Minor leaguer has 42-game hitting streak

High Desert always has been a hitter's paradise. It's located in Adelanto, Calif., in the, well, high desert, which means the ball usually flies there.

Think Colorado before the humidor.

But never mind playing in a hitter's paradise, what High Desert Mavericks outfielder James McOwen is doing is very, very impressive. The Seattle Mariners farmhand and former Midwest Leaguer extended his hitting streak to 42 games Sunday with an RBI single against Visalia.

McOwen, 23, has broken the high-Class A California League's hitting streak record of 36 and is rapidly approaching the top-10 all-time in the minor leagues. If he gets a hit in High Desert's game Monday night at home against Visalia, he will tie with four others for the eight-best streak ever in the minors.

McOwen played part of the 2007 season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He hit a pedestrian .263 in 126 games last season for High Desert.

He'll never catch the No. 1 guy on the all-time list. At least I'm guessing that. Joe Wilhoit hit in 69 straight games playing for Wichita in 1919. Joe DiMaggio is second with a 61-game hitting streak for San Francisco in 1933.

In the modern era, outfielder Brandon Watson of Columbus hit in 43 consecutive games in 2007.