Danville Hoots Baseball Club

2014 HOOTS MAKE FINAL 4 IN BID FOR CONNIE MACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

HOOTS PLAY IN 3RD TRIP TO CONNIE MACK WORLD SERIES 

"I told our players when we were at the Gates World Series in July in Utah after we lost a couple games, this summer was about their legacy.  The HOOTS program has been and will be here and they are passing thru but the program continues.  It was up to them how they want to be remembered as a team.  I guess they answered, they will go down as one of the great teams in the 23 years existence of the HOOTS program.  One of 6 teams to go to a World Series, 3 in American Legion Baseball and now 3 in Connie Mack Baseball.  That is a huge statement to who they are and how they will be remembered"  comments from Manager Don Johns.

The 50th Year Anniversary of the Connie Mack World Series held in Farmington, New Mexico remains to be one of the greatest events in amateur baseball.  Eight teams remain and the Danville HOOTS surprised everyone by winning the West Regional Championship and will represent the West in the 2014 World Series.  The HOOTS went 4-1 in the West Regional with only a loss in extra innings to the Southern California Renegades, the defending champion.  A team from one of these two programs has represented the west at the World Series the past six years.  This is the 3rd appearance for the HOOTS at the Connie Mack World Series.  The Renegades won the National Championship in 2012.

The team will travel starting on Thursday July 31 to New Mexico.  The famous Connie Mack World Series parade thru Farmington will take place on Friday followed by the opening ceremonies.  The HOOTS will open play on Saturday.  The game can be live streamed online at www.cmws.org

D-BAT GALLEGOS DEFEATS HOOTS.  MIDLAND REDSKINS FALL TO D-BAT GALLEGOS TWICE ON CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY AND D-BAT WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

In a frustrating end to their 2014 season and the run to the National Championship the HOOTS Connie Mack team lost a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning, with one out and fell to D-Bat Gallegos 11-6.  The South Plains Regional Champion put up eight runs in the seventh inning to escape with a 11-6 win against the Danville HOOTS, moving the team into the final round of the Connie Mack World Series.  "We've done this before, I just told my guys to go out have have fun and give me their best at bats of the summer, D-Bat manager Roberto Gallegos said.

Danville Manager Don Johns said his team was in the spot it wanted to be in.  "You don't like the way it ended.  You are never happy with that.  We should have not lost that game.  We just didn't get it done.  They exposed the weakness of our youth basically. Roberto Gallegos, his coaching staff and his players did an outstanding job, including taking two games from Midland"

"But this is a huge accomplishment for our team and our players.  The 2014 HOOTS won Northern California, California and Western Regional Connie Mack Championships.  We are young, but we lose several impact players, but the HOOTS will be back.  The HOOTS program is permanent and we have longevity of success."

THURSDAY AUGUST 7-HOOTS ADVANCE TO THE FINAL 4 AT THE CONNIE MACK WORLD SERIES: 

The 2014 Danville HOOTS Connie Mack team added to their legacy as the Western Region Champion advanced to the Final 4 at the Connie Mack World Series after a 2-0 victory over the Eastern Region Champion Troy Dodgers from New York. 

The HOOTS remain one of four remaining teams playing for the Connie Mack National Championship.  

FARMINGTON DAILY NEWS.  Coming into the Connie Mack World Series Danville Manager Don Johns was unsure how his young pitching stafff would handle the setting.  His pitchers proved they were ready for teh challenge as three HOOTS pitchers combined for the shut out to eliminate the North Atlantic Regional Champion.  "We were just trying to let our defense play and be consistent, " Johns said.  "We have young guys, and we pieced it together.  I told the coaches that if we do not win today, there is no tomorrow, so we'll just do what we've got to do to keep winning."

"We've got all kinds of pitching left.  Is it the quality of Midland or DBat pitching staff? I know they have quality guys. We have quality guys, but they are young, and they are going to be on a big stage.  But you get to the Final Four of the Connie Mack World Series.  I couldn't be happier." commented Manager Don Johns. 

Midland Redskins remain the only undefeated team.  Manager Dave Evans said "There are four great baseball teams left.  Any one of them can win this thing.  We are just happy to be in this spot."

The Final Four elite teams fighting for the Connie Mack National Championship will play today starting with the first game at 5:15 PM. 

Danville HOOTS

Midland Redskins

D-Bat Gallegos

D-Bat Leach

The bracket is determined by blind draw and the National Championship will be played on Friday August 8. 

