The build-up for Pacifica American Little League's trip to the Western Regionals will hit a crescendo tonight.
A sendoff for the team will be held at from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Tuesday, July 29) at the Surf Spot (4627 Coast Highway).
Parents and fans of the team and much of the Pacifica baseball community is expected to turn out to celebrate the NorCal title and raise money for the team's trip to San Bernardino. The establishment will be selling refreshments and snacks and the league will be collecting donations for the families and players traveling to the tournament, according to the league's Facebook page.
Marie Azzopardi, the grandmother of Pacifica slugger Nate Azzopardi, is fired up for the trip to San Bernardino. She works in customer service for the San Francisco Giants, but will try to attend as much of the regional tourney as possible, she said.
"I'm ecstatic," Marie said. "And Nate is very excited -- what 12-year-old boy wouldn't be? We're very thrilled and we wish the boys all the best."
The coast-side team has already won Division 2, Section 3 and District 52 championships. It is only the second District 52 Majors' team (ages 11-12) to make it to San Bernardino for the regionals -- one step from the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. The other was Belmont-Redwood Shores last season.
The West Region tourney begins Friday with Pacifica American meeting Hawaii at 11 a.m. at sun-splashed Al Houghton Stadium in North San Bernardino.
The regionals last nine days and the players will stay in barracks on the regional headquarters' grounds, but the families will probably need to stay in San Bernardino-area hotels. Some teams also take day trips to Southern California amusements parks, the beach and other venues.
"As usual it's going to be warm," Western Regional director Dave Bonham said by phone Tuesday from San Bernardino. "But the field's in excellent shape."
Regarding Pacific American making the regionals for the first time, Bonham said: "I think it's great. The Alaska team, Knik, will also be making their first trip. It's always fun to have new leagues come down here. They're able to enjoy the tournament and make some good memories and then go back and tell the other kids in their neighborhood what they experienced."
The regionals feature two tournaments in one location -- West Region and Northwest Region.
Among the greats to play Little League in Pacifica were left-handed reliever Bob McClure and first baseman Keith Hernandez, who both had long major league careers. McClure went to Terra Nova High and Hernandez to Capuchino after his family moved to Millbrae.
The winner of both regions advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. The semifinals and the finals of both region tourneys will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2. All pool-play games will be on ESPN3.
Northern California teams have won regional titles 14 times since 1957, mostly recently Petaluma National in 2012.
OCA TO COACH SOUTH CITY: Westmoor High grad Jay Oca will be the coach of the South San Francisco High football team after all, said Oca and SSF athletic director Matt Schaukowitch.
"Jay Oca is still the coach for (this) season," said Schaukowitch, who declined further comment.
Oca, in his 13th year with the program, was named head coach in January. But the job was re-opened earlier this month after he took a job at Peninsula High, an alternative school in San Mateo.
Oca interviewed again for the job and was informed by Schaukowitch late last week that he'll be coaching the Warriors.
"They decided it was the best situation if I continued as head coach," Oca said. "I'm happy I'm the head coach and now I can just work with the kids and progress toward the season."
Besides Menlo, South City will also meet Capuchino and defending CCS Open champ Serra in the non-league season.
Also, Cynthia Rapaido is the new South City principal. She was at San Mateo High last year.
BORAS CLASSIC FIELD SET: Numerous area teams will play in the prestigious Boras Classic high school baseball tournament in Sacramento that begins March 30.
The Boras tourney among the best prep tourneys in the land, with events held in Northern and Southern California, punctuated by a title game between the winners of the two regions.
Here are the NorCal teams competing:
Elk Grove, St. Francis-Mountain View, Mitty, Turlock, Clovis West, Pacific Grove, Leigh, Bellarmine Prep, Liberty-Bakersfield,
Davis, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge, Stockdale-Bakersfield, Pleasant Grove, Serra-San Mateo and Yuba City.
Briefly: Bishop O'Dowd basketball star Ivan Rabb has made the USA Basketball 17U team ... Drake basketball star Jesse Hunt has received a scholarship offer from Cal State Sacramento, reports @verbalcommits. ... The Los Gatos Legends baseball team defeated the Riverside Red Wave 9-2 in the Colt West Zone championship at PAL Stadium. The Legends advance now to Indiana.
