Slam is highlight for hitting standout

Southern Oregon right-fielder Mike Lockwood may be the happiest man in Medford.

And that may be the understatement of the year considering the former Ohio State standout has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games and is fourth in the Northwest League in hitting (.377).

It also doesn't hurt that Lockwood drilled a game-winning grand slam during Wednesday's game against Yakima, amazing even seven-year girlfriend Mica Luedeke.

"I like being in those situations," said Lockwood, "but I think any hitter does. It's a fun situation to hit in because you're either the hero or the goat. Many times I've been the goat, but that time it went all right."

The big blast was only Lockwood's second homer of the season and his first grand slam since his high school days in Powell, Ohio.

In attendance both times has been Luedeke.

"I just thought it was absolutely amazing," she said. "I was just thinking, `OK Mike, just get a hit or a walk and we can win.' Then all of a sudden he swung the bat and the ball went sailing and I couldn't believe it. It's been a while since he's done that.''

Luedeke, 21, is scheduled to return to Ohio on Monday, but admits her impending trip home is tenuous.

"If Mike hits another one tonight, I don't know if he'll let me leave," she said prior to Thursday's game.

For the record, Lockwood didn't duplicate the feat Thursday.

Not all of the 22-year-old's surge at the plate can be attributed to Luedeke. Lockwood was hitting about .200 after 10 games, then got a few helpful tips from hitting instructor Billy Owens and manager Greg Sparks.

Owens "helped me out a lot with my approach at the plate and what's going through my mind," said Lockwood, and Sparks "helped me with my mechanics. It's all been coming through for me lately."

Lockwood's 11-game hitting streak is the team's best this season, and heading into Thursday's game he was 10-for-19 with two homers, eight runs and 11 RBIs in his last five games.

"I've gotten a couple of bloop hits here and there, but I've hit some other balls hard and things have just kind of gone my way,'' said Lockwood. "The ball looks pretty big right now. I just feel comfortable and relaxed. Even when the ball doesn't look big, I seem to be able to find it. It seems like when things are going your way, pitchers make more mistakes."

In the beginning, he wasn't certain things would go his way.

"It was a tough situation coming in because you're nervous and there's always that question of whether you will be able to play at this level," he admits. "It just took me a while to relax and get that confidence."

The recent hitting surge has helped take some pressure off the sweet-swinging lefty, and just in time, too. Members of the parent Oakland Athletics pulled into Medford on Wednesday and have been meeting with and keeping a keen eye on the Timberjack players.

Lockwood is not content to rest on his laurels.

"In baseball you never know," he said. "You can either be cut or moved up to Double-A. I'm not trying to get too high or too low. I'm just trying to let everything take care of itself."

That's not to say he wouldn't welcome a move up in the A's system to Visalia or Modesto, both in the California League.

He's just not counting on it.

"If it happens, it happens," he said. "My deal is I'm going to work as hard as I can and learn as much as I can here."

Meanwhile, Lockwood said he will soak up as much Southern Oregon culture as possible with the help of Jim and Pauline Weaver, his host family.

"They're a great family," he said. "They make it so much easier to be here. I really got lucky. They do a lot for me."