Hart Entry Draws Upon Experience Heading Into Colt Zone Tournament

The Hart Colt team is following in its own footsteps.

With a nucleus of players that has reached the Mustang, Pony and Babe Ruth western regionals and won two World Series titles, Hart will play in the western zone tournament tonight in Commerce.

Hart advanced to Zone play by sweeping Heartwell on Sunday to win the Coast Region tournament.

The winner of the Zone tournament advances to the Colt World Series in West Lafayette, Ind.

Hart lost to Heartwell, 4-3, in 13 innings in the first round of the Coast Regional in a game suspended Saturday at 1:30 a.m. after 12 innings.

Hart came back to beat West Covina, 15-4, Saturday night, and swept Heartwell, 8-2 and 6-5, Sunday to earn a trip to Commerce for the six-team, double-elimination tournament.

Hart, which received a first-round bye, will play tonight at 8 against Monterey Peninsula, a 7-5 winner over Covina in an opening-round game Wednesday.

A Hart victory would advance it to championship bracket play Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m.