Republishing Compliments
of
Chandler Connection, August 6, 2004
Staff file photo
Hamilton High School graduate C.J.
Retherford went 6-for-11 at the plate to help spur Subia to
the Connie Mack Western Regional title on Aug. 1. Subia begins
play today in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M.
Hamilton Quartet Helps Subia
Capture Spot at World Series
By Larry Ward
Staff Writer
After winning two Class 5A state high school baseball championships,
there was only one way to go.
Hamilton graduates Eric Farris, Travis Peep, Brandon Farmer
and C.J. Retherford are members of the Subia baseball team that
will play for a national championship in the Connie Mack World
Series starting today in Farmington N.M.
The quartet played a part in one or both of the Huskies’
back-to-back state championships the past two seasons. Now their
focus is on the Connie Mack World Series after Subia advanced
by winning the Western Regionals last weekend at St. Mary’s
College in Moraga, Calif.
“This is the biggest amateur event in the country,”
said Subia coach Brian Dodd. “This is as big as it gets.
There will be seven regional champions, along with the host
team and they represent the best in the country.”
Subia is the first Connie Mack team from Arizona to qualify
for the World Series, and the last opportunity for the players
like Farris, Retherford and Farmer to win at this level. They
are expected to be playing college or professional ball this
time next year.
Peep will be a senior at Hamilton this year, but with a roster
dominated by graduated seniors, this Subia team will break up
after the World Series. Retherford and Isaac Hess pitched last
spring at South Mountain Community College.
The Hamilton connection played a large part in Subia winning
the regional championship.
“They really came through for us,” Dodd said. “They
are two-time state champions. They’ve been in big games
before, they know what the pressure is all about and they know
what to do in game situations.”
Dodd also has some World Series experience as a player 20 years
ago when he played on Subia’s Babe Ruth World Series championship
team before Connie Mack became the league for players 18-and-under.
“This will be my second time to the big dance,”
Dodd said. “I kind of have an idea of what these kids
have to look forward to.”
After losing to the Lafayette Generals, 1-0, in the second
game of the regional tournament, Subia came back to win the
next four games to claim the championship.
Glendale Mountain Ridge graduate Nick Walters pitched a three-hit
shutout for Subia in the championship game – a 3-0 win
over the same Lafayette Generals.
Trevor Vega, a Mesa Skyline graduate, went 2-for-3 in the championship
game and Retherford, who was part of Hamilton’s 5A state
championship team in 2002, went 2-for-4 with a double.
Subia reached the finals and rematch with the Generals by beating
the California Rockies, 4-1, in the fifth game.
Hess hurled a four-hitter against the Rockies while Subia turned
seven hits into four runs.
Mountain Pointe graduate Chad Whittle pitched a complete game,
three-hit shutout in Subia’s 2-0 victory over the Orange
County Giants in the fourth game of the playoffs, Desert Vista
grad Nolan Litke doubled in the first and scored Subia’s
first run, then scored on Retherford’s infield grounder
in the sixth inning.
Subia rebounded in the third game with a 7-4 victory over the
Oakland Oaks. Subia jumped out to a 4-0 lead and Retherford
slapped what turned out to be the winning hit – a three-run
homer in the top of the seventh. Peep also doubled and drive
in a run.
Retherford was 6-for-11 in the playoffs, hit two home runs
and drove in six runs. Peep drove in two runs and Farris had
a key sacrifice in Subia’s win over the Generals in the
championship game.
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