Ideas Being Pitched for Baseball Team’s Name

Residents of Saddleback Valley say that the area’s new minor league baseball club should be named after a local band of Indians, any one of several indigenous animals or the NBA’s Los Angeles franchise.

Those were among dozens of suggestions made this week during a contest to name the team, which begins league play at Saddleback College on May 23.

The winner will get a pair of season tickets and bragging rights. All entries must be received by Wednesday.

Among the early entries: Juanenos, Lakers, Padres, Gnatcatchers, Pulverizers, Supersticks and Gremlins.

Team officials discovered last week that their first choice, the Red Hawks, is already being used by a minor league team in Fargo, N.D.

“We’re not particularly disappointed,” General Manager Paula Pyers said. “I think in the long run, it will be more exciting to have the community pick the team’s name.”

Pyers said preference will be given to a name that is linked to South County.

“Something indigenous creates more identity with the area,” she said.

Entries can be faxed to (714) 699-1620 or mailed to team headquarters at 27301 La Paz Road, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.