By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Two area pitchers took two different routes to get to the same Texas Rangers bullpen.

Thomas Jefferson graduate Tony Barnette's was by far the most exotic -- through six seasons in Japan -- while Chief Sealth graduate Keone Kela took the more direct route.

Barnette was a rookie last year at the age of 32, while Kela is now in his third season at 24.

"You realize that was special to get to the big leagues by one of the more unconventional routes," Barnette said.

"Keone is still pretty young but has a lot of experience for his age," said Texas bullpen coach and former Seattle Mariners pitcher Brad Holman.

Their varying backgrounds show up in the way they pitch.

"Tony has had some experience in Japan and adopted some of their quirky habits," Holman said. "Like the pause at the top of his delivery. So it's hard to time him. He attacks hitters and throws strikes.

"Keone is a fastball curveball pitcher who thrives on up and down pitches in the strike zone. He also has a serviceable changeup he mixes in now and then. His fastball is in the mid to upper 90s. He has a real good couple of pitches and it is tough to square him up."

Barnette was promoted as far as the Class AAA Reno Aces in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization before the Tokyo Yakult Swallows came calling.

"A buddy of mine I played with said a Japanese agent was around," Barnette said. "They made an offer and the next thing I knew I was signing on the dotted line."

Barnette was glad he did.

"It was a great experience," he said. "I got to start a family over there and saw a lot of neat places I wouldn't have seen otherwise."

Barnnette was also switched from being a starter to a reliever while he was in Japan and that wound up paying big dividends.

"I found myself in the closer's role and Major League teams started showing an interest in me," Barnette said. "The Texas Rangers pursued me more than any other team. They made an offer I couldn't refuse and here we sit."

Barnette does not regret that decision either.

"They went to the playoffs last year, and I get to play beside Adrian Beltre who is going to be in the Hall of Fame," Barnette said.

A former Texas player already in the Hall of Fame came into play after Barnette's arrival.

"I wore No. 34 in Japan, but obviously there was Nolan Ryan and I wasn't going to get that one," Barnette said. "So I flipped it around to No. 43."

Barnette grew up as a Mariners fan and was pleased to put in a recent appearance at Safeco Field.

"It is fun to come home and be where I used to watch, and now to be able to watch from inside the white lines," he said. "I liked the Kingdome, but then they had to tear it down."

Barnette also has memories of the field at Thomas Jefferson.

"That old dirt infield, you can't forget it," he said. "It is rather unfortunate to be honest with you. I mostly just remember the guys. The friendships forged through baseball last a lifetime."

Both Barnette and Kela are used mostly as setup men in the Texas bullpen but saw action as closers as well with Barnette collecting two saves and Kela one.

"The bullpen gets used and abused, and I was just the next man up," Barnette said. "It was not easy but I got it and now I've got a couple saves to write home about."

Barnette is just glad to be in any role with a Major League Baseball team.

"I am fortunate my hard work allowed me to answer the door of opportunity when it came calling me," he said. "Just keep moving forward."