Bronco Red Sox nab 2nd in Leap Year Tourney Bronco Red Sox nab 2nd in Leap Year Tourney (March 05, 2004)

The Bronco Red Sox Travel team, ages 11-12, placed second in the Leap Year Tournament hosted by Pittsburg's Powerhouse baseball club. The Red Sox outscored opponents 28-4 in pool play on the way to earning the No. 1 seed. Overall the Red Sox won five games en route to Sunday's final, where they came up on the short end, 12-3, to a hot Pacifica Chaos club.

Alex Blidy and David Johnson combined on a two-hit, 10-0 shutout over the Albany Stars in the opener. Johnson notched the win with pitching support from Justin Hollar and Nate Vincent, who also was 2 for 2 at the plate, in the 10-2 route of the Woodland Coyotes. In game 3 the Red Sox avenged an early season loss to the Starmaker Cannons behind a 7-run last inning rally fueled by David Johnson's 3-run homer. Alex Palsha, who banged out four extra base hits and six RBI's in the tournament, picked up the win in relief of Stephen White. They combined to hold the Starmakers to three hits during the 8-2 win.

On Sunday, the Red Sox knocked out a potent Manteca Predators team 6-3, behind the 6K pitching of Kyle Kearney who recorded the win. The Red Sox won their semifinal 5-4 over the NorCal Tribe in a well played game. Brian Hamm, who had an outstanding tournament banging out 10 hits and stealing 12 bases, knocked in Matthew Krisman for what proved to be the winning run.

Other outstanding performances in the tournament included Carter Loud (5 hits, 5 runs), Dylan Rogelstad who threw two runners out, Matt Chaidez who went 4 for 6, Austin Meneley who made several spectacular catches, and Johnson who totaled seven RBI's in the tournament.

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