Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / June 17, 1998

KENNER – John Price pitched a complete game and had a two-run home run to lead Cretin Homes to a 4-3 Second District East victory over Grillot Construction Saturday afternoon at Bonnabel High School.

St. Charles Catholic-based Cretin Homes improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1in district play while Grillot Construction, consisting of players from Ridgewood and St. Martin’s, fell to 3-2 overall and 3-2 in district.Nick Monica led off the game by reaching on an error by shortstop Steven Rowell and advancing to second as Ty Monica walked. Grillot starter NickPappas came back to strike out Price and Wayne Stein before Jason Gonzales delivered a shot past third baseman Keith Champagne to score Monica.

Grillot Construction bounced back to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Champagne led off with a walk, went to second on a wild pitch,advanced to third on Rowell’s single to left and scored as Jody Vidrine grounded to short to force Rowell. After Vidrine went to second on a wildpitch, Price got Pappas to ground out to Steven Faucheux at third to get out of the inning.

Price would cruise through the middle innings, allowing only a two-out walk to David Peterson in the second and a lead-off double by Champagne in the third. That hit would be negated as Gonzales threw out Gonzalestrying to go to third on a pitch in the dirt.

Cretin Homes threatened with two out in the second, loading the bases as Courtney Bonura and Ty Monica walked and Nick Monica reached on an error.

Price then hit Pappas’ first pitch deep over the left field fence foul before grounding out to first to end the inning.

Cretin Homes broke through for a run in the top of the fourth. CourtneyBonura opened the frame with a single to left and was sacrificed to second by Nick Monica. Ty Monica then lofted a fly ball down the left fieldline that fell in for a double, putting runners at second and third with one out. Price followed with a fly ball to center, scoring Bonura to give CretinHomes a 2-1 lead.

Cretin Homes would get some breathing room in the top of the sixth. Withone out, Ty Monica singled to third and advanced to third on an errant throw by Champagne. Price followed with a drive into the trees behind theleft-center field fence, increasing the lead to 4-1.

Those runs would prove pivotal as Grillot rallied in the bottom of the inning. Champagne led off with a single to left and was forced at secondby Bucky Kase. A single by Rowell and a ground out by Vidrine put runnersat second and third with two outs. Pappas then lined a double into the leftfield corner, scoring Kase and Rowell and cutting the deficit to 4-3. Aftera visit to the mound by Cretin Homes coach Frank Monica, Price got Strahan to fly out to center to end the inning.

Grillot threatened again in the seventh. With one out, Peterson walked andadvanced to third on a passed ball and a ground out by Jason Lisotta. ButPrice came back to strike out Champagne on a curve ball to preserve the victory.

Price improved to 2-0 with the victory, allowing five hits while striking out eight and walking three. Pappas (1-1) also went the distance, allowingseven hits while striking out 10 and walking three.

“We beat an excellent ballclub today,” Monica said. “They will becontender in district. They got an excellent pitching performance fromNick and he kept us off-balanced most of the day.

“John came up with the big pitch at the end. I told them win you win a onerun game, it means that you are doing something right and that you are lucky.”

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