01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 1, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Curt Schilling's last batting-practice session went smoothly, so the veteran right-hander is right on target for his first spring start Friday afternoon against Boston College at City Palms Park.

After a solid warmup session, Schilling threw a total of 33 pitches to Trent Durrington, Tyler Minges and Brandon Moss in a workout that lasted about eight minutes. He mixed in some sharp breaking balls and had excellent arm motion on a few nasty changeups in his workouts.

There might have been a couple of scratch hits against him, but not one ball was hit sharply and there were several swings and misses.

"I felt great," said Schilling, who is trying to put his ankle surgery and disappointing 2005 season behind him.

"I just felt better today than I had the last couple of days and weeks. I wanted to go out and dominate for 35-40 pitches. I felt it was a great day from a workload standpoint and a mental standpoint," said Schilling.

Watching him work with great interest were manager Terry Francona, behind a screen at second base, and interim pitching coach Al Nipper, on one knee directly behind Schilling on the mound. Schilling was protected by a pitching screen.

"I was really pleased," said Francona. "Part of that is because I saw how pleased he was. He was enjoying himself. I watched him and Al talk, have some give and take. They have to get to know each other."

Ken Huckaby caught Schilling's workout. He was impressed.

"He was outstanding," said Huckaby. "He had good velocity, good life and he had great command to both sides of the plate. He had great depth to his changeup and his breaking ball had a good, sharp, late break. He looked sharp with everything in the bullpen, too."

Foulke progressing

Keith Foulke played catch on flat ground for a short time in the outfield of one of the practice fields at the minor league complex, working on his motion, with a trainer on hand to watch his session. Bullpen catcher Jason Larocque did the catching.

When Foulke was done, he was looking at his stride marks on the grass, and simulated his pushoff from the rubber with his right foot, seemingly testing the strength in his knee.

The Sox' closer underwent surgery on each knee at different points during last season, a disappointing campaign for the right-hander. Foulke reportedly has been receiving shots in the knee, not cortisone, but a substance that helps fill in the cavity and provide a little extra cushion.

He is being allowed to work at his own pace by Francona and the staff, but Francona said that Foulke used the word "great" the other day to describe a throwing session.

Second nature

Newly acquired second baseman Mark Loretta and shortstop Alex Gonzalez have worked to hone their teamwork on the double play.

Loretta, though, said it's no big deal. They are veterans, and turning a double play is nothing new to either one, so it's not necessary to spend hours in camp to get down the necessary teamwork involved.

"That's a little overblown. It doesn't take that long to learn how a guy likes to receive the ball and how he'll get it to you," said Loretta. "We've worked a little, not on the routine double plays, but on the tougher ones. It will come."

Around the bases

Schilling was the only pitcher to throw yesterday. He could have had the day off like the other pitchers, but he wanted to get in a workout, Francona said. . . . Donald Fehr, head of the Players' Association, presided over a meeting that lasted about 90 minutes before yesterday's workout. Trot Nixon, the Sox' assistant player rep last year, said they went over "standard stuff," and things that may come up this season, the last under the current Basic Agreement. . . . The Sox worked on popups yesterday, with the wind and cloudless sky making it challenging for everyone. . . . The nine players leaving camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic will work with the Sox today in the final day at minor-league complex. David Ortiz and Julian Tavarez (Dominican Republic), Alex Gonzalez (Venezuela), Jason Varitek and Mike Timlin (United States), Alex Cora (Puerto Rico), Adam Stern (Canada), Lenny Dinardo (Italy) and Trent Durrington (Australia) will also have the opportunity to join teammates tomorrow morning for a workout at the new spring training base, City of Palms Park, for players not on the roster for this spring's first exhibition game, tomorrow night against Minnesota at the Twins' stadium in Fort Myers.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340