The Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s Bronco Division All-Stars faced a daunting task at last week’s Coastal District Playoffs in Long Beach: having to win four straight games versus the top 12-year-old squads from the Westside to the South Bay. The local boys nearly pulled it off. After opening the tournament with a resounding 19-7 victory over Mira Costa last Sunday, Coach Rick McGeagh’s team was beaten by Torrance 10-3 the following day and dropped to the loser’s bracket, thus facing elimination in each subsequent game. Palisades wasn’t about to go down quietly. It needed nine innings and five pitchers to defeat Cheviot Hills 10-7 last Tuesday, as Nicky Rivera had three hits, Matt McGeagh had two hits and three runs scored and Bryant Falconello had two hits and two runs batted in. Anthony Poulos, Aiden Fite and Daniel Hakman also contributed to the victory. The team was back at it 15 hours later, this time facing beach rival Santa Monica. Palisades’ offense erupted for nine runs in the top of the first inning and they proved to be more than enough for pitcher Jonathan Sington, who struck out three and walked none over five innings of a 14-1 mercy-rule victory. At the plate, Matt McGeagh had four hits and four RBI, Reece Pascoe had three hits and three RBI, Rivera had three hits and two RBI while Matt Douglas and Jack McGeagh each added two hits and two RBI. On Thursday, Palisades avenged its loss to Torrance with a shocking 21-3 win in five innings. Cade Hulse pitched his second straight complete game and helped his cause at the plate, going four-for-four with three runs and three RBI. Rivera had four hits and scored four runs, Matt McGeagh had three hits, three RBI and two runs; Douglas had two hits, three runs and two RBI, Hudson Ling had three hits, four RBI and one run, Jack McGeagh had two hits, two walks, two runs and two RBI and Tyler McMorrow drew three walks and scored three runs. The three straight victories landed Palisades in last Friday’s championship game against host East Long Beach, which jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Palisades battled back to lead 5-4 after three innings before Long Beach tied it in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the frame Matt McGeagh hit a one-out double but was left stranded. In the sixth, the host club got a lead-off home run, added a second run with two outs and led 7-5. Palisades threatened in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to score. Though it fell one win short of reaching the Super Regionals, Palisades advanced further than any PPBA Bronco team ever has, finishing with an overall record of 15-6. “I’m very proud of our team and the kids’ tenacious performance,” Coach McGeagh said. “They all worked very hard throughout the All-Star season and it paid off. Our success was a team effort, with contributions by all players.” Mustang Still riding high after winning the District 2 Playoffs held the previous week at the Field of Dreams, Palisades’ 10-year-old All-Stars traveled to Torrance for the Sectionals and beat Norwalk, 14-3, on Saturday. Jason Starrels pitched a two-hitter with four strikeouts and went four-for-four at the plate with three runs and four RBI. Nick Hurley and Gabe Stewart each had three hits, Emmett Collins had two hits and two RBI, Dylan Damavandi had two hits and Will Winkenhower, Matt Ursin-Smith and Zach Lynch each added a hit. In Sunday’s championship game, Palisades’ offense was finally stymied by host Torrance, 10-0, but Joe Collins’ squad (11-4) still advanced to the Super Regionals, which begin today in Carlsbad. The top two teams will advance to the Zone Championships next week in Chino.
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