Senior Middleburg catcher Brian Leino blasted a two-run homer in the first inning and a three-run double off the center-field fence in the second as the Broncos defeated Fleming Island, 5-2, to win the St. Johns Athletic Conference baseball championship Thursday night.

Brian Leino follows through on a first-inning home-run swing.

Freshman pitcher Cody Robinson (5-2) pitched five innings to get the win, while veteran senior Ryan Raymer, fresh off a five-inning perfect game, closed out the final two innings to earn the save.

Robinson, who scattered five hits and gave up one earned run, got great support from his speedy outfielders on several hard-hit line drives.

Raymer was the beneficiary of a very athletic and heads-up play by his sophomore shortstop, Mike Reed, who charged out into shallow center field to make an over-the-shoulder catch of a ball that seemed certain to drop for a single and advance a Golden Eagle runner to third. Instead, Reed made the improbable catch with his back to the infield, whipped around and caught an unsuspecting Fleming Island runner way off first base for a double play.

Reed said the play was probably the best of his career.

Reed

"That one made me come out of my squat," said Bronco head coach Alan Burnsed, who smiled about having such a good glove around for two more seasons. "Mike is quite an athlete."

As for Leino's five-RBI performance, Burnsed said, "That's just Brian being Brian. It's just kind of what he does. Lately, though, he's been an extremely tough guy to get out. He's just seeing the ball real well."

Leino, who's batting around .435 with five homers, has signed to continue his education and baseball career at Daytona Beach College.

The Broncos, who hadn't beaten Fleming Island in two seasons, are 16-8 heading into next week's district playoffs, while the Golden Eagles are 15-8.

While it was great to win the conference championship, Burnsed said, "It's more important to see that everyone is playing well heading into districts."

Brian Leino (right) celebrates with teammates following his two-run homer.