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• Caltrans worker struck, killed on Highway 99 in Lodi

• Lessons from 'Adversity University'

• George Thorogood at the Grape Bowl: A modern day concert at outdated venue

• San Joaquin County Board of Education elects officers

• Grant enabling free tire disposal could be axed

• Regional Roundup

• Lockeford park project on hold again

• Lodi mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile

• Lodi and Galt to 'take more medicine' for California's ills

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

February 2nd, 2010

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Jumpers across California

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

February 1st, 2010

• Find cuddly alpacas not too far from Lodi

• Public Meetings

• Patients can expect faster, better service when Lodi Memorial Hospital's new emergency room opens

• Man killed by Amtrak train in Lodi

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• President Obama's first year (67)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)

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Former Galt star Justin Souza a good fit in A's system

The Oakland Athletics are known for discovering and developing young talent.

So when former Galt High star Justin Souza found out he was traded from the Seattle Mariners organization to the A's, he knew it was a move in the right direction of his baseball career.

"This is huge for me. This is definitely a team I think I can get to the major leagues with," said Souza, who is now playing for the A's Double-A affiliate, the Midland Rockhounds.

"The A's have a lot of young pitchers and hopefully someday I can be one of those guys."

Souza, a 2003 Galt graduate, was drafted by the Mariners in 2006. On July 11, he was traded from the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx for third baseman Jack Hannahan. Hannahan played 236 games with the A's over the last two years and has already played in seven with the Mariners since the deal went down.

Souza was 6-6 in 20 games (14 starts) with a 3.35 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 18 walks in 78 innings of work with the Diamond Jaxx. The move not only brought Souza from Tennessee to Texas and closer to home, but he hopes to eventually come even closer. With some quality starts, Souza's hoping he can land a spot with the Sacramento River Cats.

"At first I was shocked I was traded because it was unexpected and then I was excited because most of the A's' teams are in California, close to home," the 24-year-old said. "My family was really excited. They couldn't stop talking about it."

Souza is one of three former Galt pitchers currently in the minor leagues. Zach Phillips plays for the Texas Rangers Double-A Frisco Rough Riders and Ryan Mattheus plays for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Mattheus was recently placed on the disabled list and will undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.

Former Galt baseball coach Andy Petersen coached all three players. Petersen said Souza was a very good high school pitcher, but has gotten even bigger, better and stronger since.

"Justin is a real good kid. He was always coachable," he said. "So it's nice to see that he's got a shot at (making it to the big leagues)."

After a sensational career at Galt High, where no-hitters were a common occurrence, Souza went on to have a standout sophomore season at Sacramento City College. That's where the Mariners noticed him before choosing to draft him.

He began his professional career in 2006 with the Class A Short-Season Everett AquaSox. In 2007 and '08, he played for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Triple-A Tacoma Rainers, the A-Advanced High Desert Mavericks and the Mariners' Advanced Development League in Peoria, Ariz. Souza said he's become accustomed to life in the minor leagues. He's used to 12-hour bus rides, living out of a suitcase and frequently changing team names. He doesn't mind too much as its part of the deal of playing ball.

"It's a great experience," he said. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Since joining the Rockhounds, Souza has started two games. He has a 14.85 ERA over 6.2 innings, has given up 11 runs on 11 hits with six walks and four strikeouts. He didn't factor into the decision of either game and the Rockhounds are 1-1 with him on the mound. Souza was scheduled to pitch on Thursday night against Corpus Christi, but the game was postponed because of rain.

Souza relies on his three-pitch repertoire of his fastball, slider and changeup. He said he's hit 96 mph on the radar gun with his fastball this season. He's evolved from a relief pitcher to a starter over his three-year pro career.

Souza said he hasn't heard a timetable of when he could move up to the River Cats. For now, he's learning Midland's signs and strategies about baseball and likes being a Rockhound.

"It's all good. I have a good group of teammates here. They took me in right away," said the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder. "That's not always the case. With a lot of teams it can be hard, but this is a good group of guys."

Contact reporter Joelle Milholm at joellem@lodinews.com.