Story Tools

Email this story | Print this story

Indexes

Today's Stories

Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

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• George Thorogood at the Grape Bowl: A modern day concert at outdated venue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

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Chase ends in crash

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

November 16th, 2009

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

November 12th, 2009

• Logbook

• Correction

• Robotics team at Jim Elliot invited to compete in Israel

• City of Lodi begins annual leaf removal program Monday

• Liberty Ranch construction at standstill as state pulls funds

• Will Lodi adopt a program that will allow volunteers to work at parks?

• With song and speech, veterans are recognized in Lodi

• 20 years later, Acampo man remembers the fall of the Berlin Wall

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

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved (94)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (42)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

ADVERTISEMENT

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.