July 25, 2006

T.O. closing in on Big League World Series
BY HEATHER GRIPP, LA Daily News

Thousand Oaks is a win away from returning to the Little League Big League World Series for the third time in four years. The team of 17-and 18-year-olds plays for the Western Regional championship today in Ollala, Wash., with the winner advancing to the World Series in South Carolina.

Thousand Oaks used a barrage of home runs to score a combined 47 runs while winning its first three games at the double-elimination tournament.

Thousand Oaks will face the winner of Monday night's elimination game between Northern California champion San Ramon and host Washington. Thousand Oaks would have to lose twice today to not return to the World Series, where it was the runner-up last year.

Chad Smith (3-0) is Thousand Oaks' scheduled starter for the noon game. He's supported by an offense that has hit 18 home runs in the past three games, including 10 in Friday's 17-13 victory over Hawaii.

Outfielder Cody Fierro from Newbury Park High, has a team-high four homers at the regional after homering twice with five RBIs in Sunday's 14-3 win over Washington. Outfielder Cole Kahle of Thousand Oaks High hit threehome runs with sevenRBIs in a 4-for-5 performance against Hawaii. Second baseman Ben Yarin (Agoura), catcher Stephen Notaro (Westlake) and infielder Garrett Rau (Camarillo) each have three home runs in threegames.

"We've been hitting the ball really well," Thousand Oaks coach Matt Ricatto said. "The field's not that big, but our guys have been hitting some legitmate home runs. They've been crushing the ball."

Thousand Oaks is 11-2 overall this summer.

Former El Camino Real of Woodland Hills ace Greg Acheatel singed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Monday and is scheduled to join their rookie-level team in Ogden on Wednesday.