Richard Mealey threw a five-inning shutout and Benicia’s Junior League all-star team pounded out 11 hits in a 12-0 victory over Fort Bragg at the Section 1 Tournament in Terra Linda on Tuesday.

It was the second straight win for Benicia’s Juniors at the Section Tournament, setting up a winner’s bracket game Thursday against Walnut Creek. The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to the championship round.

“So far, so good,” said Benicia manager Carl Rendell, whose team is 4-0 in the postseason. All four wins have come in six innings or less due to the 10-run mercy rule, with three games going only five innings.

Mealey, making his first all-star pitching appearance of the postseason, allowed only one hit (a double in the third inning) and one walk while keeping Fort Bragg’s offense at bay.

“He kept the ball down and got a lot of ground balls and we played good defense behind him,” Rendell said.

Benicia scored at least two runs in each of the first four innings and had eight players get at least one hit. Arian Chapman clubbed a two-run homer, Peter Templeton had a double and Jayshaun Wise had a pair of singles. Benicia has hit five home runs in two games during the Section 1 Tournament at Vallecito Field.

The Juniors are the only one of six Benicia all-star teams still alive in the postseason. Benicia’s Juniors are looking for their first Section 1 championship since 2012. Benicia lost in the championship round in 2013 and 2014 before going 0-2 at last year’s tournament.

“It’s been a long time since our Juniors team has gotten this far and we’re just trying to keep it going,” Rendell said.

Sharing is caring!