It’ll be an elimination game Saturday between Hahnville and Neville.
The No. 9 seed and host Hahnville defeated No. 24 Neville 3-2 on Friday, knotting up the best-of-3 opening round series in the Division I non-select playoffs. On Thursday, Neville landed the first blow, winning 6-3 in game one of the series.
The third and deciding game is set to be played at Hahnville Saturday at 10 a.m.
Hahnville’s Koa Romero drove in the winning run in the sixth inning of Friday’s game, then came in and nailed down the save after 6.1 strong innings by starter Hayden Plaisance. Romero entered the game with one out and a runner on third – the freshman was able to get a fly out and a strikeout to seal the win for Hahnville (22-10).
The flyout was perhaps the key play of the day for Hahnville. Neville’s Trendan Dumas lifted a ball to left field with Hunter Robinson preparing to tag at third and attempt to score. Kaleb Guarisco secured the out then fired a throw home – directly on target and enough to keep Robinson held at third.
A run would have tied the game, but instead there were two outs – and Romero registered a strikeout to end the game. He finished with a strikeout and no runs, hits or walks in 0.2 innings. Plaisance earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked one.
“I was hoping to close today,” said Romero. “I was feeling good. My arm feels good right now. I got called on to close against Brother Martin (last week) and did well … I felt ready.”
Romero’s double in the sixth scored Ryan Gregson for the go-ahead run.
“I was really confident in that at-bat. The last couple games my swing’s been really good … I was hoping (Gregson) would get on so I could drive him in and fortunately I was able to do the job,” Romero said.
Romero finished the day 2-for-2 with a run scored and RBI. Matthew Bedi also had a run scored and RBI to go with a 2-for-3 day.
For Neville (15-11), Tanner Nguyen struck out nine and allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked none in a complete game effort.
On Thursday, Neville took control of a back-and-forth game when it scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Robinson and Bradley Hanlon each drove in two runs for Neville, with Robinson hitting a home run in the fourth to propel Neville’s big inning.
Cameron Riley and McCain Jarrell combined to strike out seven and allow three runs on seven hits for Neville on Thursday.
Hahnville’s Talan Theriot took the loss on the mound.
