The Destrehan Wildcats got a little revenge this week when they knocked off Dutchtown to open district play.
The Griffins and the Wildcats were co-champs of 6-5A in 2009, and faced off four times in the regular season, which included a district playoff.
Dutchtown beat Destrehan in three of those four meetings and eliminated the Wildcats from the playoffs with a 5-3 victory.
Heading into their first district game, Destrehan has had mixed results in their last four games, going 2-2 during that stretch.
But just like they did last year, the Wildcats turn into a different team when they reach district.
Kurt McCune pitched a complete game for the winning Wildcats and Sam Carriere delivered the big blow, a three-run double in the fourth.
It was the epitome of a team win. Nine Destrehan players had one hit each, six different players scored, and five different players drove in runs. The Wildcats used a sacrifice fly, a sacrifice bunt, and several stolen bases to their advantage.
Dutchtown scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Jesse Buratt walked, advanced to third on a two-base throwing error on a pick-off attempt by McCune, and scored on Matt Willis’ sacrifice fly.
With two outs, the Griffins threatened with runners at second and third, but McCune fanned Brandon Ballard to end the inning.
Destrehan scored two runs in the third to take a brief 2-1 lead. Carriere reached on a fielder’s choice after Scott Stonestreet’s lead-off single. Dylan Lucich got the visitors on the scoreboard with an RBI triple into the right field corner. Matt Smith’s sacrifice fly drove Lucich home.
One of the turning points of the game was in the bottom of the third when Dutchtown loaded the bases with only one out and one run already in. However, McCune worked out of the jam.
Jacob Williams and Troy Lewis began the inning with a double and a single, respectively. One out later, Jesse Buratt walked to load the bases. Williams scored on Matt Willis’ line single to left, just out of the reach of Carriere. McCune beared down to strike out Eric Babin and Leon Blouin to avert further damage.
Destrehan took the lead for good with a three-run fourth. After Zack Schnexnaydre singled and Devin Damare walked, Brett Hebert advanced the runners to third and second with a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Scott Stonestreet drew a full count walk before Carriere greeted Griffin relief pitcher Chris Boutwell with a three-run double to left-center.
Dutchtown added one run in its half of the fourth on a Ballard single, Williams double, and Lewis sacrifice fly.
Destrehan extended its lead to 8-3 in the fifth with another three-run inning. McCune singled and Schnexnaydre was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Cameron Quigley ripped a run-producing single to left, scoring McCune’s courtesy runner, Jace Weber.
One out later, the Wildcats executed a double steal, with Schexnaydre taking third and Jesse Bryant, Quigley’s courtesy runner, moving to second. Schexnaydre scored on an RBI single by Ryan Burks. Bryant then took home when Griffin catcher Steven Bright made a throw to second on Burks’ steal attempt.
Dutchtown scored its final run in the seventh on Williams’ triple, his third extra base hit of the day, and a ground ball out.
McCune (4-3) allowed eight hits and struck out nine batters while walking only two.
Jacob Waguespack (1-1) took the loss for Dutchtown, now 16-5 overall.
Destrehan (10-9, 1-0) hosts Hahnville Thursday, March 25.
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