March 30, 2005

Hickman slams Hahnville over Destrehan

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

The Destrehan Wildcats and Hahnville Tigers faced off on Good Friday after rain had forced a rescheduling on March 16. And after five and a half innings of one-run baseball, the two teams exploded for a combined eight runs in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh and ended with Hahnville taking a 6-3 victory.

The final blow for the Tigers came in the top of the seventh when catcher Andrew Hickman launched a grand slam over the center field fence, giving Hahnville the lead and sealing the victory.

Tiger starter Aaron Loup (4-0) pitched a complete game, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out eight. Hickman was the leader at the plate for the Tigers, driving in four runs while going two for three. Second baseman Steven Burns also homered for the Tigers and drove in two runs.

Starter Beau Jones led Destrehan on the mound, going six innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five. Leading the Wildcats at the plate were third baseman Alex Boudreaux who was two for three with two stolen bases, center fielder Travis Wethers who drove in two runs and Jones who was two for four.

The pitchers dominated the game through the first five innings. Loup and Jones allowed five baserunners through the first two innings with Loup recording two strikeouts and Jones recording three.

The Tigers got on the board in the top of the third. With two out and no one on base Burns took out a shot to right center that gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Destrehan had runners in scoring position in the first three innings after shortstop Tyrone Wethers stole second in the first and third innings. In the second, Boudreaux stole second as well.

The Tigers threatened in the top of the fourth after Hickman and shortstop Jordan Brown singled. After third baseman Garrett Loup sacrificed Daron Friloux, Hickman’s courtesy runner to third, Friloux was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice by first baseman Wesley Thigpen. Loup then proceeded to strike out the side in the bottom of the fourth.

Both teams had chances to score in the fifth. After consecutive singles by Hahnville center fielder Ryne Madere and Burns, Madere was called out on a play at the plate after a wild pitch. Then in the bottom of the inning after Destrehan second baseman singled, Tyrone Wethers sacrificed him to second. Then catcher Jacob Long drove a ball down the first base line that would have been a double if not for a diving play by Thigpen.

Destrehan finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Jones led off the inning with a double. Left fielder Brandon Stevens followed with a single that drove in Jones and tied the game. Boudreaux followed with another single and put himself in scoring position with a steal of second. First baseman Lynn Matherne was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then Travis Wethers roped a double into left center and drove in two runs, giving the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

But the Tigers did not give up. After Jones walked right fielder Charlie Harrell to start the top of the seventh, he was lifted for Brandon Stevens. Singles from Frickey and Madere then loaded the bases. Burns then singled driving in Harrell, but Frickey was cut down at home, holding the Wildcat lead at 3-2. Left fielder Aramie Melancon then singled to load the bases again. And Hickman drove the ball over the center field fence for a grand slam, giving the Tigers a 6-3 lead. Matherne then came on to relieve Stevens and after a Brown single, retired the next two batters.

Jones singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh. But after a flyout, Jones’ pinch runner was called out because it was determined by the umpires that he was an illegal substitution.

With the victory, the Tigers improve to 16-2 overall and 2-0 in district. With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 10-6 and 0-1 in district. The Tigers will next host the Central Lafourche Trojans tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats will host the South Lafourche Tarpons at the same time.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.