mariners, Loretta was batting .309 with six home runs and 28 runs
batted in. Loretta, an infielder who previously played for the
Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, has scored 30 runs and recorded
77 hits. He's collected 14 doubles and two triples.
* Latest News: Loretta, 31, had his season-best 11-game hitting
streak snapped Wednesday against the Rockies at Coors Field. He went
hitless in three at-bats in a 5-3 loss. Loretta began the hitting
streak June 6 against the Minnesota Twins. On Tuesday, Loretta had a
single and scored a run to carry the Padres to a 4-3 victory. He had
a single Thursday in a 10-5 loss to Colorado.
* Looking Ahead: San Diego will conclude its three-game series
with the Mariners on Sunday. Seattle will start Joel Pineiro today
and Ryan Franklin on Sunday. Loretta doesn't have an official at-bat
against the two right-handers.
*
* Name: Gregg Zaun
* Team: Houston Astros
* Local Ties: St. Francis, class of 1989
* This Season: The 32-year-old Zaun is batting .268 with 19 hits.
He's scored five runs and has registered six doubles and nine runs
batted in.
* Latest News: Zaun, who helped the Florida Marlins win the 1997
World Series in seven games against the Cleveland Indians, last
competed Thursday and went hitless in one at-bat in a 4-2 loss to the
visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Zaun recorded a hit and scored a run
Tuesday in a 4-3 victory against Arizona.
* Looking Ahead: The Astros began a three-game series Friday
against the host Texas Rangers. Houston will face pitchers Ismael
Valdes and Joaquin Benoit today and Sunday, respectively. Zaun is 0
for 1 against Valdes.
*
* Name: Freddy Sanchez
* Team: Boston Red Sox
* Local Ties: Glendale Community College, 1998
* This Season: The Red Sox called the utility infielder up May 31
from Pawtucket of the International League. Despite Friday's game
being rained out against the host Philadelphia Phillies, the
25-year-old Sanchez was batting .267 in 10 games. He has gone four
for 15 with three runs scored.
* Latest News: The 5-foot-11 Sanchez last played Monday and had a
hit in Boston's 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
* Looking Ahead: The Red Sox will face Philadelphia starting
pitcher Randy Wolf today and Brett Myers on Sunday. Sanchez hasn't
faced the two hurlers.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
* Name: Fernando Rios
* Team: Potomac Cannons (single A)
* Local Ties: Glendale High School, 1998
* This Season: Rios, an outfielder, was batting. 272 through
Thursday for the Cannons, who are a Single-A affiliate for the
Cincinnati Reds.
* Latest News: Rios has produced 34 hits in 125 at-bats. In 36
games, Rios has recorded one home run, five doubles, 21 runs batted
in and five doubles.
* Looking Ahead: The Cannons began a three-games series Friday
against the Frederick Keys.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
* Name: Pete Vagenas
* Team: Los Angeles Galaxy
* High School: St. Francis, class of 1996.
* This Season: Vagenas, a midfielder who helped the Galaxy win the
MLS Cup last season, has started four matches and recorded one shot
on goal.
* Latest News: The 25-year-old Vagenas has been bothered by an
abdominal strain and is listed as doubtful for today's match against
the host New York/New Jersey MetroStars.
* Looking Ahead: The Galaxy and MetroStars match will be at 1 p.m.
at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on ESPN2, channel 57.
Compiled by Charles Rich
