West Coast Bigfoot Makes Semi-Finals in 25+ Central at World Series!

By Joe Brotherton, West Coast Bigfoot Manager October 30, 2009

2009 World Series 25+ Central West Coast Bigfoot Team Picture

(Front Row) Miguel White, Justin Elliott, Marcos Siaca, Rudy DeAnda, Brian Martin, Bubba Cordeiro, Johnny Ramirez, Paul Codiga, Boyce Whitlock. (Back Row) Joe Brotherton, Mike Stein, Sean Carlson, Danny Arballo, Gabe Barrientos, Scott Moquin, Charles Loseth, Steve Goldberg, Nate Wrought, Josh Moeszinger, Riall Moore, José Medina. (Not Pictured) Adam Paredes, Aaron Swick. (Photo Submitted by Joe Brotherton)

PHOENIX, Arizona -- San José once again had two teams representing the league in the 25+ Central Division this year in Phoenix, Arizona, the San José Padres and West Coast Bigfoot. Last year, the San José team led by José Medina (Reds) beat the team led by Joe Brotherton (Giants) in the quarter-finals. This year, those two teams combined to form West Coast Bigfoot with hopes of coming home with a ring.

Game One

2009 World Series 25+ Central West Coast Bigfoot Brotherton Talks

West Coast Bigfoot manager Joe Brotherton talks to the team after a walk-off win over the St. Thomas Tropical Waves in Game One of the round-robin. (Photo Submitted by Joe Brotherton)

The tournament got off to a bit of a shaky start as Bigfoot battled the St. Thomas Tropical Waves. The team started off quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first, but trailed 10-4 after five innings.

San José veteran Paul Codiga (Braves) took the hill and managed to allow only one run through the final 3 2/3 innings.

The Bigfoot bats came alive in the sixth scoring four runs. They added one in the seventh and another in the eigth but still trailed 11-10 going into the bottom of the ninth. Rudy DeAnda (Reds) led off with a single and Nate Wrought (Reds) reached on an error. An error by the center fielder of St. Thomas allowed the tying run to score. Riall Moore (Cardinals) laid down a sacrifice bunt and Joe Brotherton was intentionally walked to load the bases. Danny Arballo (Tri-Valley MSBL) ripped a single up the middle to score Wrought and win Game One for Bigfoot 12-11.

Charles Loseth (Sacramento MSBL) led the team with two hits and Steve Goldberg (Reds) added an inside-the-park home run.

Game Two

Game Two was a much different story than Game One. Bigfoot pounded out eighteen hits against the Arizona Pirates and didn't allow them into the ballgame.

Scott Moquin (Tri-Valley MSBL) led the team with two hits and three RBIs but all players contributed in the 22-4 victory. The coaching staff even got into the mix with José Medina going 1-for-2 and Joe Brotherton going 1-for-1. Medina also shut down the Pirate bats for four innings on the hill.

After day one, the Bigfoot was tied for first at 2-0.

Game Three

2009 World Series 25+ Central West Coast Bigfoot Codiga Throws a Pitch

West Coast Bigfoot pitcher Paul Codiga (Braves) picked up the win in relief as Bigfoot scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth of Game One to defeat the San Thomas Tidal Waves 12-11. (Photo Submitted by Joe Brotherton)

Game Three pitted the two San José teams against each other. The San José Padres had only nine players but managed to fight hard.

The Bigfoot bats once again started early and quickly built a big lead. The Padres fought back and managed to score eight runs in the seventh, but the Bigfoot held on for a 17-10 victory.

Marcos Siaca (Reds), Gabe Barrientos (Giants), Nate Wrought, Sean Carlson (SoCal MSBL), and Justin Elliott (Spokane MSBL) all had multiple hits. Barrientos, Brotherton, and Bubba Cordeiro (Braves) all had three RBIs. Bigfoot recorded nineteen hits en route to their third victory.

Game Four

Day three was moving day in the standings as Bigfoot would face the only other undefeated teams.

