South Troy Dodgers center fielder Jim Brennan tried to call time just before this pitch was thrown, but the home plate umpire did not grant it. Brennan crushed the pitch over the straightaway center field fence for a two-run home run in the first inning and the rout was on. The Dodgers won the North Atlantic regional over the Brooklyn Bonnies Cougars 13-1 and will head to the AABC Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

In the next at-bat, catcher Tom Murphy hit a home run to left center, giving the Dodgers a quick 3-0 advantage. It took the wind out of the sails of the Bonnies and paved the way for a pitching gem from Michael Hughes.

"I tried to call time and he didn’t give it to me and I kind of reacted, made good contact and got it over," Brennan said. "We knew they were going to come in and they were going to be loud and they were motivated," he continued. "They really wanted to beat us. To get those two home runs early on and take the wind out of them really helped us out and let us cruise through the rest of the game."

Hughes (above) allowed his first earned run of the season, but stymied the Brooklyn bats for six solid innings, earning the win.

It seems like just yesterday Hughes was tugging on his Albany High cap at the Big 10 Conference media day at Christian Brothers Academy. In the meantime, he led the Falcons on an inspired regular season run to a share of the Big 10 title, announced he will attend Coastal Carolina University on scholarship and guided the Dodgers to the World Series.

"It’s been quick," Hughes said. "It’s been the blink of an eye, really. I didn’t think it would go this fast. I’ve had a lot of fun this year with these guys."

Third baseman Willie Carmona, who along with Brennan, was a Dodgers pick-up for the regional, brought the Dodgers offense to a new level and has them thinking big heading into the World Series.

"We picked Jimmy up with the hopes that he could do what he did," South Troy 18s manager Kevin Rogers said. "He’s a big boost to the offense. It’s something we needed on this team and I think he and Willie have upped the offensive ante on this team."

The Dodgers will make their fourth appearance in the Connie Mack World Series, having also made trips in 2000, 2004 and 2006. The 2000 squad, led by current San Diego Padres pitcher Tim Stauffer, placed second overall, the organization’s best finish in the World Series.

The 10-team tournament begins on Aug. 7.

"It’s what we work for," Rogers said. "We’ve been dying to get back there. We haven’t been there since 2006, although I did coach a few of these guys in the Mickey Mantle World Series in 2007. It’s going to be a lot different. The Farmington Connie Mack World Series is a once in a lifetime feat and thankfully we’ve been there more than once."

"For all of us, this was our dream to get there and we got it," Hughes said. "We’re all a little speechless right now."

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Check out the full scoop in Monday's edition of The Record.

South Troy 13 , Brooklyn 1

Brooklyn South Troy
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Martinez ss 3 0 0 0 Charron lf 3 3 0 0
Simmons lf 3 0 0 0 Cogswell ss 3 2 1 1
Mateo rf 3 0 0 0 Brennan cf 4 2 2 4
Rios c 3 0 1 0 Murphy c 5 1 3 4
Turbi 1b 3 0 0 0 Anderson 1b 4 0 1 0
Graham dh 2 1 1 0 Carmona 3b-p 2 1 1 1
-Torres 3b 0 0 0 0 Sand dh-3b 4 0 1 0
-Perez ph 1 0 0 0 Fish rf 4 1 1 1
Pupa 3b-p 2 0 0 0 Sportman 2b 3 3 2 0
-Morales p 0 0 0 0
Vidal 2b 2 0 0 0
Mendez cf 2 0 0 0
Totals 24 1 2 0 Totals 32 13 12 11
Brooklyn ........................................000 010 0 - 1 2 5
South Troy ..................................300 253 x - 13 12 1
E-Sportman, Pupa, Turbi, Torres 2, Rios. LOB-Brooklyn 2, South Troy 10. DP-Brooklyn 1 (Pupa, Vidal and Turbi). GIDP-Fish. 2B-Graham. 3B-Brennan. HR-Brennan, Murphy. SB-Sportman 2.
Brooklyn ip h R erBB SO
Bove, L 4 1/3 9 8 7 4 1
Pupa 1/3 2 1 1 2 0
Morales 1 1/3 1 3 2 3 0
South Troy ip h R er BB SO
Hughes, W 6 2 1 1 0 3
Carmona 1 0 0 0 0 2
Inherited runners-scored: Pupa 2-2, Morales 3-0.
WP-Hughes. PB-Rios. HBP-Cogswell (by Bove).