| | Published August 4th, 2010
| Orinda Mustang 10U All-Stars Reach Pony Regional Semi-Finals
| | Submitted by David Reed |  | | L-R: ( Front row) Ben Mollahan, Ryan Fenn; (Second row) Tim Tierney, Owen Reed, Sam Pinto, Jake Hassard, Teddy Hoxie, John Novogradac, Will Cassriel, Will Knox, (missing from photo: Chase Callister);
(Back row) Coach David Reed, Asim Khan, Pat Greenfield, Manager Steve Cassriel, Coach Joe Knox Photo provided
|
After sweeping through the East Bay Sectional Round of the annual postseason Pony Baseball Championship by posting two victories over a tough Vacaville team and an easy win over an inexperienced Brentwood team, the Outlaws earned their Sectional Flag and were on to the Regional round where they faced teams from the Sacramento area to Salinas.
They were also excited for their friendly rivals from Moraga who captured the other East Bay Sectional title and would join them in the next round.
Traveling up and down the 680 corridor, the Outlaws were treated to three games under the lights at the San Jose PAL Stadium complex, site of many high-level Youth and High School Championship events.
Winning any games in a Regional round is tough enough, but the Outlaws quickly showed the other teams that they were in the mix for the title by defeating the host San Jose PAL team 6-4 on Tuesday, July 20th.
The first round win earned the Outlaws a Thursday night, July 22nd, match up against a Marina (Monterey County) team that gave them everything they could handle. Facing a talented Marina starting pitcher hurling gas and a steady diet of curve balls, the Outlaws eventually wore down Marina and earned another 6-4 win.
Coming back once again on Saturday, July 24th under the lights, the Outlaws held their own against what proved to be the toughest team in the tournament, the Sierra Valley Storm (El Dorado Hills). The final score of 13-3 sent them to the loser's bracket.
At this point, there were only three teams left in the Regional round: Sierra Valley, Orinda, and Toro (Salinas area). The Outlaws gave it everything they had against Toro in the loser's bracket final on Sunday, July 25th, but fell 7-4.
Battling through the post-game tears, the Outlaws and their families quickly turned disappointment into celebration realizing that few teams in OBA's 26-year history had reached this level of success.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | Advertisement | | |
| | | | | | Comments | | | | | |  | | |
| | |  | | |
| | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA