The play-by-play man who in April will start his fourth season with the Lancaster (Calif.) JetHawks, with the role of director of broadcasting and media relations included, is on the older end of the spectrum for those working Single-A minor-league baseball.

Calling games on radio for Montana State's football and basketball programs in his second season out of Bozeman, Mont., he's one of the younger broadcasters in Division college I sports.

As he tries to catch his big break, the Northridge native figures he breaks even financially.

"You get used to making peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, pinching and saving, but you know you're paying your dues," Laskey said this week before a road trip to Portland State and Northern Colorado - two luxury spots of the Big Sky Conference before basketball tournament play begins next week.

If Laskey isn't living a dream, he's chasing it, like hundreds of others who grew up in Southern California listening to Vin Scully, Chick Hearn or Bob Miller make it sound so easy.

Miller has been a sounding board for Laskey off and on over the past 10 years. The Kings' Hall of Fame broadcaster, who used to be more involved in sportscaster training summer camps that Laskey attended as a teenager, used to go from his West Hills home Chaminade High and be a guest when Laskey was starting out calling the team's football games for the school radio station.

"I was never a huge hockey fan, but when I'd watch Kings games, he got me to listen," Laskey said of Miller. "He's given me the best tips for doing baseball games, actually. What he's told me over the years has been a huge influence on how to set up the action, creating natural segues, not make it so jarring to the listener.

"You never want to be listening to a game and yelling back at the broadcaster: 'Who's pitching?' 'Who are you playing?' 'What's going on?' "

Miller saw Laskey's passion for the craft early and kept reminding him that, no matter what the team or level or medium, just continue to practice, review and critique. And don't become impatient.

"I went 13 years sending out tapes and was told that I wasn't the person they were looking for," Miller said during the Kings' road trip this week. "It's easy to get discouraged and disenchanted because things don't happen fast enough.

"The quote I learned, that I tell many young broadcasters, is that, 'Those who quit may never know how close they are to getting that job that they really want.' Everyone has a different path. There's no set formula. Maybe that's a good thing."

Laskey's path from the San Fernando Valley through Arizona State University went to Bozeman, Mont., where he began as a TV anchor and reporter. He filled in on a cable access TV game once when the hired broadcaster had a heart attack and someone was needed on short notice to drive to Helena, Mont., to do an NAIA contest.

He was living in Lancaster doing an Antelope Valley JC basketball game once when someone asked if he could take his radio equipment, drive to Fresno and call a Montana State basketball game that night. He drove back the next day to call the A.V.-Glendale contest.

"It's all about the reps," says Laskey, who's often his own engineer as well. "A lot of broadcasters don't think about what they say, they just mimic what they grew up listening to. I wonder how many go through the thought process of asking, 'Why am I saying this?' at a particular part of a game."

That philosophy prevents Laskey from "falling into a bad imitation of Vin Scully" when he's doing JetHawks contests. He doesn't want to "slip into a rhythm" by accident, or laziness, and stop learning.

Because he feels his career isn't stagnating, Laskey continues to plow forward with a goal of working for a major-league team or university. Even if it means, on the minor-league level, he's asked occasionally to pull the tarp over the infield, sell season seats or clean up after a fireworks show.

Most in his position probably make less than $1,000 a month doing seasonal broadcasts. And there may come a time when he admits that he wants to start a family, become a broadcasting teacher, look for something with a little better health plan and stability.

As a single guy, the early wake-up calls to head to the airport in say, Pocatello, Idaho, or catching a bus from Adelanto to Rancho Cucamonga in the Cal League, don't seem to be that much of a burden.

"Sure, you've got to be realistic about all this," Laskey said. "The industry can crush your dreams pretty quickly. But the JetHawks have really taken care of me over the years, and I'm getting great exposure on the radio network with the Montana State games.

"In a lot of ways, I'm incredibly fortunate. I think I can make it work."