Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / July 15, 1998

KENNER – Superior Energy Services scored in four of the first five innings and then held off a late home run barrage by Cretin Homes for an 8-4 victory in the American Legion Second District East tournament Sunday afternoon at Bonnabel High School.

Archbishop Rummel-based Schaff Brothers won its sixth consecutive district tournament title by defeating Superior Energy Services, 10-0, Sunday night and advanced to the Southeast Louisiana Tournament at Kirsch Rooney Stadium in New Orleans.

Superior, 14-12, also advances to the regional tournament by finishing second in the district tournament. Cretin Homes, which had won the RiverParishes division during the American Legion season, finished its season at 16-6.

Superior opened the scoring in the top of the first as Joey Gaithright led off by reaching on an error by first baseman Brandon Laiche, stole second, went to third on a throwing error by catcher Jason Gonzales and scored as shortstop Courtney Bonura threw out Todd Hibbs after fielding his chopper over the mound. Second baseman Nick Monica followed with anotherdefensive gem, going behind second base on Nick Settoon’s grounder.

Superior added a run in the second against Cretin Homes starter John Price. After Norman Corass led off with a single, Ray Dees hit into a forceout and stole second. After Kevin Munster grounded out and Kurt Munsterwalked, Bryon Moorhouse struck out on a pitch in the dirt but Gonzales’ throw to first went into right field, scoring Dees to make it 2-0.

Cretin Homes threatened in the third, loading the bases with two outs on a hit by pitch by Bonura, a single by Laiche and a walk by Ty Monica. ButSuperior starter Steven Bunford got Price to ground out to Corass at third to end the inning.

Superior tacked on two runs in the fourth as Kevin Munster reached after forcing out Dees who had opened the inning with a single. A single by KirkMunster and a walk by Moorhouse loaded the bases with one out. An errorby Bonura and a walk by Hibbs brought in two runs to give Superior a 4-0 lead.

Cretin Homes again threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases as Jason Gonzales lined a single to left, Steven Faucheux walked and Bonura reached on an error by Corass.

Matt Weber followed with a fly ball to center with Settoon making a strong throw to the plate to keep the runner from scoring. Bunford thengot Laiche to fly out to right to end the threat.

Superior broke the game open with three runs in the fifth. Corass singledand Dees walked to open the inning against Bonura who had come in to relieve Price. After Bonura struck out both Kevin and Kirk Munster,Moorhouse bounced a single over third to score both runners. Following asingle by Gaithright, Hibbs doubled to left field, scoring Moorhouse to give Superior a 7-0 lead.

Cretin Homes got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as Price singled with two outs and Wayne Stein followed with a home run over the center field fence. Superior got one of those runs back in the seventh asJoey Gaithright singled to center with two outs, stole second, and scored on an error.

Cretin Homes rallied in the bottom of the inning as Jarrett Maurin led off with a home run inside the left field foul pole. Two outs later, Price lineda shot over the left field fence, cutting the deficit to 8-4. Bunford thengot Stein to fly out to center to end the contest.

Gaithright and Corass each had two hits to lead Superior. Price added twohits for Cretin Homes in four trips to the plate.

“My emotions are on a roller coaster right now,” Cretin Homes coach Frank Monica said. “I am proud of the way we played hard this summer. We had agood summer. I am disappointed in the way we ended it. We didn’t playwell during the tournament. Our goal was to reach the next tournament.But we won first place in our bracket. Being able to compete biggerschools and holding on says a lot for you.”Cretin Homes advanced to Sunday’s game with an 8-6 victory over River Ridge Chiropractic and Dental Care Saturday night. Ty Monica had an RBIdouble in the first and Bonura launched a solo home run in the second to stake Cretin Homes to a 3-1 lead.

After River Ridge pulled to within 4-3 in the fourth, Jason Gonzales came up with a clutch two-out, bases-loaded double to drive in three runs.

Gonzales finished the day with three hits in four at-bats.

Bonura came in the fourth to save the victory for Laiche, pitching the final 3 1/3 innings.

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