Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / June 29, 1998

RESERVE – Rob Bleakley’s two-run home run in the top of the six was the difference as the Lutcher Dugout Club gained its first victory of the American Legion season, 6-5, over the Riverside Extra Inning Club Wednesday afternoon.

Lutcher improved to 1-11 overall and 1-10 in Second District East with the victory. Riverside fell to 9-2 in district play and 10-4 overall.”It was way overdue,” Lutcher coach Kim LeCombe said. “They beat uspretty badly the first time and I told the players that they had nothing to lose, to go out, play hard and have fun.

“It was a big confidence booster for us. I know we are a lot better teamthan our record and today showed that.”With the score tied at 4 heading into the top of the sixth, Scott Ocmond led off with a single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Riverside starter Chris Bourgeois. After Bourgeois struck out CoyLeBlanc, Bleakley took a 1-1 fastball and launched it over the left field fence to give Lutcher a 6-4 lead.

Riverside rallied in the bottom of the inning as Keith LeBlanc led off with a walk against Lutcher starter Jared Babin. Brandon Delaneuville then hit agrounder to short to force LeBlanc and went to second as second baseman Trent Bourgeois’ throw skipped in the dirt past first.

Joey Poirrier followed with a double down the third baseline, scoring LeBlanc to cut the deficit to 6-5. But with the tying run on second, Babincame back to strike out Anson Matherne and Sean Delaneuville to preserve the lead.

After Riverside reliever Paul LaBiche retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, Casey Duhe reached on a throwing error by third baseman Troy Haydel with one out. Babin then got Seth LeBlanc to ground to shortwith Bourgeois taking Bleakley’s flip and firing to first to complete the game-ending double play.

Babin (1-3) scattered six hits in going the distance, walking five while striking out nine. Bourgeois (1-1) allowed 10 hits while walking one andstriking out four.

“It was a good game,” Riverside coach Tommy Fernandez said. “We justdidn’t win it. Both teams made excellent plays. Both teams didn’t makeplays. Their pitcher pitched an excellent game. On this day, the best teamwon.”Both teams threatened in the early innings. Riverside loaded the baseswith two outs in the bottom of the first before Babin got Dustin Duhon to line out to Bourgeois for the third out. Lutcher put runners on first andsecond with two outs in the top of the second but Bourgeois got Wesley Louque to hit into a force out to get out of the inning.

Riverside jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. Duheopened the frame by just missing a home run to center, lining a double off the top of the fence.

One out later, Ryan Rome singled to right and stole second. Babin got KeithLeBlanc to pop up to first baseman Bo Louque in foul territory, but Brandon Delaneuville came through with a two-out single to left, scoring Duhe and Rome to give Riverside a 2-0 lead.

Lutcher went ahead in the top of the third as Haydel homered to left- center with one out. After Damian Ursin just missed making it back-to-back home runs by flying out deep to left, Louque doubled to right-center.

Bourgeois followed with a triple over Seth LeBlanc’s head in center, scoring Louque, and came in to score on a wild pitch by Chris Bourgeois to give Lutcher a 3-2 lead.

Riverside regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Matherne led off with a walk and went to third on Babin’s throwing error on Sean Delaneuville’s bunt.

Duhon followed with a grounder to Bleakley whose throw to second for the force out went past the bag, scoring Matherne and sending Delaneuville to third. Riverside then executed a double steal with Delaneuville coming into score on the throw to second, giving Riverside a 4-3 advantage.

Lutcher tied the score in the fourth as Coy LeBlanc open the inning with a single to right and went to third as Bleakley beat out a bunt. One out later,LeBlanc crossed the plate as Jeremy Martin grounded out to third.

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