NHBA All-Stars grab Placentia crown

The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Bronco 11U All-Stars held on for a 9-8 victory over the Placentia 11U All-Stars to take home the championship in the Placentia Father’s Day Tourney.

Newport had a 9-6 lead heading into the final inning, but found its lead cut to 9-7 with a runners on first and third and no outs.

Shortstop Logan Pence came up with the defensive play of the game when the next Placentia batter hit a hard ground ball up the middle – Pence darted to his left to field the ball, stepped on second and fired to first to complete the double play. With the score, 9-8, Placentia hit a soft ground ball back to pitcher Braham Duncan, who threw to first baseman Luke Bashore to record the final out and secure the championship for Newport.

Clay Liolios started the game for Newport going three innings and striking out seven to record the win.

Newport got on the board with six runs in their half of the second inning. Bashore, Trey Genova, Johnny Brigandi and Kyle Binford all had hits in the inning to go along with Luke Hatfield’s two-run home run that sailed over the center-field fence.

In the fifth inning, Genova connected for a two-run homer to give the team the all-important eighth and ninth runs. Binford and Simon Copeman each had two hits.

Newport won all four of their pool-play games over the weekend to advance to Tuesday night’s championship.

The high-powered Newport offense scored 47 runs over the five-game tournament.

Duncan produced three home runs to go along with Genova’s two homers for the tourney.

Bashore and Jack Bibb went deep for the 11U All-Stars as well.

Also contributing on both the offensive and defensive sides were outfielder Brendan Duffy and catcher Chase Greer.

After compiling a 15-3 tournament record over the last month, Newport will now start the District Playoffs on Friday in Cypress with a 5 p.m. game against Mission Viejo.

— Reader submission