GLENDALE, Ariz. – Jhonny Peralta had one of his worst offensive performances last year, struggling to career lows for a full season in batting average (.254) and home runs (11).

A position change probably played a part.

After spending four years as the Indians’ starting shortstop as the heir apparent to Omar Vizquel, Peralta was relocated to third base in the middle of last season to clear room for up-and-comer Asdrubal Cabrera.

“I think a lot about third base (last year),” said Peralta, who along with a number of Indians’ regulars, was not in the lineup Thursday in Cleveland’s 5-all tie (10 innings) with the White Sox at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch. “But I don’t want to say I didn’t hit for that reason. It’s baseball. Sometimes you have a better year than others. (Last year) I go down a little. Maybe this year I can be better.

“It’s hard when you change a position, but I don’t want to make excuses. Maybe (it affected me) a little.”

Indians (5-0-1) 5, White Sox (3-3-2) 5 (10 innings)

Hits: Center fielder Michael Brantley went 2-for-2 with an RBI and made a strong throw to the plate in the first inning that would have cut down Carlos Quentin, but catcher Lou Marson couldn’t handle the ball. … First base prospect Wes Hodges continued to impress, going 2-for-3 to raise his exhibition average to .545 (6-for-11) in four games. … Setup man Chris Perez pitched a scoreless fourth and has not allowed a run in three appearances. … Prized pitching prospect Hector Rondon preserved the tie by retiring the side in order in the 10^th.

Misses: Reliever Jess Todd hurt his chances to win the final spot in the bullpen. He allowed the White Sox to score three times and take the lead in the eighth on five hits and a walk before being removed with two outs in the inning. … Cleveland’s top prospect, catcher Carlos Santana went 1-for-6, struck out twice and left five runners on base. … Second baseman Luis Valbuena, one of the only regulars in the lineup, went hitless in three at-bats. … In addition to dropping Brantley’s throw, Marson was 0-for-2 and grounded into a double play.

No. 1 stuff: The Indians’ first-round draft pick (15^th overall) last year, right-hander Alex White, made his exhibition debut, pitching a scoreless sixth inning with one walk.

ELYRIA — Elyria Catholic girls basketball team is back in the game after the Ohio High School Athletic Association disqualified Regina, the team that defeated Elyria Catholic on Wednesday night.

Elyria Catholic now will face Smithsville at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Cuyahoga Falls High School,  which is a suburb of Akron.

Eric Rothgery, EC’s coach, said Thursday he expects Regina to seek a court order reinstating them in the tournament.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Omar Vizquel thought the 2009 season would be his last. Not so fast.

“I always doubted (that I would play in 2010),” said Vizquel, who hit .266 in 62 games for Texas last year before signing a free-agent contract with the White Sox this offseason worth $1.375 million. “But I felt so good during the whole year I decided to give it another shot. So, here I am.”

Vizquel, a 21-year veteran is back for another season, and he’s back in the Central Division, where he starred for 11 years as the Indians’ shortstop from 1994-2004. He’s not ruling out another go round in 2011, either.

“It depends on how it goes this year with the White Sox,” said Vizquel, who was not in the lineup for the Sox in their Catcus League game against the Indians at the Ballpark at Camelback Ranch on Thursday. He’s played in four games this spring, batting .083 (1-for-11).

At 42, Vizquel, who has won 11 Gold Gloves (nine in Cleveland), will enter the season as the oldest position player in the majors, and the third-oldest player overall behind pitchers Jamie Moyer (47) and Tim Wakefield (43). He turns 43 on April 24.

His days as a starting shortstop are numbered, but he’s still a valuable defensive asset and a positive influence in the clubhouse.

Last year in Texas, Vizquel played second base (16 games), shortstop (27) and third base (20) — the same spots he is expected to occupy in Chicago. He said the transition to second base, not third, was the most difficult.

“It was different, no doubt,” Vizquel said. “You feel kind of lost out there. You don’t know how to position yourself. (The ball) gets there faster (at third), but it’s OK. I’ve never had a problem catching the ball.”

There was talk this offseason that the Indians were interested in bringing Vizquel back to Cleveland. His agent Adam Katz, said that after spending a year in Texas, Vizquel was looking for a bigger, more modern city. Vizquel denied as much, saying he and the Indians never discussed a contract.

Would he like to play for the Indians before his career is complete?

“As soon as they offer me something,” Vizquel said. “They keep saying they don’t have much money.”