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The Dublin Leprechauns have got to be the feel-good story of the summer when it comes to Tri-Valley sports.
Earlier this summer I wrote about the Leprechauns — a member of the Pecos League, an independent professional baseball league in cities that don’t have major or minor league baseball teams or affiliations for either.
The Leprechauns are in the Pacific Division (there is also a Mountain Division) and in their second year of play at Fallon Field in Dublin.
After an inaugural season where the Leprechauns went 4-44, they came out 0-5 this year and it seemed like the team was set for another tough campaign.
But since then, under the guidance of first-year manager David “Ace” Aceron, the Leprechauns have fought and clawed their way to a 22-26 mark as of July 22, and if the season ended on that day, they would be in fourth place and in the final Pacific playoff spot.
With eight games left, it has been a big-time improvement over season one.
“I think this year we have proven that Dublin baseball is not a joke,” Aceron said. “This has been a huge step forward, and there is more to come.”
The final game of the regular season is July 28, a rare Sunday game as the Leprechauns will face the Marysville Drakes in a 2 p.m. contest at Fallon Field.
Marysville was 25-23 as of July 22, in third, three games ahead of the Leprechauns.
Currently the Leprechauns have a three-game lead over the Vallejo Seaweed for the final playoff spot. Four of those remaining games are against Vallejo, so everything is right in front of the team.
“The players have stuck with the grind,” Aceron said. “Now they are in contention for the playoffs. It’s a very exciting time.”
The Pecos League is indeed a grind as the teams play 48 games in a 60-day season. There is very little downtime and very little time to get together as a team.
So, what has been the difference this year?
“For me, it’s about showing the athletes the parallels of baseball and life,” Aceron said. “We are either winning or learning. I think a lot of coaches are missing that — that it’s about helping the players learn every day.”
The acquisition of two pitchers late in the season and hot hitting has propelled the Leprechauns into the driver’s seat late in the season.
“We began the year with three good starting pitchers,” said Leprechauns director of baseball operations Guy Houston. “With the addition of Brock (Theriot) and Jonathan (Russamanni), we have a chance to go deep in the playoffs. These guys throw strikes and have great pitching knowledge.”
Other players like Donnie Gardner, Tanner Fonoti, Dante Hatchett, Brad Moreno, Angus Stayte, Thomas Latham, Teddy Bridges, Chase Evans and Victor Ceniceros have been key players.
Coming together so quickly in a 60-day season is tough, but Houston was able to secure a big house in the east Pleasanton hills that allows all members of the coaches and players to live together, which has helped.
“Having 30-plus people in a house has forced us to be tight,” Aceron said.
With Aceron already committed toward returning next season, things are definitely headed in the right direction for the team.
This Sunday’s game will be a great chance to support the Leprechauns for a great regular season, as well as hopefully send the team into the playoffs. For more information about the team, visit dublinleprechauns.com
SRV all-stars
The San Ramon Valley Little League 10-under all-stars team captured the Section 3 title by beating host Hillsborough Little League 7-0. It was the league’s first section title in any age group since 2004.
By winning both District 57 and Section 3 championships, SRV has qualified to compete for the NorCal State Championship Larkspur, facing the section winners as far north as the Oregon border down to Kings County.
On July 2, the team captured the District 57 title beating Granada Little League 1-0. The 12-player roster went undefeated in the district tournament, previously defeating Bollinger Canyon 12-3, Tassajara Valley 13-2 and Pleasanton 11-1.
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. To contact him about his Pleasanton Preps column, email acesmag@aol.com.
