Destrehan’s senior day was a success Tuesday as the Wildcats powered past visiting East St. John 9-1 in District 8-5A play.
Bennett McNamara and Payton Stubbs each led the way at the plate for the Wildcats. Stubbs went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while McNamara went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Stubbs, Chase Mire, Spencer Srubar and Landon Robin each doubled, while Stubbs recorded a triple as well.
John Rhodes threw three almost spotless innings on the way to the win, allowing no runs or hits and just one walk. He struck out three. Jason Anderson struck out four in four innings of relief and allowed one run on two hits, walking none.
Jack Conravey got Destrehan started, driving in McNamara in the second inning to make it 1-0.
Destrehan broke loose in the third inning to take complete control, scoring six runs in an inning dominated by the Wildcats’ baserunning – on the day, Destrehan stole 11 bases, including three by McNamara and two each by Will Muller and Larry Rodrigue. Stubbs’ RBI triple highlighted the big inning.
“I think we were a bit overanxious in the first couple of innings,” said Destrehan head coach Chris Mire. “We just got some guys on base and got our running game going, hit some balls hard … it’s kind of the same mindset we have any game -figure out what you’re able to do to attack the other team. We took what they allowed us to do and it worked out in our favor.”
He was also pleased with the big days by Stubbs and McNamara.
“Yeah, I thought they both had really good at bats. I thought Stubbs in his first at bat was a little anxious and tried to go out and get it a little bit. And then from there he did what he always does – hit the ball hard and get extra base hits. Bennett hit a few hard line drives to the middle to set things up, and that’s what he does, that’s his game.”
Following a hot start, Destrehan fell into a slump of six losses in seven games. The Wildcats have bounced back from that, however – the win over ESJ was Destrehan’s fourth straight, including wins over Bourgeois, Central Lafourche and Haynes Academy. The streak moved Destrehan to 17-10 overall. DHS has a 3-1 mark in district play.
“We went through a frustrating part of the season. We played some good opponents, there’ a lot of factors, but the most disappointing part for us was that we didn’t play defense the way we’re capable of playing,” Chris Mire said. “We felt we let some winnable games get away from us because we didn’t play the game at a high enough level … we’ve been playing clean defense again, pitching the ball well and making it hard for teams to score and put up big innings on us. We’ve been able to get back to the basics and making the other team earn things.”
Chase Marcotte earned the win on the mound in Destrehan’s 3-0 district win over Bourgeois, going six shutout innings and striking out seven. He allowed five hits and walked none. Brady Carter pitched a scoreless inning in relief for the save, striking out two.
Conravey scored on an error on a ball hit by Benjamin LaPlace in the second inning to give DHS the lead. Conravey repeated that feat in the fourth, scoring on an error following his steal of third base. McNamara scored on a passed ball.
Destrehan’s bats came alive with 16 runs over the next two games, including its 8-1 district win over Central Lafourche. Chase Mire went 3-for-3 with two doubles to lead the way, driving in two runs. McNamara went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Marcotte, Stubbs and Muller each doubled.
Muller struck out 11 on the mound on his way to the win. He went 5.2 innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits and two walks. Conravey pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Destrehan sat at No. 17 in Division I non-select power points, meaning the Wildcats have a chance to make a push to earn at least the first round at home.
The Wildcats have upcoming games at Terrebonne Saturday and South Lafourche Monday before a big two-game showdown with Hahnville – at Hahnville at 4 p.m. Tuesday then back at Destrehan at 4 p.m. Thursday.
