Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / April 6, 1998

RESERVE – In a roller coaster of a game, Hahnville reached the summit as the ride ended, defeating East St. John, 8-7, in District 6-5A playThursday afternoon.

Hahnville moved into a second place tie with the Wildcats in the district standings at 3-2. The Tigers improved to 9-3 overall, while the Wildcatsfell to 8-10.

The Tigers grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Mike Roger led off bygetting hit by a pitch from East St. John starter James Brock and wassacrificed to second by Brandon Kelly before Kade Rogers walked. TommyTheriot then launched a 1-0 pitch by Brock over the left-center field fence to give the Tigers the lead.

Hahnville added a run in the top of the second as Lane Troxler started the inning with walk. Chris Toups then laid down a bunt to third base withTroxler going all the way to third on the play. Roger following with alooping single over second, giving the Tigers a 4-0 cushion.

The Wildcats would begin to chip into that lead in the bottom of the third against Hahnville starter Joby Hogan. Roydell Williams led off with asingle into left field, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.

Jeremy Mitchell then popped a single in front of Rogers charging in from left field with Williams scoring just ahead of Rogers’ throw to the plate.

After Kerry Watkins walked, Samson Monica lined a single to center. Rogeroverran the ball, allowing Mitchell and Watkins to score to make it 4-3 and sending Monica to second.

Seraphiane Martin followed with a grounder to Kelly at second who tossed to first for the out. Dewey Matherne then fired across the diamond to tryto get Monica who had slipped rounding third. Theriot chased Monicatoward the plate before tossing to catcher Chris Hawkins. Monica tried tojar the ball loose and was ejected for running over the catcher.

The Wildcats went ahead in the following inning as Brock and Kent Roussel led off with doubles, the latter scoring courtesy runner Malcolm Toney.

After a fly ball to center by Jerome Anderson sent Roussel to third, Williams brought him in with a single to left. The Wildcats then loaded thebases on walks by Watkins and Billy Williams with Martin bringing in Roydell Williams with a single to short, making the score 6-4.

It was the Tigers’ turn to rally as a hard rain began to fall in the top of the fifth. Roger led off with a walk and stole second, scoring as Rogerslined a single into center.

Theriot followed with a walk and both runners moved up as Matherne struck out on a pitch in the dirt. Eric Rosnic then grounded to third. Martincharged the grounder, but could not get a grip on the wet ball and his throw sailed past first as Rogers and Theriot scored to make it 7-6 Hahnville.

The Tigers would build their lead to 8-6 in the top of the sixth as Roger reached on a force out, stole second and scored on a single to left by Kelly.

East St. John would get that run back in the bottom of the frame asMitchell singled off Hogan’s leg to lead off the inning.

Matherne came in to relieve Hogan and after striking out Watkins, hit Williams with a pitch. After both runners moved up a base, Martin hit a flyball to center to score Mitchell and sending Williams to third. The Tigersappealed at second and Williams was ruled out for leaving the bag early, ending the inning with Hahnville still up, 8-7. Matherne then retired theside in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.

“You have to give East St. John credit,” Hahnville coach Britt Oubre said.”They come ready to play every game and are never out of it. It was an upand down game. It wasn’t a well-played baseball game but it was a hard-fought baseball game.”Hogan (2-2) pitched five innings, giving up 11 hits while striking out four and walking four in picking up the victory. Brock (2-3) went the distance,allowing six hits while striking out four and walking four.

“We lost it in the first inning,” East St. John coach David Guillot said. “Webeen playing hard but we got down early. We left too many guys on base(seven) and that hurt us.”

Return To News Stories