Destrehan attempts to round into form at Patterson tournament

Destrehan is preparing to jump into tournament action today and is hoping to build on its improved play after a tough opening week.

The Wildcats have won four of their last six games to move to 4-5 and can move over .500 by posting a winning mark at the Jay Patterson Shootout tournament at East Ascension.

Destrehan will face Zachary today at 4 p.m. On Friday, Destrehan plays Sam Houston at 4 p.m. and on Saturday, DHS will face Shaw and Northshore, those games scheduled for 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. respectively.

DHS coach Chris Mire hopes to see his pitching staff rounding into form after the return of ace Landon Marceaux. No. 2 starter Bryce Scioneaux’s workload was being slowly ramped up to start the year after the team played things cautiously to allow him time to heal some football injuries; his complete game effort against St. Thomas More in a victory last week suggests he’s back to form.

But the return of staff ace Landon Marceaux is a big boon, the senior having asserted himself as one of the state’s most dominant pitchers over the past two seasons. Marceaux missed the first two weeks of the season as precaution for a minor injury.

“You know, he looked good in our scrimmages and preseason stuff,” Mire said. “He’s in good shape … he put on a little more muscle and is throwing a little harder. I would expect that with his natural progression, he’ll be even a little bit better than last year.”

Destrehan earned a second straight win when it defeated St. Thomas More 6-2 last week in Lafayette.

Ethan West went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs, while Zach Wild and Bryce Rochelle each drove in a run for the Wildcats. Avery Schexnaydre doubled in the game.

Bryce Scioneaux earned the win by going all seven innings. He struck out eight and allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks. St. Thomas More’s Mason Pesson took the loss, allowing two earned runs (six total) on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

Destrehan trailed 1-0 after an inning but posted three runs in each of the third and fifth innings to take control of the game. The Wildcats took their first lead in the third, breaking a tie game when T.J. Thomas scored on a wild pitch and Wild drove in Rochelle.

DHS couldn’t make it three in a row, however, when it fell on the road at the Covington tournament against Fontainebleau, 8-1.

Fontainebleau starter Preston Canale pitched five hitless innings and struck out 10 while walking one en route to the win. T.J. Thomas took the loss for Destrehan, allowing five runs (none earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Destrehan put together a complete effort in a 5-0 victory over Covington, led by Josh MacCord’s complete game shutout.

MacCord allowed five hits and walked four while striking out four to earn the win.

Offensively, Clay Hurm and Ethan West each earned three hits to lead the way for the Wildcats.

Destrehan held on to a 1-0 lead most of the way before breaking loose to score four runs in the sixth inning.

The final game of the tournament saw St. Paul’s emerge with a 12-10 victory in a slugfest.

Destrehan’s Dustin Joliff and Avery Schexnaydre each had two hits to go with three and two RBIs, respectively.