Jerry Froeba / L’Observateur / July 6, 1998

LAPLACE – Cretin Homes combined the pitching of John Price and Courtney Bonura, with timely hitting and big defensive plays in a 8-1 win over the Lutcher Dugout Club.

With the win, St. Charles-based Cretin Homes clinched first place in theeastern division of District Two. Cretin finished 13-4 overall and 10-4 inDistrict 2.

Starting pitchers John Price of Cretin and Jared Babin of Lutcher shut down the hitters in the first two innings.

In the top of the first, Price retired the first two batters before Lutcher third baseman Troy Haydel doubled. Price ended the threat getting thethird out on a pop up to third baseman Brandon Laiche.

Babin gave up a leadoff single to Ty Monica in the bottom of the inning but came back to get the next two outs on harmless fly balls. Monica stolesecond to put a runner in scoring position, but Babin got out of the inning on a routine ground ball.

Price got himself into a little trouble in the top of the second, giving up two walks putting runners on first and third with two outs. Price gothimself out of trouble with his second strikeout of the inning.

After retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the second, Babin got into a little trouble when, after a walk to Matt Weber, Laiche’s liner to right was misplayed putting runners on second and third with two out. Babin worked out of trouble getting the third out on an infield fly.Cretin came up with a big defensive play in the top of the third to help Price get out of the inning without any damage. After singles bycenterfielder Wesley Louque and Trent Bourgeois, Troy Haydel moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. With runners at second and third and oneout, Damian Ursin hit a sharp grounder to third, which Steven Faucheux fielded and fired to catcher Jason Gonzales, chasing the runner back toward third. Gonzales threw back to Faucheux, who tagged the runner forthe second out.

Price got the final out of the inning on a ground ball to second baseman Nick Monica, who stepped on second for the force out.

Cretin got on the board in the bottom of the third when left fielder Wayne Stien drilled a two-run home run over the center field fence.

The defense helped Price again in the top of the fourth. After giving up asingle to lead off the inning Bonura and Nick Monica turned a double play.

Price ended the inning with his fourth strikeout of the game.

Cretin used a walk, a scrifice bunt by Jarrett Maurin, an RBI double by Ty Monica and an RBI single by Price to build the lead to 4-0 after four.

Lutcher tried to get back into the game in the top of the fifth. TheBulldogs worked Price for three walks and a single to cut the lead to 4-1.

Coach Frank Monica decided to bring in Bonura with two outs and the bases loaded. Bonura struck out the first batter he faced ending the inning.Bonura shut out the Bulldogs the rest of the way, retiring seven of the eight batters he faced.

Cretin scored three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to give them a 8- 1 lead.

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