Salsa Practice More Than a Kick to Langston

FULLERTON — Mark Langston zeroed in on his target, reared back and fired a high, hard one . . . into the back of the net.

With the baseball season canceled, the Angels’ left-hander practiced with the Salsa on Wednesday night at Cal State Fullerton. While he looked like, well, a baseball player playing soccer, he did show flashes of ability, and even managed to sneak a shot past goalie Mario Jimenez during a one-on-one drill.

“It was fun,” Langston said. “I was in way over my head, but it was a good time. Being on the field with world-class players was a thrill.”

But Langston, who hasn’t played competitive soccer since he played for San Jose State in 1980, said he wouldn’t be comfortable playing in an American Professional Soccer League game for the third-place Salsa.

“There’s no way,” he said. “I’d be a fool to think I could walk on the field with these guys. They are pros and I have too much respect to think I could play with them.”

But Salsa Coach Rick Davis was a little more enthusiastic about Langston’s soccer career.

“I’m a big believer that a professional athlete is capable of many things,” Davis said. “The fact (Langston) has an interest in soccer tells me he’s worth taking a look at. We’ll take a look and see if he can help us get into the playoffs.”