Mark Loretta

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Name: Mark Loretta Team: San Diego Padres Local Ties: St. Francis, 1989 This Season: Loretta, an infielder, is having his best season since 1999, when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. He's batting .321 with seven home runs and 51 runs batted in. In 110 games, Loretta has scored 51 runs and recorded 25 doubles and four triples. He's played well defensively, recording 196 putouts, 293 assists and a .990 fielding percentage.

Charles Rich It's the stretch that's been known to be the bane for major league baseball players. Mark Loretta managed to avoid the dreaded June gloom, and finished the month with the third-most hits in the National League. The San Diego Padres' second baseman and 1989 St. Francis High graduate batted a sizzling .356 in 27 games. There are no immediate signs to indicate that Loretta will hit the wall. He's been able to flummox National and American league pitchers throughout the first half of the six-month marathon season by spraying line drives around the park.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Name: Freddy Sanchez Team: Boston Red Sox Local Ties: Glendale Community College, 1998 This Season: The Red Sox have benefited greatly since calling the utility infielder up May 31 from Pawtucket of the International League. Entering Tuesday's game against the host Chicago White Sox, the 25-year-old Sanchez was batting .267 in 10 games. He's four for 15 with two runs scored. Latest News: Sanchez has had several pinch hits, but he made a defensive impact Saturday in an 8-4 victory against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park.