Heading into the top of the seventh last Thursday at St. Amant, the Tigers needed at least a run to take the lead and definitely needed the win to make the playoffs.
They got both – and more.
Eighteenth-seeded Hahnville blasted three solo home runs, led by senior Seppe Crovetto’s shot on a 3-2 pitch, in the seventh to win 8-5, securing third place in the 6-5A. The Tigers will travel to 15th-seeded Ruston today for the bi-district round of the playoffs.
“It is a good feeling to get in and get a good draw. Every game from here on out is going to be tough, but once you’re in the tournament, you take it one game at a time,” head coach Kade Rogers said.
Against St. Amant, Crovetto led the offensive attack with a home run and three RBIs. Seniors Dillon Boudreaux and John Gomez each had a home run and two RBIs. Sophomore Jared Harrell went three-for-three with two doubles and a RBI.
Senior Jordan Unger got the win as the Tigers scored twice in the first and fourth innings, once in the fifth before tacking on three in the seventh.
Rogers said today’s road trip will be a test of his team’s playoff focus.
“I think that our kids are relaxed and excited to get in,” he said. “We told them yesterday that they shouldn’t be happy with just being in the playoffs. We have to be sharp in all phases of our game, and we have got to become the scrappy team that we were in the West Monroe tournament.”
During that early March tournament, held at Ruston’s field, the Tigers were 4-0 defeating Baton Rouge Catholic 5-4, West Ouachita 2-1, DeRidder 14-13 and Captain Shreve 5-4. The Tigers came back in the final innings to win three of the four contests. Rogers said Hahnville’s play was perhaps the best of the season, and he said he hopes his team can return to its businesslike approach of early March.
“We have to be focused when we get on the bus. We can’t look at this like we’re getting a charter bus, and we’re going to have fun. Fun is when you’re dog piling on May 16,” Rogers said.
Crovetto echoed his coach’s comments.
“We definitely can’t look ahead because once you’re in the playoffs, if you lose, you go home. We’re excited to be in, and we don’t care where we’re seeded because anything can happen,” he said.
“We just need to come out and play like we did at the beginning of the year because there is no doubt in my mind that no one can beat us if we play like that.”
The Tigers (17-16, 7-8 6-5A) match up well with Ruston (20-12, 9-3 2-5A), Rogers said.
“We’re both the same type of team. Once you get into the playoffs, you never know how kids are going to react, which is the fun and scary part,” he said.
As for the keys to winning in May, senior pitcher and first baseman Ryan Waters said it starts at the plate.
“We’re starting to come around with our bats, and we’re playing pretty good defense. We just need to come out to practice every day and work our butts off,” he said.
That lunch pail attitude is shared by senior catcher Buddy Trauth.
“We feel like we have a lot of momentum heading into the playoffs. A lot of our key hitters are swinging the bats well,” he said, adding the team is comfortable in Ruston.
“A road trip is always a good thing because you get to relax a little bit. You get to bond with your teammates, and then go out and do what you love to do.”
If the Tigers win today, they will host the winner of No. 2 Dutchtown verses No. 31 Assumption. The Tigers defeated the Griffins at Hahnville 4-3 on March 31, handing the co-district champions one of just two 6-5A defeats.
“We have to play our game because if we play our game, we’re going to win,” Trauth said.
“We have to stay within ourselves and get timely hits especially with runners on third and play good defense as always. We know what we need to do to win.”
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