Destrehan sweeps Hahnville for first time since ‘04

Hahnville pulls out win against St. Amant

Photo by Joe Halm

Senior Shaine Babineaux led off the game with a solo home run to right field.

The Destrehan baseball team began its season by only winning three of its first 13 games, but since then, the Cats have won 11 of their last 12 to vault to the top of the district.

After last Thursday's series sweeping 7-2 victory against Hahnville, the Wildcats made their debut in the Class 5A Top 10 poll, produced by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association. Destrehan's only loss during the past dozen games came to No. 3 Dutchtown, who is tied with the Cats atop the 6-5A standings.

Destrehan's improved play is a product of hard work at the plate and focus on pitching and defense, said head coach Marty Luquet. Against Hahnville, Destrehan (14-10-1, 6-1 6-5A) used all three phases of the game en route to the victory and the first series sweep of Hahnville since 2004.

Just like last Tuesday's 1-0 win against Hahnville, the Wildcats benefitted from another quality start. This time, senior Joshua Rochelle (6-2) went the distance allowing two runs while giving up 10 hits. To counter balance those hits, he walked just one and struck out eight, including at least three to end an inning.

Rochelle staked the Wildcats to an early 3-0 lead with a two-run home run in the first, scoring junior Kurt McCune who reached on a double. Senior Shaine Babineaux led off the game with a solo home run to right field. Hahnville cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning when senior John Gomez's single knocked in senior Ryan Waters, who reached on a double.

The Wildcats put the game away with a four-run third. Babineaux started the scoring with a lead-off home run, his second of the game. Senior Patrick Roth followed with a double while Rochelle and senior Andrew Suffrin each walked to load the bases for junior Matt Smith. He belted a two-run double, and the final run scored on an error to give the Wildcats a 7-1 lead.

Hahnville added another run in the fourth to set the final score. In the fourth, Destrehan senior Brandon Young singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Young scored after sophomore Jared Harrell was caught in a rundown between first and second.

The Wildcats traveled to St. Amant Tuesday and will host the Gators at 4 p.m. today, weather permitting.

Luquet said last Thursday's win was encouraging considering his team's performance at the plate, but the Wildcats need to continue to show discipline at the plate and focus on solid defense if they want to set up a district title showdown with Dutchtown in two weeks.

Hahnville Baseball

Last Thursday's series sweeping 7-2 loss to Destrehan was a tough pill to swallow for the Hahnville baseball team.

After handing 6-5A co-leader Dutchtown its only loss on March 31, the Tigers (13-13, 3-5) were hoping to reel off a string of wins, but instead they have dropped three of four. Now, head coach Kade Rogers said his team has to be disciplined at the plate if they want to climb back into the playoff race.

Hahnville took a step forward at the plate Tuesday as the Tigers scored eight runs during an 8-0 shutout of East Ascension. The offensive improvement started in the first inning.

Senior Brandon Young reached base to lead off the contest, and senior Ryan Waters drove him home with a two-run home run. The Tigers tacked on three more runs in the second to take a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings.

Seniors John Gomez, Jordan Unger and Seppe Crovetto along with Young each knocked in a run. Young was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.

"We had a good, solid approach at the plate today," head coach Kade Rogers said. "We did the things that we have worked on all season, and we were able to put pressure on the other team on the base pads. We'll win some games if we keep playing this way."

Waters got the victory pitching six innings allowing just four hits while striking out two. Senior Justin Zoglio pitched a scoreless seventh in relief.

The Tigers will travel to East Ascension at 4 p.m. today, weather permitting. Hahnville travels to Dutchtown, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

"From here on out, each of these games are pretty much must wins," Rogers said.

"We have to win five more games to get to eight wins to give ourselves a chance to get into the playoffs. It doesn't matter where we get them, but we have to win at least five."