Wildcats out-hit Dutchtown but drop district opener 5-2

Thelezia Folse

Destrehan senior Brandt Bourgeois tries to make a leaping grab on an errant throw during the Gerard Oubre Tournament.

Last season, Destrehan finished district play undefeated with a perfect 15-0 record.

The Wildcats won’t reach perfection this season.

Griffin junior Troy Lewis went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Dutchtown past the Wildcats 5-2 on Tuesday. Lewis got some help from Dutchtown pitcher Jacob Waguespack (2-0), who settled down after the first inning to pick up the victory.

Destrehan hit the ball well in the loss, finishing with nine hits. Dutchtown had only seven hits in the win.

Wildcat junior Ryan Burks went 3-for-4 in the game, while Jace Weber was 2-for-4.

The loss drops Destrehan to 9-8 on the season. The Wildcats also struggled in last weekend’s Gerard Oubre Tournament but rebounded in the final game for a huge 12-1 win over Central Lafourche.

Destrehan lost their first game of the tourney to Brother Martin by a 10-2 score then fell to hard-hitting Holy Cross 15-2. But the Wildcats were on a mission to avoid being swept in the tournament in the final game.

Destrehan wasted little time taking an early lead, with Rodrigo Rodriguez leading off the bottom of the first with a single to left. Weber followed with another single to left and Rodriguez would eventually score on a fielder's choice by Zachary Schexnaydre to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

In the second, a sacrifice fly by Brett Hebert stretched the lead to 2-0, but Central Lafourche cut into the lead with a run of their own in the third.

The Wildcats caught fire after that by scoring five runs in the third.

The scoring barrage began when Jacob Marino was hit by a pitch to put a runner aboard. Cameron Quigley singled to left and Edwin DeLaCruz followed with a single to right to load the bases.

Marino would score shortly after on a passed ball to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

Brennan Quigley singled to center field to bring home two more runs with a following double by Weber pushing two across to make the score 7-1.

The Wildcats put the game away an inning later with five more runs on singles by Cameron Quigley, DeLaCruz, Hebert, Brennan Quigley and Jesse Bryant.

DeLaCruz picked up the win for the Wildcats, allowing only four hits and one run in four innings. He struck out five in the contest.

Destrehan will try to pick up their first district win Thursday when they travel to Hahnville.

The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.