May 7, 2005

Tigers down Bucs 14-5 in first round

Madere, Burns, Melancon account for over half of Tiger runs while Loup, Brown dominant on the mound

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

The Hahnville Tigers stormed out to a big lead Thursday afternoon against the West Jefferson Buccaneers and held off a mid-game rally to advance to the regional round of the state playoffs by a score of 14-5.

The first three batters of the Tiger lineup drove in half of the team's runs and scored over half of them. Center fielder Ryne Madere was four for five with two RBIs and three runs scored. Second baseman Steven Burns was four for five as well with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. And left fielder Aramie Melancon had a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Tigers also were led on the mound by starter Aaron Loup who did not allow a hit or an earned run in three and a third innings while striking out eight. Jordan Brown, who came on in relief in the fourth, did not allow any runs on one hit while striking out six.,

The Tigers got on the board in a hurry in the bottom of the first. After Loup had struck out two batters in the top of the inning, Madere led off the game with an infield single. Burns then drove a ball over the left-center field fence for a two-run home run. Melancon followed with a walk and catcher Andrew Hickman drove him in with an RBI double. Brown was then hit by a pitch. An errant pickoff throw then allowed Brown and Hickman's courtesy runner Daron Friloux to advance to second and third. And a groundout by third baseman Garrett Loup brought in Friloux to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead to start the game.

After walking the leadoff batter in the top of the second, Aaron Loup struck out the next three batters and turned it back over to the Hahnville offense. Back to back doubles by Madere and Burns then gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead.

And just as in the Destrehan-Kennedy game on Tuesday, the third inning was the knockout punch for the Tigers. Brown started things off by reaching on a three-base error. Garret Loup then promptly drove him in with a sacrifice fly. A single by first baseman Wesley Thigpen was then followed by a safe on fielder's choice by right fielder Charlie Harrell. Harrell then stole second and was driven in on a single by designated hitter Jordan Frickey. Two wild pitches then enabled Frickey to advance to third and Madere drove him in with an infield single. Madere then scored on an error on a Burns single to give the Tigers a 9-0 lead. Melancon then launched a mammoth home run over the right center field fence that put the Tigers up 11-0. The inning was capped off when Hickman walked after the home run and Brown drove in Hickman's courtesy runner Friloux with an off-the-wall single.

But West Jefferson began a rally of their own in the next half inning. After striking out the first batter and walking the next, Aaron Loup was lifted for reliever Brad Fonseca. The next batter then reached on an error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. A single and a walk then brought in two Buccaneer runs and reliever Reid Pichon came on. Two more RBI singles followed and Brown was brought in. One more RBI single gave the Bucs their fifth run, but Brown shut them down with a strikeout and a groundout.

The Tigers were scoreless in the fourth, but Brown struck out the side in the top of the fifth to give the offense a chance to extend the lead. Burns led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and advanced to third after a walk and a fielder's choice. Then an errant pickoff throw enabled him to score, giving the Tigers a 13-5 lead.

Brown retired the side in order again in the top of the sixth, and the offense responded in the bottom of the inning when Madere doubled in Harrell who had reached on an error. That gave Hahnville a 14-5 lead.

And after an error allowed the first batter to reach in the top of the seventh, Brown retired the next three batters to preserve the win.

With the victory, the Tigers improve their overall record to 28-3 and advance to the regional round of the state playoffs where they will travel to St. Paul's in Covington on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

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