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HOOTS PLAY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP AT CONNIE MACK WEST REGIONALS

Posted by Don Web on Aug 02 2009 at 05:00PM PDT

Trying to be the first Northern California Connie Mack team since 1959 to advance to the Connie Mack World Series fell on the shoulders of incoming senior left hand pitcher Michael Theofanopoulous as he pitched a complete game to defeat the California Rockies from Los Angeles in the Championship game of the Connie Mack Western Regional Tournament 3-1.  The victory sends the HOOTS to the World Series representing the West Region.  This is the HOOTS first trip to a Connie Mack World Series after being an American Legion program and winning the National Championship in 2000. 

With the game tied 1-1, the HOOTS failed to score in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and no outs.  As this team has done all year they did not let that disappointment distract them and they moved on.  In the bottom of the fifth, Stephen Piscotty with two outs had a base hit, followed by a monster drive from incoming junior Chris Keck to right center for a triple to score Piscotty.  Keck was thrown out at home after a wild throw to third base.  Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth Joey Epperson led off the inning with a home run over left field to put the HOOTS up 3-1.  In the top of the seventh, Theo got a quick fly ball for the first out, a strike out and a game ending fly ball to win the game.

Both teams played a great Championship game with a lot of class to complete a very well run Regional Championship.

The HOOTS will depart for the Connie Mack World Series on Thursday, August 6 and after opening ceremonies on Friday will begin play on Saturday at 7:30PM.

The HOOTS defeated the Orange County Renegades in the Semi Finals on Saturday 8-2 to advance to the Championship Game on Sunday at 3:00PM.  Andrew Kjar pitched 5 strong innings for the HOOTS and was relieved by Andy Eslick to finish the game against one of the top teams from Southern California and the west region. The offense scored 7 runs in the first and second innings to give the HOOTS some breathing room early in the game.  The Renegades came back strong in the fifth inning but with one out a fly ball out to Carter Loud and a great throw on a runner trying to score from 3rd ended the inning.

The HOOTS will face the winner of the 12:00 game between the OC Renegades and Ca. Rockies(LA). The Ca. Rockies defeated the Mudville Washington team earlier in the day 6-0.  The Ca. Rockies will play the Orange County Renegades at noon in an elimination game as required by AABC rules.

WOW! Friday was a Great HOOTS Day!!

The HOOTS advanced to the semi finals at the Connie Mack West Regionals after Stephen Piscotty pitched a complete game for the HOOTS in a 4-3 victory against the Arizona Firebirds who have been to the Connie Mack World Series 3 times in the past five years.  Both programs recognized as some of the best in the nation had a game for all to remember.  The HOOTS led early 2-0 only to see the lead diminish in the sixsth inning as the Firebirds went ahead 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning.  Trailing by two runs in the top of the seventh inning the HOOTS with two outs were able to get a key hit from Tino Liscomb, followed by a single by Piscotty, and a monster ground rule double by Chris Keck to score both runners and put the HOOTS in front 4-3. Piscotty went to the bottom half of the seventh and after a lead off push bunt single, was able to get a pick off out and retire the side without a threat to secure the win.

The victory leaves the HOOTS and only three other teams left in the west region who are battling for the Connie Mack World Series Berth.  The level of quality amateur baseball exceeds the expectations of college coach's and professional baseball scouts.  Connie Mack baseball is all wood bat and follows the American League professional baseball rules. This is an opportunity for people to see some of the best amateur teams and players from the western states.

The HOOTS face off Saturday August 1 at 3:00PM at Chabot College against the Orange County Renegades.   It pairs up one of Southern California's best Connie Mack teams against the top team in Northern California.  The two teams have met in the Connie Mack regional tournament in 2007 and are familiar with each other and their style of play.  Both programs are recognized as two of the top programs nationally on a consistent basis.  The Renegades are managed by Si Petro.

The HOOTS lost 2-0 in a winner bracket game at the Western Regional to the California Rockies from LA North Connie Mack League.  Mark Appel pitched seven strong innings for the HOOTS giving up only 4 hits while Rockies left hand pitcher Erik Salcido limited the HOOTS offense to 2 hits. The HOOTS face the Arizona Firebirds at Chabot College today at 2:00PM in an elimination game.

The Danville HOOTS won their first game at the 2009 Connie Mack West Regional Tournament against the Mudville Pinnacle the Washington State Champion in a tough extra inning game 4-3.  The HOOTS trailed Washington most of the game 1-0 as they battled through the game against Washington left hand pitcher Matt Boyd.  The HOOTS tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on an executed squeeze play, fell behind 3-1 in the top of seventh, and tied it up in the bottom of the inning to send the game into extra innings. The HOOTS finally won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning on a Chris Killeen single to score Brian Hamm from second base.  HOOTS left hand pitcher Michael Theofanopoulous got the victory for the HOOTS coming into the game in the third inning and pitch six very strong innings only giving up 2 runs.  Theo is an early committed scholarship player to the Cal Bears at the University of California, Berkeley. The HOOTS advance in the winner bracket on Thursday at 5:00PM against the Ca. Rockies from LA North County.

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