 Starter Jacob Knight went 4 innings, relieved by Kyle Graham in the 4th inning and the game was closed by Noah Bremer.  The HOOTS held on to a 1-0 lead the entire game until the bottom of the sixth inning after Ryan Anderson walked and advanced to second.  Designated hitter Ryan Weisenberg had a hard hit ball down the 3rd base line to score Anderson and give the HOOTS another run and a cushion going into the 7th inning.  Bremer retired the side for the win.  Players of the game recognized by AABC and Connie Mack Baseball were Jacob Knight and Ryan Weisenberg.  The HOOTS opposition will be determined late on Wednesday as the California team earned the first birth in the Final 4 to be played on Thursday August 7.  This is an amazing run for the HOOTS against the best teams in the nation.  The elite bracket of the World Series is a major accomplishment for the players and the coaching staff. 

TUESDAY AUGUST 6-HOOTS MAKE FINAL 6 TEAMS AT CONNIE MACK WORLD SERIES:

The Danville HOOTS Connie Mack team remain one of six teams still alive at the Connie Mack World Series.  Elimination games have sent 4 teams home.  "Proud of our guys, coming from a local geography to be one of the top 6 teams in the nation in Connie Mack Baseball." comment from Manager Don Johns.  The remaining teams met at home plate after the late game on Tuesday to seed for the games on Wednesday.  Those teams are:

Danville HOOTS

DBat Leach

DBat Gallegos

Midland Redskins

Troy New York

Puerto Rico

Two teams remain undefeated and will play the late game on Wednesday.  DBat Gallegos who defeated the HOOTS in Game 1 7-5 and Midland Redskins from Cincinatti. The HOOTS will play the East Champion Troy New York in the 12:15 PM game.

MONDAY AUGUST 4 FARMINGTON DAILY NEWS: 

Connie Mack World Series fans woke up on Monday morning to a full page in the sports section that read "DANVILLE DEMOLITION".  The West Region Champion Danville HOOTS Connie Mack team eliminated the Strike Zone team in Game 6 at the World Series in a 16-2 win for the California team. HOOTS pitcher Tim Susnara threw a complete game for the HOOTS giving up only 3 hits with 12 strike outs.  The HOOTS offense got started early and opened the game with 6 runs in the first inning against Strike Zone.  Bradley Plushkell went 3 for 4 and had 4 RBI's for the HOOTS.  "We put our best guy out there in a must win game, with a lot of emotion and a night that was standing room only.  Tim Susnara does not get caught up in the emotion, he just a complete player who is confident in who he is as a player and a leader.We are moving on, and forward in the World Series and that is what counts to all of us."  commented HOOTS Manager Don Johns 

SUNDAY AUGUST 3 FARMINGTON DAILY NEWS-"Baseball fans who spent their Saturday afternoon in the sun at Ricketts Park were rewarded with a showdown at the Connie Mack World Series. D-Bat Gallegos, who put 2 runs in the sixth and seventh innings, survived a scare from Danville before escaping with a 7-5 victory. It was a battle all the way through, Danville has a great team" said D-Bat Roberto Gallegos after the win".

For a program from a relative small area, the HOOTS have a long history of producing quality players and quality teams.  Many have responded with their support and best wishes.

• Chicago Cubs right fielder Nate Schierholtz and former HOOTS player...."Happy Belated birthday.  Also a big congrats on getting to the World Series.  I am pumped for you." 
• Steven Piscotty, St. Louis Cardinals AAA and former HOOTS player and 2009 Connie Mack World Series team."Congratulations on another trip to Farmington!!! Good Luck." 
• Coach Johns, "I am jumping in late in the conversation.  Congratulations to the HOOTS. Whether your teams end in Farmington or Fairfield they get the summer with one of the best teachers of the game that I have seen. Go HOOTS."  Greg Moore, Head Coach Cal State Northridge.
• Don-you are a giant in the game and you have been the guiding force in leading the HOOTS into one of the best organizations in the country....good luck tomorrow".  Reno Knight Head Coach Pete Savage.
• Former HOOTS pitcher James Carter, 2011 World Series and now at UCSB, "Congrats on getting back to Farmington. Go get it."
• Coach Jason Hawkins, U. of Utah...."Congrats Don.  Well deserved...really happy for u & your club." 
• Scout Don Lyle, Cleveland Indians..."hey Donnie Congratulation once again going to CM!"
• Coach Jordan Twohig, Cal State Northridge..."Congratulations on making the World Series! What a great honor. I know how hard it is to qualify, great job.  So very happy for you and the players and coach's."
• "Congratulations Don." Coach John Savage UCLA.
• Coach Tony Schifano, UC Davis..."Congrats Don, really happy for the team and for the guys to have that experience."