Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / July 15, 1998

KENNER – Kevin Munster hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth and Adam Gibbs made it stand up by wiggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh as Superior Energy Services eliminated the Riverside Extra Inning Club from the American Legion Second District East tournament with a 5- 4 victory Friday evening at Bonnabel High School.

Superior Energy Services (14-12) placed second in the tournament after losing to Schaff Brothers, 10-0, in the championship game Sunday night and will advance to the Southeast Louisiana tournament held in New Orleans. The Riverside Extra Inning Club ended its season at 10-10.Riverside trailed by one heading into the seventh but Ryan Rome reached on an error by shortstop Ray Dees to open the inning. Joey Poirrierfollowed with a double to right that just missed going out, hitting high off the wall as Rome advanced to third.

After Sean Delaneuville grounded to first with the runners holding, Riverside caught a bad break as Gibbs’ second pitch to Brandon Delaneuville sailed to the backstop but rebounded back to catcher Jeremy Dartez. Delaneuville then walked to load the bases.Seth LeBlanc followed with a foul pop up that first baseman Bryon Moorhouse reached back for near the first base dugout. Gibbs then gotChris Bourgeois to ground to second baseman Todd Hibbs who stepped on the bag for the force out to end the game.

Superior had grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Munster lofted a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall with one out against Bourgeois who had come in to relieve starter Casey Duhe at the beginning of the inning.

One out later, Moorhouse and Hibbs singled, but Bourgeois got out of further trouble by getting Nick Settoon to ground out to second.

The game looked to be a high-scoring affair in the early innings. KeithLeBlanc opened the game for Riverside by drawing a walk, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Anson Matherne and scoring on a single to center by Rome.

After Poirrier singled to right, Sean Delaneuville lined a single to left.

Rome scored but Poirrier was out going to third as third baseman Norman Corass cut off the throw from Munster and reached back to make the tag.

Riverside increased its lead to 3-0 in the second inning as Bourgeois doubled to right field and scored as Dustin Duhon reached on an error by Hibbs with one out. After Keith LeBlanc walked, Gibbs threw a pitch pastDartez with Matherne at the plate. The ball deflected off the back stopright back to Dartez who threw down to third to get courtesy runner Seth LeBlanc. Gibbs then struck out Matherne to get out of the jam. Superior rallied in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, 4-3. Dartezlegged out an infield single and Corass walked to open the inning against Duhe. After the runners were moved along by a bunt by Dees, Robbie Allenflied out to center. Courtesy runner Matt Torrance scored and Corass camein as Poirrier’s throw to the plate sailed past Duhon.

After a single by Kevin Munster, Kirk Munster doubled to left field on a hit and run to tie the score. Kirk Munster then scored as Joey Gaithrightdoubled into the left field corner.

Superior threatened to add to its lead in the third as Dartez walked and Corass doubled to left with one out. One out later, Allen hit a long drive toleft that Damian Melancon shagged down at the fence.

Riverside tied the score in the fifth as Poirrier singled and stole second with one out. One out later, Brandon Delaneuville delivered a double intoleft-center field, scoring Poirrier with the tying run.

Seth LeBlanc followed with a single to left with Kevin Munster making a strong throw to keep the runner at third. Gibbs then got out of the inningby getting Bourgeois to hit into a force out at short.

Gibbs (1-2) went the distance, allowing eight hits and five walks while striking out four. Duhe went five innings, giving up six hits while walkingthree and striking out five.

Poirrier was the top hitter for Riverside with three hits in four trips to the plate. Kevin Munster and Gaithright each had two hits for Superior.The game was the final one for longtime Riverside coach Tommy Fernandez who is retiring. Fernandez said he was proud of the way the team playedand that he has been in the game long enough to know you are going to have one of those nights.

“I told the players, that if the rest of the lives they play like they did tonight, they are going to win more than they lose,” Fernandez said. “Iknow there are games when you are going to play well and win and those that you are going to play well and not win.”

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