Since starting the season 1-4, Destrehan has been one of the state’s hottest teams. The Wildcats have won eight of their past 10 games, including wins over West Monroe, Shaw and Brother Martin at last weekend’s Jay Patterson Shootout tournament at East Ascension High School.
“We’re starting to get our pieces in place,” Destrehan coach Chris Mire said. “We had some guys injured early on and they’re now back just in time for district. West Monroe, especially, that was a hard fought victory. Our team showed a little bit of toughness and heart. We’re in a good spot right now.”
The 3-2 victory over West Monroe stands as one of the Wildcats’ signature wins so far this season. Destrehan rode the heroics of Bryce Rochelle to victory, as the catcher and leadoff man socked a walk-off hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the victory.
“They pulled the outfield in kind of shallow and he got hold of one over left fielder’s head,” Mire said.
“He earned that spot as our starting catcher, and he’s just been awesome offensively. He’s giving us quality at bats, really hitting the ball well.”
Mire moved Rochelle from the bottom of lineup to leadoff spot for the weekend’s games and he was pleased with the results. Rochelle went 5-10 and drew three walks in the Wildcats tournament wins.
West Monroe led 2-0 in the game before Destrehan stormed back. Rochelle went 2-for-4 in the game and was one of seven DHS batters to record a hit.
Mire moved Rochelle from the bottom of lineup to leadoff spot for the weekend’s games and he was pleased with the results. Rochelle went 5-10 and drew three walks in the Wildcats tournament wins.
“They pulled the outfield in kind of shallow and he got hold of one over left fielder’s head,” Mire said. “He earned that spot as our starting catcher, and he’s just been awesome offensively. He’s giving us quality at bats, really hitting the ball well.”
Clay Hurm earned the win on the mound in relief after pitching 2.2 innings of scoreless, one hit ball against West Monroe. Bryce Scioneaux started for Destrehan and went five innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He struck out six and walked six. TreQuan Gabriel also pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Destrehan beat Brother Martin in five innings, 12-2, the game ending by the 10-run rule.
Dane Simon went 2 for 4 with three RBIs for Destrehan. Peter Carmichael went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. T.J. Thomas went 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Rochelle went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Zachary Wild and Nolan Lemoine each collected two hits with an RBI each.
Lemoine went all five innings for DHS to earn the win. He allowed two earned runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Destrehan scored four first inning runs to take control of its game with Shaw, earning a 6-3 victory.
Evan Keller went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Wild drove in two runs as well.
Thomas took the win as the starting pitcher, going four innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits. He struck out five and walked two.
The team went 3-1 in all at the tournament, with a loss to Central-Baton Rouge standing as its only loss.
The Shootout performance came on the heels of a spectacular two-game pitching effort by the Wildcats, as Landon Marceaux and Thomas pitched back-to-back no hitters.
Marceaux, an LSU commitment, baffled St. Paul’s en route to an 11-1 win. He struck out 10 in a complete game effort. Thomas, meanwhile, held Fontainebleau without a hit in a 12-0 victory. The sophomore was making just his second career start, striking out three in the no-hit effort.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Mire said. “A no-hitter, sure, though they’re rare. To have two in a season, and to have two in one weekend and in back-to-back games at that, it’s… definitely a first for me.
“Landon was coming off a disappointing outing for him against Dutchtown, and he was really focused.
“It was one of the better outings I’ve seen from him, right up there with the Denham Springs playoff win. He just really controlled the game from start to finish. Then, with T.J., it’s a young guy making just his second start and he just filled up the strike zone. He made Fontainebleau put the ball in play and our defense played well behind him.”
Fresh off of a 9-1 victory over Central Catholic on Tuesday, Destrehan will compete in the Gerald Oubre Memorial Tournament (hosted at at Hahnville and Destrehan). DHS kicks things off today at 4 p.m. as it hosts Hammond. On Friday, Destrehan hosts Brother Martin, while on Saturday, Destrehan will host Jesuit at 11:30 p.m. and Holy Cross at 2:30 p.m.
Then, on Tuesday, Destrehan hosts rival Hahnville in the District 7-5A opener for both teams.
“We respect them a great deal,” Mire said. “I think both programs really respect one another and kind of understand, whether we win or lose that game, it doesn’t determine your season.
“But of course, you want to win. It’s always important when playing against your rival. I think we understand it’s going to be a difficult, hard-fought game. Bigger picture, it’s more about trying to accumulate as many wins as possible and get those power points, with an eye on the playoffs.”
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