Brant Colamarino's manager with the Modesto (Calif.) A's is Von Hayes, a former big-leaguer who spent 12 seasons in the majors as a left-handed hitting first baseman.

Colamarino, 23, an Etna resident, also is a left-handed hitting first baseman.

If he were to advance to the major-league level his manager at Oakland would be Ken Macha. Colamarino also has something in common with him.

Macha, a Monroeville native, and Colamarino played at Pitt.

The trick for Colamarino is to jump three steps from Class A Modesto to the majors.

There are those in the Oakland A's organization who believe the 5-foot-11, 205-pound prospect has a shot.

"Brant's making real good progress," said Keith Liepmann, Oakland's director of player development. "So far, he's shown power and that he can hit to all fields. Sometimes the guys at first base aren't talented defensively. Brant's a great defensive first baseman. He saves a lot of errors over there.

"He just needs to experience the different levels [of the minors], play against the better competition. He's right on track to be where he should be."

Colamarino has gotten off to a solid start at Modesto (18-11), Oakland's top Class A team.

Heading into games yesterday, he was batting .306 (30 for 98) with five home runs and was leading the California League team in runs scored with 20.

This is the former Pitt star's third season of pro ball. He was Oakland's seventh-round draft pick in 2002 and played that year at Vancouver. Last season, he batted .259 (129 for 498) with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs at Kane County (Ill.).

Colamarino's home run total at Kane County was fifth best in the Class A Midwest League and was a good sign, considering major-league organizations want their players at the corner positions to hit for power.

Another good sign was when Colamarino came to spring training 20 pounds lighter and in the best shape of his life. Colamarino, a Central Catholic graduate, said his goal was to start the season with Oakland's Class AA team -- the Midland RockHounds of the Texas League.

It didn't happen, but he could still get there.

"I've talked with Brant and I've tried to tell him, 'Don't worry where you start out at. It's where you end up at that counts,' " said Hayes, who played for Cleveland, Philadelphia and California and had 143 career home runs. "Defensively, he could play in the big leagues right now."

Hayes said he wants Colimarino to hit more to the opposite field, hit more line drives and take the big home run cut less.

Colamarino, who hit .384 with 19 home runs his final season at Pitt, said he's learning a lot from Hayes, especially about playing first base.

"He's taught me stuff I've never heard of," said Colamarino. "He knows every situation. He's taught me about a year's worth of stuff in one month."

Extra base hits

Pitcher Ryan Douglass, a Bishop Canevin grad, was recently promoted by the Montreal Expos' organization from Class A Brevard County to Class AA Harrisburg. ... Seneca Valley grad Jason Conti, an outfielder with the Texas Rangers' Class AAA Oklahoma team, had a big week, going 14 for 30 to raise his batting average 45 points to .339.