Giovanni Licciardi homered and pitchers Connor Achee and Kaile Levatino combined on a five-hit shutout as the three-time defending champion New Orleans Boosters edged New Brunswick Matrix 1-0 on Thursday at Forest Hills High School field.
Pool B winner New Orleans improved to 4-0 in the 78th AAABA Tournament while Pool A runner-up New Brunswick ended its tournament with a 2-2 record.
Licciardi smacked a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth for the game’s lone run.
Achee pitched seven scoreless frames, allowing four hits. Levatino closed with two scoreless and hitless innings.
The Matrix had five hits, one more than New Orleans.
Gianni Marano and Kyle McSorley each doubled for the Matrix. Jake Marciano pitched six strong innings, striking out eight and walking two. Joe Carrea tossed two scoreless innings for New Brunswick, striking out three and allowing no hits.
New Orleans will face Pool B runner-up Johnstown-2 Martella’s Pharmacy on Friday in a rematch of a game the Boosters won 12-6 on Wednesday in pool play.