Monahan Trying to Cool Off

Perhaps the impression of Shane Monahan’s first season in the California League is that of a hot-headed guy who likes to throw his helmet.

Considering Monahan has actually performed well--hitting .288 with five home runs and a team-leading 49 runs batted in--that’s not the image he wants to have. So he has made a conscious effort for the past month to control his temper.

“[That’s what I have to do] to get to the next level,” Monahan said. “I know I have all the physical tools. It’s just a matter of turning bad intensity into good intensity.”

Monahan said Wednesday night’s game was an example of how he has improved. He struck out his first two times up, but kept his cool and tripled home the go-ahead run in the eighth.

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After Doug Carroll hit his first home run as a JetHawk on Wednesday night, Manager Dave Brundage in the third-base coach’s box got a handful of fist.

Brundage held out his hand to shake Carroll’s as he trotted around third, but Carroll was expecting to knock fists instead.

“I’ve been with so many teams I don’t know what everyone does,” said Carroll, who began the season in Bakersfield, then played briefly in Wisconsin before joining the JetHawks.

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Brundage has settled on a starting rotation. Marino Santana will pitch tonight, followed by Brett Hinchliffe, Ken Cloude, Greg Wooten and Trey Moore. Wooten, who arrived from Wisconsin on Thursday, will make his JetHawk debut Monday night at the Hangar against the Visalia Oaks.

Brundage, noting the strength of his starting rotation, joked: “We’d better win the second half or I’m going to get fired.”

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Tonight’s Game:

JetHawks (Marino Santana, 5-7, 4.30) at Rancho Cucamonga (Ryan Van De Weg, 5-3, 4.56), 7:15.