Republishing Compliments
of
Chandler Connection, August 20, 2004
Subia Share Mixed Feelings
in World Series Finale
By Larry Ward, Staff Writer
There won’t be a next year.
Not for members of the Subia 18-and under club baseball team
that includes a quartet of Chandler players.
After appearing invincible as they swept through the opening
four games of the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington N.M.,
last week, Subia lost the final two games of the tournament
in a rematch with the Midland Redskins from Cincinnati, 8-6
and 10-8, on Aug. 13 to finish second.
Subia had dominated Cincinnati, 12-4, in the opening game of
the double-elimination tournament.
But when it counted, the Redskins took home the championship
for the 10th time in the last 40 years of the World Series.
Subia was the first Arizona team to advance to the Connie Mack
World Series, and possibly the last time four Hamilton High
School players - 2003 graduate C.J. Retherford, 2004 graduates
Eric Farris and Brandon Farmer, and returning senior Travis
Peep – will ever suit up again on the same team. At Hamilton,
the quartet was partly responsible for the Huskies’ back-to-back
Class 5A state championships in 2003 and 2004.
Subia manager Brian Dodd has been with the core of the team
since most of the players, including his son, Brian Jr. were
freshmen in high school. He said he didn’t know if Subia
would be revived again in the future. All of this season’s
squad, except Peep, will play college baseball next season.
“It was the happiest and saddest day that I’ve
ever had as a coach,” Dodd said. “Finally getting
to the championship game, but knowing that this group of kids
will never be on the same team again. It was tough to take,
but life goes on.”
Subia qualified for the Connie Mack World Series by winning
the Western Regional championship two weeks ago.
“Just getting there was a chore,” Dodd said. “That
Western Regional was very tough. It was a great experience for
our young men.”
“I’ve given it some thought, but it’s too
close to the time we finished,” he said. “I probably
need to take some time and think about what is best for my family,
but coaching is something that I love, so you never say never.”
Farris batted 9-for-20 in the World Series while Retherford,
who will return for a second season at South Mountain Community
College this year, was 7-for-19 with three home runs. As the
starting pitcher in the fourth game, Retherford also was credited
for the win in Subia’s 9-6 victory over the Florida Bombers
on Aug. 11.
Farmer pitched a five strikeout, four-hit complete game in
a 7-2 victory over the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers on Aug. 12.
Farmer struck out five batters in that game.
In the first game of the championship, Subia took a 4-1 lead
over Cincinnati in the fourth inning when the younger Dodd,
a Desert Vista High School graduate, ripped a three-run homer
over the center field fence.
The Redskins answered with seven runs in the sixth and seventh
innings, but couldn’t close the gap.
Subia also held a 1-0 lead in the second game thanks to Retherford’s
solo homer in the first inning. And despite falling behind,
7-2, in the second inning, Subia rallied for six runs in the
third to gain an 8-7 lead. Desert Vista graduate Nolan Litke,
Dan Colella and Trevor Vega had he hits.
Midland scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings
to win the championship.
“We were in both gamers,” Dodd said. “But
those Midland bats were just on fire, and they hit the ball
all over the country.”
Back to Press Updates & News Index
|
