Bronco White team reaches Sectional

The Fountain Valley Bronco (Under-12) White B team competed last

weekend at the Sectional Tournament in Garden Grove, where it was

eliminated by the A team from host Garden Grove.

The appearance marked just the third time in the 29 year history of

Fountain Valley Youth Baseball that a B team had advanced to Sectional

play.

The Bronco B team went 9-4 in postseason play and outplayed most A

teams as it eliminated Irvine and Placentia, and last longer than A teams

from Tustin, Dana Point, Saddleback, and Anaheim.

Fountain Valley defeated Placentia, 3-2, by scoring on three of its

runs in its first at-bat on consecutive singles by Vince DiDomenico and

Justin De Marco. Pitchers Lonnie Watson and Chris MacKay limited

Placentia to just four hits, and Justin Ballew made several difficult

catches in the outfield.

The Bronco B team ran out of gas in the Sunday’s final, falling 12-3

to Garden Grove A, despite strong defensive lay by Brandon Cooke, Danny

Heben, and Brian Newhard.

Fountain Valley had qualified for Sectional play by defeating Irvine,

5-1, in District Tournament action in Dana Point. Matt Bainbridge had a

home run, double, and three RBI, and winning pitcher Watson threw a

complete game two hitter. The team’s biggest victory in District play

came against Newport Harbor, where Fountain Valley racked up 22 runs on

21 hits in a 22-3 rout. Tom White blasted a second inning grand slam and

finished with six RBI overall, MacKay also homered and doubled,

Bainbridge went 4 for 5 with a triple, Dean Persinger went 4 for 4 with

two doubles, and De Marco drilled a pair of doubles. The pitching of

White and Giovanni Rodriguez held Newport Harbor at bay.

Fountain Valley’s toughest tournament game came against Saddleback,

which jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 5-2. But the Bronco B team rallied

back and tied the game in the sixth (5-5) on a White home run. Fountain

Valley completed their comeback in the seventh when Michael Wolff drew a

walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored

the winning run on a balk. Outfielders Jeff Luckey and Vince DiDomenico

also played a big part in the victory.

Fountain Valley first baseman Joel Babgy also played a major role in

Fountain Valley’s reaching the Sectional tournament. Bagby batted .800

with two doubles and a home run in postseason play before an injury put

him on the disabled list.