By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

Swing singer Les Lankhorst hopes to swing a home run for a local baseball team.

Lankhorst, a Salina native, is a professional singer who has performed concerts of classic standards, swing and big band music throughout the world.

On July 20, he will be performing a benefit concert for the Salina Blue Jays, a summer college baseball program. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Salina South High School auditorium. Tickets cost $10 each.

Lankhorst was asked to perform the concert by Blue Jays general manager Larry Henoch, who had been a longtime friend and business associate of Lankhorst's father, Han, at Conklin Cars, 2700 S. Ninth.

"The team has a lot of expenses, so I was willing to help out however I could," Les Lankhorst said.

Lankhorst will perform an hourlong version of his regular two-hour show, which will include swing classics originally performed by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bobby Darin.

Henoch hopes Lankhorst's concert will help draw more attention to the Blue Jays and sell more tickets to games, as well as help finance travel expenses to out-of-town games.

The Salina Blue Jays consist of college players who pay a fee to play in the summer league. Players from junior colleges hope to attract scholarships to four-year colleges. For others, it is an opportunity to improve their skills, Henoch said.

Other funding for the nonprofit organization comes from private donations and such fundraisers as golf tournaments.

This summer, growing travel expenses that include higher gas prices and van rentals have taken their toll on the Blue Jays' budget, Henoch said.

"We took a trip to Springfield (Mo.) this summer," he said. "When you rent two vans with 17 players, a coach and myself, and then you have to feed those horses, an overnight trip costs $1,800. Then the game got rained out."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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