After impressive start, Tigers struggling in district play

Thelezia Folse

Hahnville junior Ralph Wilson slides into second base ahead of the tag.

After an impressive 12-3 start to the season, the Hahnville Tigers have lost their first three district games to East Ascension, Destrehan and Dutchtown.

"It's been rough," Hahnville head coach Kade Rogers said. "We've had some tough breaks and we have gotten away from our focus. We need to regroup and get back to how we were playing at the beginning of the season."

Against both Destrehan and Dutchtown, the Tigers fell behind early and were unable to put together enough runs late in the game to come back.

Destrehan took a 5-0 lead into the fifth inning last Thursday before Hahnville was finally able to get on the board. Hahnville's Mike Ford brought home Travis Faucheaux on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth and the Tigers added another run in the frame after Cody Farrell doubled to bring home Austin Fremen, which cut into the Destrehan lead 5-2.

But in the top of the sixth, the Wildcats added four more runs and forced the Tigers to scramble in the last two innings.

The Tigers got one of those runs back in the bottom of the sixth when Fremen brought home Ralph Wilson on a sacrifice fly. Trailing 9-3 in the seventh, the Tigers put together their best offensive inning.

Farrell singled on a fly ball to center to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a ground out by Tyler Cooper. Easton Melancon then jacked a triple to right field that scored Farrell to cut into the Destrehan lead 9-4.

With two outs, Tyler Simmons singled to bring home Melancon, but Destrehan closer Ethan Hutson struck out Faucheaux to end the game.

Edwin DeLaCruz picked up the win for Destrehan, allowing only six hits while striking out seven in 5 innings.

The Wildcats were led from the plate by Brandt Bourgeois, who had a three-RBI double in the sixth. Ryan Burks finished 2-for-3 with an RBI while Brett Hebert, Brett Hymel and Rodrigo Rodriguez also drove in runs.

Farrell led the Tigers from the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with an RBI. Melancon, Wilson, Simmons, Ford and Fremen also drove in runs for Hahnville.

Tiger pitcher Daniel Arnold picked up the loss after allowing four runs and walking three in 2.2 innings.

Two days later, the Tigers would fall to Dutchtown in a similar manner.

The Griffins jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning. Hahnville starter Adam Dufrene walked Duthtown's Troy Lewis in the first at-bat and Jacob Waguespack hit a home run over the left-field wall to give Dutchtown a 2-0 lead.

Dufrene was able to get the next two batters out, but gave up singles to Matt Willis and Eric Babin before walking Mason Nickens to load the bases.

Dutchtown's Robbie Podorsky doubled into left field to bring in three more runs.

The Tigers got one run back in the second and then added two more in the fourth on three walks and two Griffins' errors.
The Tigers eventually crept to within one run of the Dutchtown lead at 6-5, but the Griffins pulled away in the final two innings.

Farrell led the Tigers from the plate in the game, going 3-for-4.

Hahnville will travel to East St. John on Thursday for a game scheduled to start at 4 p.m. They host East Ascension on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then travel to take on East Ascension on Tuesday at 6 p.m.