Destrehan has regrouped after a recent two-game skid, and the Wildcats have a chance to secure the outright District 7-5A title today with a win over H.L. Bourgeois. Though DHS (22-7, 10-1) will be on their home field for the district deciding clash and by record is a significant favorite, the Braves (11-17, 4-6) have already left their imprint on the district race. Bourgeois’ win over Hahnville earlier this season represents the one-game difference currently between the first place Wildcats and second place Tigers, who split their games this season.
The Braves also threatened to beat Destrehan in the first matchup between the teams, a 1-0 Wildcats road win on March 31.
“They played us down to the last out in the first game,” Destrehan coach Chris Mire said. “They don’t beat themselves and they compete for every inning.”
Mire said that while many downplay the importance of a district championship in an era where power points decide seeding, he said it has always remained a goal for his team.
“We take pride in it,” Mire said. “It’s something we want and we’ve got a chance to get it done against H.L. Bourgeois.”
After that, the Wildcats will have one game remaining, a matchup with Parkview Baptist Friday.
The perennial 3A contender and multitime champion Eagles should provide a good test just before the playoffs.
Mire said that wins in each of their final two games could be the difference between the Wildcats finishing within the top eight seeded teams in the postseason. The top eight earn home field advantage in the first and likely the second round as well.
“We actually have a lot to play for right now,” Mire said.
DHS all but eliminated Central Lafourche from district championship contention Friday, scoring a 2-0 road victory on the back of a shutout performance by Landon Marceaux.
Marceaux, an LSU committed sophomore right-hander, pitched a complete game one-hitter, striking out eight and walking two.
Destrehan scored both of its runs in the second inning on a two-RBI single by Andrew Morrow. Dane Simon also went 2-for-3 for Destrehan.
It was the second one-hitter of the season for Marceaux, who has a 0.00 ERA in district play with three wins and two saves.
“He’s going out there each time and proving he’s an elite player,” Mire said. “He’s the real deal.”
DESTREHAN 11, EAST ST. JOHN 3—Evan Keller went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs to pace Destrehan in a District 7-5A road victory over East St. John.
Brandon Wild went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Kohen Granier went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Brandon Robichaux went 2-fof-5 with two RBIs. Miles Patureau went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
Brennan Cortez earned the win, going five innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked four.
While Destrehan suffered a two-game losing streak at the hands of Hahnville and E.D. White early this month, the Wildcats have hardly let it derail them. DHS has won its past three games and have posted 10 wins in their past 12 games to remain in the lead in District 7-5A.
HAHNVILLE FINISHING STRONG
When the postseason begins to enter a team’s view in April, most baseball coaches would like to see their teams both piling up wins and showing their mettle in clutch situations.
Hahnville coach David Baudry has seen his team come through in both departments. The Tigers won two District 7-5A games via big at-bats in the sixth and seventh innings to stay in the hunt for the district championship.
The Tigers (22-8) have won five of their past six games. The team has played in four games that have gone to 10 innings or more this season. The Tigers have gone 7-4 in games decided by two runs or less.
“The good thing is you’re seeing guys rise to the occasion when they’re called upon,” Baudry said. “When you play in the number of close games we have, games decided late, you get used to it. You know what to expect and what you have to get done when those situations arise.”
While Baudry said the Tigers are steadily making strides offensively, the area the team has truly shown to be special comes on the mound. The Tigers have allowed no more than three runs in any of their past 10 games, a stretch dating back to March 24. The team’s one-two punch atop the rotation, Austin Perrin and Bryce Hargis, have allowed no earned runs over their past 29 combined innings, a stretch involving starts against Destrehan, Sulphur and two against Central Lafourche.
Baudry knows those two atop his rotation will make his team a difficult postseason out, especially in a 2-out-of-3 series format. But the coach was quick to credit the rest of his staff as well, pointing out recent strong performances by young starters in sophomore Matt Champagne and freshman Joey Saucier.
The Tigers’ defensive play, too, has stood out.
“You don’t give up so few runs and not be playing well defensively,” Baudry said. “That’s been an area of strength for us.”
Most recently, Perrin tossed a three-hit shutout, struck out seven and walked one to outduel Central Lafourche’s pitching duo of Brandin Babin and Devin Delaune, who combined to allow four hits as Hahnville edged Central Lafourche at home Saturday, 1-0.
Hargis’ sixth inning RBI single stood as the game’s lone run. He went 2-for-2 in the game.
Perrin’s double to lead off the sixth inning set up the run, while his pitching throughout the afternoon stood large in the win. It was also a strong day for the Tigers defensively, as Hahnville committed no errors.
Last Thursday. East St. John threatened to pull a big upset after taking a 3-2 lead headed into the seventh inning, but Hahnville pushed five runs across on the seventh to secure the victory.
Peyton Keller’s two-RBI double highlighted that seventh inning surge.
Perrin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Mason Candies drove in three runs. Hunter LeBlanc also drove in a run.
Lloyd Landry earned the win in relief, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three hits one unearned run. He struck out two and walked none. Joey Saucier started and allowed two runs over four innings.
“East St. John had made no errors before the seventh inning,” Baudry said. “They walked no one. They played very well and we had to try and manufacture (runs) because they gave us nothing free. It was a well-played, well-pitched game on both sides.”
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