Danville Hoots Baseball Club

Day 3 at Connie Mack West Regional:

THE HOOTS ARE BACK!  

Back to the Connie Mack World Series in Farminton, New Mexico with a 2-0 win over the Orange County Renegades in the Championship game at the Connie Mack West Regional Tournament at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona.  The HOOTS finish the West Regional Tournament undefeated with a record of 5-0.

The 2009 HOOTS became the first team in 20 years from Northern California to reach the Connie Mack World Series. 

Robert Martinez, Dublin, took the mound for the HOOTS vs the Renegades who have taken two games from the HOOTS earlier this season.  Martinez was very effective and efficient as he kept the offensive Renegades team off balance. David Elzig had a RBI single to score the first run, and later a Ryan Lacy bunt single for the second run to put the HOOTS ahead 2-0.  Martinez was relieved in the seventh inning by Nick Piscotty with the tying run at first base.  Piscotty recorded a strike out and fly ball for the HOOTS to secure the trip to the World Series and a dog pound on the field by the entire HOOTS team as they celebrate a return trip to the Connie Mack World Series.

Manager Don Johns received the ceremonial water bath after the game by the HOOTS players as they celebrated an amazing run through the North State Connie Mack Tournament and the Western Regional.  "We have great players, that have refused to let anything take away from our team goal to return to the Connie Mack World Series. One day they will look back and realize what they have achieved is amazing, and it will be a memory that will stay with them forever. My coaching staff of Johnny Rodrigues and Grant Johnson deserve a lot of credit for taking our offense to a higher level. When you go to a World Series, you wonder if you will ever go back.  THE HOOTS ARE BACK!  I look forward to seeing some of the people we met during our first trip there in 2009.  The Connie Mack World Series in Farmington may be one of the great experiences a player or coach ever has in amateur baseball."

The double header day started with the HOOTS as the only undefeated team in the West Regional Tournament with a 3-0 record. The Colton Nighthawks from Southern California took an early lead 1-0, and later led 6-3 in the middle of the game.  The HOOTS answered back to score 4 runs to take the lead in the fifth inning behind a solid pitching performance by Jack Veronin.  The HOOTS offense continued to add runs, as starting pitcher was relieved by Kyle Slinger and Domenic Mazza.  The Nighthawks had the tying run at third base and the winning run at second but an outstanding defensive play by Chris Keck at 3rd base for the third out secured the victory.

Day 2 at Connie Mack West Regional: 

The HOOTS Connie Mack team went into the double header on Friday at the Connie Mack West Regional Tournament with one win.  They left Tempe Diablo Stadium late on Friday night as the only undefeated team in the tournament with a record of 3-0.  

Earlier in the day they defeated the Arizona Diamond Backs team 11-1 on a outstanding complete game pitching performance of Duke bound Nick Piscotty.  Scoring early, pitching to contact and playing great team defense kept the Arizona team off balance the entire game.  

The winner bracket final was played at 7:30PM under the lights at Tempe Diablo Stadium.  The game started with the Arizona Athletics scoring early to take a 1-0 lead.  The HOOTS pitcher, James Carter, San Ramon Valley, kept the game close as they trailed until the fifth inning 1-0.  Carter was dominate against a very strong offensive line up for the Arizona champion.  Junior David Elzig, Alameda and Ryan Lacy, Monte Vista HS got the HOOTS on the scoreboard with back to back singles in the fifth inning for the HOOTS to take the lead 4-1. The Athletics challenged in the seventh inning and Carter was able to get the final three outs on outstanding defensive plays by Chris Keck and David Elzig.

Only four teams remain in the Connie Mack West Regional and games resume on Saturday at 5:00PM.  The HOOTS will face the Colton Nighthawks who are 2-1.  The double elimination tournament puts the HOOTS in a situation where they cannot play a team that they have already played according to AABC rules. After the first game on Saturday, only 3 teams will still be in the tournament and 2 games from advancing to the Connie Mack World Series. 

Coach Johns, "the struggle has only begun, this last day is the day you have to rise up and overcome all the obstacles to get to Farmington and the World Series. Nothing is easy, and no one is going to give this away without a battle. Our guys fought back all night against a very good team and found a way to win the game.  I am very proud of these guys and they are truly the type of players that make up the HOOTS teams."

You can now follow the HOOTS live on twitter.com

Day 1 at Connie Mack West Regional: 

The HOOTS defeated the Hitman from Los Angeles 3-2 in the opening round of the Connie Mack Western Regional tournament at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona.

Junior left hand pitcher Domenic Mazza, Clayton Valley, threw five strong innings and was relieved by Jack Veronin for the final six outs.  After giving up one run in the first inning, Mazza was very effective allowing only three hits through five innings in the 105 degree weather.  Leaving the game with runners in scoring position, Manager Don Johns went to his bull pen and replaced Mazza with reliever Jack Veronin who was able to retire the side without giving up a run. 

The HOOTS had runners in scoring position early in the game and was unable to add to their lead and take the pressure off their pitching staff, which has been outstanding throughout their run through the Connie Mack State tournament. The HOOTS offense scored their runs on a Chris Keck double to tie the game in the 3rd inning.  Ryan Howell scored on Scott Mitchell and Tyler Davis back to back singles for the go ahead run.   

Coach Johns commented after the game, "We play a very difficult schedule, and we were here in June at the Connie Mack World Series Qualifier, so we know what this level of competition is about.  Some of our guys had to travel today, and it is hot so we started a little flat.  I told our guys in the third inning that we have worked hard to get where we are in terms of the Connie Mack season, and the opportunity to go to the World Series that everyone who plays wants to achieve.  We needed to find the energy to fight through this. They found a way to get the win."

The HOOTS play Friday at 5:00PM and at 7:30PM.  The eight team tournament continues today and four teams will remain after the Friday games. The winner of the Connie Mack West Regional will advance to the World Series in Farmington, New Mexico on August 4.  The HOOTS made their first visit to the Connie Mack World Series in 2009 to be the only Northern California team to achieve that in over 20 years.