TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Special to The Californian

Colby Lewis walked around the Elks Lodge banquet room chatting with longtime friends and signing autographs for fans. Meanwhile, Dee Gordon quietly sat at a nearby table.

The two Major League Baseball players were the featured guests of the second annual North High Baseball Hot Stove Alumni Dinner on Saturday night.

Roughly 300 people attended the event, which is held to raise money for the North High baseball program.

"We have a pretty good following of alumni in our program from back to the '50s," North coach Cy Silver said. "And also our school is (in a spot) now that (it) needs the support for our program; financially, just trying to make sure we have top-notch facilities and our kids have whatever else they need. This is a way to connect with our alumni and then also help our kids."

Lewis, a pitcher for the Texas Rangers, said he was more than happy to help with the cause.

"It's always important to come back, especially for North High, being a North High grad and all," Lewis said. "It's an opportunity to get back, come here, hang out and see everybody I haven't seen in a while...It's part of the job and I love doing it."

Gordon, who batted .304 and had 24 stolen bases as a rookie with the Dodgers last year, agreed to do the event at the request of George Culver.

"He's a great guy and I've always talked to him when he's come to town to see us," Gordon said. "He's a great dude, and if I could help him in any way, I would."

Culver, a major league pitcher from 1966-1974, is a North High alum and was a special guest of the event.

Also in attendance were former CSU Bakersfield standouts Jeremy Rodriguez and Martin Medina. Both are now playing professional baseball after being drafted by major league teams last year.

Rodriguez, a catcher selected by the San Diego Padres in the 16th round, was invited by the club to go to big-league camp for spring training this year and is leaving for Arizona today. Medina, a pitcher and infielder for the Roadrunners, was selected by the Chicago White Sox four rounds after Rodriguez. He is working his way up the farm system as a catcher.

Among items up for grabs in a live auction were numerous baseball collectibles, including a Tony Gwynn-autographed baseball plus Lewis' game jersey and a pair of cleats he wore during the World Series.

Silver said he hoped the event would match last year's total of raising $10,000.

Lewis is coming off a second straight season in which he helped the Rangers reach the World Series. He was 14-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 2011 and is looking forward to big things this year.

"We probably have 98-percent of the core guys coming back," Lewis said. "I look for us to be in the same situation we've been in the last two years, a playoff contention team. Once you get in the post season it's all about who gets hot."

Gordon, a 23-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop, hit .372 during September and was named National League Rookie of the Month.

He drafted by the Dodgers in the 4th round (127th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was listed as Baseball America's No. 1 overall prospect in 2011.

"I'm always excited for the next season," Gordon said. "I want to go in help my team win games and play at a high level if I can. Just go out there and have fun and win games."