Trailing 3-0 and on the brink of elimination, Destrehan came out swinging – and began piling on runs.
The Wildcats scored seven runs in the final three innings of play Friday as Destrehan rallied for a 7-4 victory against visiting Fontainebleau, tying up the best-of-three opening round series between the teams.
“Our backs were against the wall at 3-0 … we just needed to get it started with one hit and it kinda went from there,” said Derek Lucas, who went 3-for-4 and supplied the leadoff single that began the rally in the fifth inning. “We rallied back and got it done. We’ve gotta keep the same energy and the momentum going (Saturday).”
14th seeded Destrehan (24-12) will host the No. 19 seed Bulldogs (20-16) Saturday at noon to determine who will advance to round two of the Division I non-select playoffs.
As one might expect, Destrehan was fired up upon securing the final out. DHS head baseball coach Chris Mire said it was the type of game one expects in Division I playoff baseball.
“Nobody’s gonna lay down for you,” Mire said. “If you don’t expect this then you don’t know about playoff baseball’s about. I kind of felt like we lost faith for a second there, and I’m not happy about that, but I love the way we fought back. That’s exactly what I expect from these guys. We showed some heart and showed some fight, and we found a way to get a win. Now we’ve got to lock in and finish this series.”
The Wildcats began the fifth inning with a Derek Lucas single. Larry Rodrigue and Brady Carter reached base as well to load the bases with no outs. That brought up Jaden Sloan, who drew a walk to force home a run to make it 3-1.
Josh Muller then singled up the middle that and an ensuing error brought home two more runs to tie the game.
In the sixth inning, it was again Destrehan earning multiple baserunners with no outs as Champ White and Lucas got on. That set up a Larry Rodrigue go-ahead RBI single to make it 4-3. Brady Carter singled, and soon after Muller singled home two more runs to make it 6-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, it was Fontainebleau’s turn to load the bases with less than two outs, and they would convert a run off of it when Jordan Davidson grounded into a fielder’s choice, making it 6-4, but Chase Mire got out of the jam by retiring Sawyer Shane on a fly out.
Destrehan added a run in the top of the seventh when Lucas bunted for a single and Landyn Dugas scored on an errant throw to first.
Lucas went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Destrehan at the plate. He also stole a base. Muller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Chase Mire earned the win in relief, going three innings and allowing one run on two hits and two walks. He struck out one. Muller started and went 3.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out three.
Shane took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs, going six innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out five.
