The R.I. Reds U-12 AAU baseball team, with several area boys on the team, recently captured the U-12 AAU New England AAU Super Regional Baseball Tournament in Massachusetts.
The Reds won their three games and lost the fourth to clinch the top seed heading into the semi-finals. After posting a come-from-behind victory in the first game and earning a berth to the finals, the Reds squared off against the New Jersey Titans for the title and were trailing, 6-2 heading into their last at-bat. But the Reds roared back with a five-run rally and claimed the championship.
In their first game, the Reds found out early that things were not going to come easy and they were in a pitcher's duel. Derrick Polseno threw a shutout for five and one-third innings and also produced the game's only run with a homer. But the Connecticut Boomers got a two-run homer in the last frame and took the lead. In their last at bat, the Reds got a runner on board and Chris Ballirano blasted one out of the park for the walk-off win.
Lefty Joe Bongiovanni fired a one-hitter to pace the Reds to an easy 13-0 win over the Legends in the second contest. Thomas Calabro lead off the game with a h ome run and later followed with another home run and two singles to pace the offense. Gian Martellini continued his torrid hitting display with a long blast to cap a six run first inning. Bongiovanni and Steve McManus also went yard for the Reds.
The Reds then dispatched the Diamond Dawgs and came away with another easy, 14-1 win, but then dropped an 11-8 decision to the Worcester Heat.
In the semi-finals, the Reds had a rematch against the Diamond Dawgs and came away with a 9-7 come-from-behind win, setting up the championship finals.