The Colton Nighthawks join the exclusive list of teams going to this month’s Connie Mack World Series (CMWS) in Farmington, New Mexico, after capturing the championship of the western regional qualifying tournament on July 5, in Irvine, CA.
This local baseball club, made up of young men aged 17-18, will be making its fifth straight appearance in the CMWS, joining the Southern California Renegades as the only teams in the tournament representing California.
Coached by Reuben Montano, the Nighthawks advanced to the CMWS after beating the GBG Inland Empire squad 11-0 in the qualifying championship game. The Nighthawks went unbeaten in the tournament and perhaps most impressively, gave up only one run in their last five games.
Chad Horton threw a one-hit shutout in the championship game, pitching five innings and striking out five batters to earn the victory. “(Horton) is a kid who’s not going to overpower you on the mound, but he’s going to put you to sleep,” Montano said. “He’s a solid lefty with good stuff who’s going to make batters work to get on base.” The Nighthawks advanced to the finals on the solid pitching performances from Josh Torres and Josh Martinez. “We’ve got the right balance of pitching that comes in handy at the Connie Mack,” Montano said.
The Colton Nighthawks were founded in 1994 by John Prieto and Reuben Montano to provide a summer baseball option for young men who wanted to play after the Colton High School baseball season was over. For 26 years, John and Reuben have devoted their time, energy, and personal finances to provide a high-energy, high-profile, and high-commitment program for dozens of young baseball enthusiasts, who often continue to play baseball through college, and even to the professional ranks.
“Our goal is to keep the Nighthawks going as long as possible," Prieto said, who added, “And to continue pushing the kids to follow their dreams, and excel in whatever they do.” With this mission in mind, there is no doubt the Colton Nighthawks will continue to be a force on the baseball field and an organization of which we can all be proud.
Congratulations to the members of the Colton Nighthawks baseball team, and good luck in Farmington.
The Nighthawks' entry into the CMWS leaves only two spots for the complete 12-team line-up. The final teams will be determined over the weekend during the remaining qualifying tournaments in Farmington and in Oklahoma. The Connie Mack World Series Tournament is scheduled for July 20-29.
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