While Destrehan head baseball coach Chris Mire said he’s pleased to be 5-3 through his team’s first eight games on the diamond, there was a tinge of disappointment in his voice nonetheless – Destrehan could just as easily be 7-1, but for two games that slipped away.
“I think everyone on our team would agree that we let a couple get away,” said Mire. “We felt like we were in control.”
Part of the frustration, Mire said, is that Destrehan has seen a lot come together thus far from its players – the pitching staff has put together an ERA under 2 and offensively, several Wildcats are off to strong starts.
“We’ve struggled defensively and in baserunning – if we can stop shooting ourselves in the foot, I think we can really make some noise,” Mire said.
All of that said, the Wildcats are nonetheless in a good position after eight games against quality competition, and some of the defensive struggles Destrehan has endured seems likely to improve with experience – DHS is breaking in new starters in about half of the lineup on a day-to-day basis.
Strong pitching has been a tradition for the Destrehan program, and the 2024 staff thus far has been stellar. Alex Schiff has been among those at the forefront, a senior who has excelled as both a starter and reliever this season. Schiff has appeared in five of the team’s first eight games and has secured saves in two of those.
“He’s the tone setter,” said Mire. “We’ve asked him to do it all and he’s ready every single day. ‘Give me the ball.’ Our staff feeds off him. He’s very confident in what he does. He attacks and he trusts the defense to make plays. I think our other guys have seen him and think, ‘OK, let’s follow that mindset.’ He pitches with energy and he pitches with emotion, and that’s a great thing.”
Payton Stubbs and Jayse DeGruy have been strong as well. DeGruy is fresh off a complete game shutout victory in Destrehan’s 5-0 win over Captain Shreve, striking out nine and allowing just four hits. Stubbs, meanwhile, went six innings while striking out eight in a 6-3 win over Pearl River, allowing just two hits.
“(Stubbs) has given us good innings. said Mire. “He’s emerged as a talented arm. Jayse pitched a lot last year and now he’s asked to be a starter, and he’s done a good job.”
Offensively, Brady Mire, Bennett McNamara, Jack Conravey and Chase Mire have all been off to a good start over the early season.
Even better news for the offense: Shane Lee is starting to get rolling.
“Before the West Monroe game, he wasn’t up to his usual standard and he’d agree, but he was locked in this weekend,” Chris Mire said. “He doesn’t have the full fall to get ready (due to football). He’s getting on base alot. People are aware of him and pitching around him. He’s starting to get going and once he locks in, he’s a big difference-maker and piece of our offense for sure.”
Lee smashed a home run in Destrehan’s 5-4 loss to West Monroe on Saturday, one of the games Mire noted the Wildcats feel they let get away. The Wildcats led 4-2 entering the fifth inning, but the Rebels posted a pair of RBI singles to tie things up before taking the lead in the sixth. Schiff went four innings in his start, allowing two runs and earning a no-decision. Chase Mire took the loss.
Brady Mire went 1-for-2 and drove in three runs to lead the offense in its 5-0 win over Captain Shreve. DeGruy earned two hits to go with his shutout on the mound. Conravey and William Muller each earned an RBI as well.
Destrehan’s victory over West Ouachita, meanwhile, saw the Wildcats rally from a 5-1 deficit after three innings to capture an 8-5 win, the key stretch seeing DHS score five runs over the course of the sixth and seventh innings.
DHS tied things up on Brady Mire’s sacrifice fly in the sixth. Chase Mire followed up with a go-ahead RBI single.
Chase Mire drove in two more runs on another RBI single in the seventh, giving DHS cushion.
Walker Dew earned the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing one run (no earned) on two hits and a walk. He struck out three.
DeGruy, Conravey and Muller each had two hits for DHS.
Destrehan is competing at the Jay Patterson Shootout this weekend, with games against East Ascension (4 p.m. Thursday) St. Amant (1 p.m. Friday), St. Michael’s (12:30 p.m. Saturday) and Parkview Baptist (1 p.m. Saturday).