The first test came against the Santa Barbara Titans. Bigfoot was in a fortunate situation as they were able to save the arm of Aaron Swick (Willamette Valley MSBL) to face the Titans.

After a scoreless first three innings, Bigfoot struck first scoring three in the fourth. They continued to pour it on eventually winning 25-8! The team pounded out 24 hits. Game leaders were Barrientos (4-4, 2B, 3 Runs, 3 RBI), Loseth (3-3, 2B, 2 Runs, 4 RBI), Wrought (3-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI), Brian Martin (SoCal MSBL) (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 Runs, 3 RBI). Josh Moeszinger (Sacramento MSBL) also added a solo home run.

Game Five

2009 World Series 25+ Central West Coast Bigfoot Barrientos Singles

Gabe Barrientos leads off the top of the second with a single during Game Two versus the AZ Pirates. (Photo Submitted by Joe Brotherton)

Game Five would be a night game in the brand new Goodyear Stadium.

For some of the players on Bigfoot there was already previous history between them and the OC Stars. For the new players, it did not take long for them to feel the tension between the two undefeated teams. A disagreement occurred before the game while moving into the dugouts which sparked a Bigfoot team that was already on fire.

Both teams battled and Scott Moquin held the OC bats in check for most of the game. With two out in the seventh, Johnny Ramirez (Braves) smacked a two-run double which put the Bigfoot on top for good. Sean Carlson came in and picked up the save and Bigfoot sat alone as the only undefeated team at 5-0.

Barrientos had another multiple hit game and Ramirez finished with three RBIs.

Game Six

The final game of round-robin play started off with some confusion. It was not known whether this game would have playoff implications or not. The Oregon Outlaws won a protest from an earlier game with Des Moines for using an ineligible player which meant that the Bigfoot would have to avoid a loss to be the guaranteed division winner.

Sean Carlson backed up his save performance of the previous night and threw five innings surrendering only three runs. Bigfoot trailed 3-2 after five innings and Scott Moquin came in to pitch the sixth. The pitching duo once again did the job as Moquin shutout Oregon for six innings, The Bigfoot bats managed to tie the game but could never get the big hit against the Outlaws. The game ended in a 3-3 tie thus solidifying the #1 seed in the playoffs for the Bigfoot and the Division winner. It also meant that they would have a bye straight through to the semi-finals.

DeAnda, Goldberg, and Martin all had multiple hits in the game.

Semi-Final

2009 World Series 25+ Central West Coast Bigfoot Goldberg Hits

Steve Goldberg fights to keep the Bigfoot championship hopes alive in the semi-final vs. the Oregon Outlaws. Bigfoot lost 14-12. (Photo Submitted by Joe Brotherton)

One step from where they wanted to be, the Bigfoot once again faced the Oregon Outlaws.

Adam Paredes (Reds) started on the mound and was in top form scattering nine hits thru 7 2/3 innings. Paredes gave up seven runs (five earned) but came out just four outs away from a win as the Bigfoot led 8-5. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. The Outlaws scraped and clawed their way back from defeat and scored six runs in the eighth, all with two outs.

After Bigfoot could not score in the bottom half, it was 10-8 Outlaws going into the ninth. The top of the ninth did not help the situation. The team gave up four more runs and trailed by six heading into the bottom of the ninth. The team had already showed it could put up runs and everyone was up for the challenge. A groundout to start the inning was followed by a fielding error and a walk. With one out and two on, a flyout to center brought the game to its final out. Another fielding error, then a single, double, and another walk. All of a sudden Bigfoot was down two with the winning run at the plate. It was not in the cards as the game ended on a called third strike.

Another year with the same result, a 25+ San José team losing in the semis. It was definitely disappointing to the team.

Offensive MVPs of the tournament for the team were Gabe Barrientos and Brian Martin. The defensive MVP was Danny Arballo having caught nineteen consecutive innings. The team MVP was Scott Moquin.

The journey for the ring begins in January when Bigfoot will look to win at the Desert Classic in Palm Springs where they lost in the championship last year.