Though Hahnville had just felled traditional baseball powers Jesuit and Evangel in two games at last weekend’s Barbe High School Invitational tournament, but you might forgive Tigers’ coach David Baudry for lamenting the two games that got away. Those games — each 1-0 losses to host Barbe, which has been ranked as high as second in the nation —left Baudry recounting all the ways the Tigers might have felled Buccaneers if not for a break here or there. Yet he acknowledges it’s also something to build upon for a Hahnville team that already holds wins over Lutcher, Chalmette, St. Amant and Parkview Baptist among others this season.
“It’s frustrating, and yet we can use it as a positive thing,” Baudry said. “There’s a reason they’re the No. 2 ranked team in the country, but we were tooth and nail with them the entire time.”
In the first game against the Buccaneers, a first inning single by Barbe cleanup hitter Slate Fuller pushed the eventual winning run across. The two teams combined for four hits, with Fuller earning the win on the mound in a pitcher’s duel with Austin Perrin. Fuller allowed one hit in 5.1 innings and struck out six while walking four. Perrin started for Hahnville (10-4), allowing three hits and one earned run. He struck out nine against two walks.
In the second matchup, Barbe (13-1) again struck in the opening frame, and again it was on the bat of Fuller, who laced another RBI single that decided things in the end. Cavin Courville earned the win for Barbe as he combined with three other pitchers to earn a no-hitter. Matt Champagne took the loss despite allowing just one hit on the day.
“We hit the ball hard in both games, but it came down to the fact that they got that one hit they needed to and we didn’t,” Baudry said. “We had the opportunity to score runs, but we just couldn’t come up with that one more hit. We were very good defensively and with our pitching all weekend.”
Baudry credited his team for its maturity in securing both the tournament opening win over Evangel and in its final tourney game against Jesuit, noting the Barbe matchups did nothing to distract his players from the task at hand.
Against Evangel, it was Austin Rice’s complete game shutout that paced the Tigers in a 5-0 victory. He earned the win, allowing three hits while striking out four and walking none.
Austin Perrin went 2 for 4 with two RBIs while Hunter LeBlanc went 2-for-3, including a triple. Cade Miguez scored two runs for Hahnville.
Against Jesuit, Hahnville earned a 2-1 victory decided on Hunter LeBlanc’s fifth inning sacrifice fly, which scored Waylon LeBlanc.
Baudry said Rice and Vial, both seniors, have been lights out this season and proved it again last weekend.
“They’ve been fabulous,” Baudry said. “Those are two seniors who only pitch, so they have the opportunity to work on their craft every day. They’re very mature in their approach and very hard-working. Even when they’re not pitching, they’re into the game, trying to understand situations and thinking about what they would do.”
The next few days will give Hahnville more opportunity to build momentum. They co-host (along with Destrehan) the Gerald Oubre Memorial Tournament, which begins on Thursday and extends through Sunday. Hahnville will face Brother Martin Thursday at 4 p.m.; Holy Cross Friday at 4 p.m.; Jesuit Saturday at 3 p.m.; and Hammond Sunday at 1 p.m.
“It’s an opportunity to be at home for four straight days, and that allows us to do some things we haven’t been able to do,” Baudry said. “We can get some practice under us and really use this weekend to use as a springboard into district play on Tuesday. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but in no way, shape or form do I feel like we’re going to rest on our laurels. We want to see how far we can go. It’s exciting to be 10-4, but we know the process continues.”
The Tigers’ District 7-5A opener will be a big one: archrival Destrehan hosts Hahnville at 4 p.m. on Tues-day.
“They’ve played well and they got some big wins over the weekend,” Baudry said. “We’ll turn our attention to them after we wrap up with Hammond Sunday. But we’ll have to be at our best, because there’s no doubt we’ll get Destrehan’s best.”
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