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DAYTON — Between taking turns in the batting cage, .476-hitting Dragons shortstop Todd Frazier was listening to batting coach Darren Bragg discuss the art of hitting.

"You are in control," Bragg said. "This sport has no time limits. You've got to think you are going to get a hit, no matter who's pitching."

When it was suggested there were some pitchers who might be good enough to have control over a batter, Frazier reacted.

"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard," Frazier said. "You have to believe you're going to get a hit, no matter who's out there."

Bragg, a career .255 hitter who spent 11 years in the majors with nine different teams, said he always thought he was going to get a hit, and even hit a grand slam off Randy Johnson.

Ex-teammates meet

Dragons pitcher Jeff Jeffords struck out 11 of the first 16 batters he faced over three games covering 42/3 innings. He and Wynn Pelzer, Thursday night's Fort Wayne starter, were teammates at the University of South Carolina last season. Used mostly as his team's closer for three years, Jeffords struck out 103 in 100 innings while walking 49. His college ERA was 3.87.

Jeffords, a 19th-round draft choice by the Reds, doesn't throw hard. "But he gets hitters out," pitching coach Doug Bair said.

Pelzer, a starter and a reliever in college, was a ninth-round draft choice of the Padres. He was making his second appearance for the Wizards, his first as a starter.

On to the snow belt

The Dragons left after the game for their second road trip, a visit to Wisconsin for a three-game series in Appleton followed by three at Beloit.

They'll have to dress for cold and snow. Four sites had games postponed Thursday, including Wisconsin, Kane County, Lansing and West Michigan.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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