Pressure? What pressure?

If Chad Christensen is feeling any pressure about playing pro baseball for the home-town Cedar Rapids Kernels, he's doing a terrific job of disguising it.

Christensen took a healthy .323 batting average into Monday night's game against Kane County at Veterans Memorial Stadium and has become a fixture in the lineup, hitting third in the lineup for a winning ballclub. He also leads the Kernels in stolen bases, which is somewhat of a surprise.

Christensen enjoyed a 10-game hitting streak from April 6 through April 22 and had reached base in 14 straight games heading into Monday's affair at the ballpark.

Pressure?

Christensen said it doesn't feel much different than playing for the Hiawatha Cardinals, Linn County Lions or Washington Warriors when he was growing up in Cedar Rapids, and no different than playing at Nebraska.

"Not at all," he said Monday afternoon. "I've talked to Tommy (Kernels batting coach Tommy Watkins) about that as well. He used to play in Fort Myers, where he was from."

Watkins gave Christensen some good advice: Work hard, relax and enjoy the game.

"It's such a long season," said Christensen, who has spent most of his time with the Kernels at first base. "You can't get up after 10 or 15 games, or get down. You try to bring the same mentality every day."

Christensen hit a lusty .364 as a senior at Nebraska last season, but he hit only .235 in 47 games for the Twins in the Rookie Gulf Coast League last summer after being selected by Minnesota in the 25th round.

Nonetheless, Kernels Manager Jake Mauer wanted the college grad on his club and campaigned with the Minnesota brass to have him assigned to Cedar Rapids. Mauer likes Christensen's ability to play nearly every spot on the field and likes his ability to swing the bat.

Mauer did not know Christensen would be hitting .323 at this point, but he's not surprised.

"He's done a really nice job in the middle of the lineup for us. The numbers have been pretty good," said Mauer. "I wouldn't say I'm surprised where he's at.

"Is he going to be hitting .320 at the end of the year? Maybe, maybe not. It may be higher, it may be a little bit lower. As long as his approach stays the same, he gives himself a chance."

Christensen is trying to keep things as simple as possible at the plate. "I'm just trying to pick out good pitches," he said.

Christensen has never been known as a prolific base-stealer, but he swiped 23 bases in 33 tries during his career at Nebraska and is 6-for-6 with the Kernels this season. He has decent speed and is a smart base-runner, according to Mauer.

"He sees things and takes advantage," the skipper said.

"It's something that's going to be part of our game and offense at this time," said Christensen. "I've always been able to run a little bit. And when Jake gives me the opportunity, I'm trying to get good jumps and take advantage of every good opportunity I get."

Overall, Christensen is happy with the way things have gone so far.

"Right now I am with the way I'm playing and the wins we're getting, but it's so early," he said. "You don't get satisfied or anything. You try to get ready every day and stay consistent.

"We're just 22 games in and we play 140, so we're just getting started."