New Orleans Boosters fall to Buffalo 12-3 in AAABA Tournament opener

JOHNSTOWN, Penn. – The New Orleans Boosters dropped a 12-3 decision Monday to Buffalo-Leibs in the first round of play in the 74th annual All-American Amateur Baseball Association national tournament.

The game remained scoreless through three innings of play until Mike Flemming’s bases-loaded walk and Andy Mazzone’s two-run triple gave the Leibs a 3-0 lead.

Buffalo added a run in the fifth on an error and then four more runs in the sixth following five hits and another Booster error.

In the sixth, Brandon Briuglio led off with a walk, advanced on a single by JP LaGreco and scored on a single by Grant Mathews.

Buffalo scored four additional runs in the ninth following a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single.

New Orleans’ final two runs came following walks by Tyler McManus and Hayden Fuentes. A two-run single by Michael Kirsch closed the scoring.

Boosters starter Chris Turpin suffered the loss, pitching five innings. Daniel Dugas (2.0 IP), Colin Bonine, and Kyle Flettrich appeared in relief.

As the pool play bracket continues, New Orleans will face Johnstown – Paul Carpenter’s at 11:00 a.m. EST Tuesday at Point Stadium and Brooklyn Youth Service on Wednesday. The top two teams from each pool will advance to a single-elimination bracket beginning on Thursday.

The year marks New Orleans’ 72nd summer as a franchise of the AAABA. New Orleans has appeared in twenty-six title games and captured fifteen national championships, most recently in 2017. The 2018 squad features players from local programs such as Delgado, Tulane, LSU, Northwestern State, Southeastern, UNO, and the University of Houston.