ANDRE BURL / L’Observateur / April 28, 1999

RESERVE – A seven-run fourth helped East St. John overcome an earlydeficit and defeat Central Lafourche, 16-6, in District 6-5A play Saturday afternoon.

The victory kept the Wildcats in a position to win the district title. EastSt. John (15-12-1, 10-3) remained a game back of Hahnville (20-7, 11-2)in the district race. The Wildcats played at Thibodaux Tuesday whileHahnville played host to Terrebonne.

Central Lafourche jumped out on top in the first inning as Lee Walker led off the inning by reaching on an error. Courtesy runner Charles Folse wouldeventually come in to score on a ground out to second by Steve Bonvillian, giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead.

East St. John came back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.With one out, Roydell Williams singled up the middle against Walker, the Central Lafourche starter, and stole second.

Samson Monica then stepped in and repeated the feat, bouncing a single through the box, scoring Williams to tie the score. After Jeremy Mitchellhit into a force out, Kent Roussell drilled a double into the gap in right- center to give the Wildcats the lead at 2-1.

Central Lafourche would answer with a five-run second inning. John Toupsled off the inning with a home run off Williams, the Wildcats’ starter, to tie the score. Cory Grabert reached on an error and Andy Rister walked toput two on with none out. Blake Brown then laid down a bunt with anerrant throw scoring Grabert and putting runners at second and third.

With Mark Smith up, Rister came in on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

A walk to Smith and a strike out later, Travis Douglas grounded out to bring in Brown. Bonvillian followed with a shot to left, scoring Smith fora 6-2 Central Lafourche lead.

The Wildcats got one back in the bottom of the inning as Darwin Pittman reached on an error and scored on a double to left by Louis Gardner.

East St. John cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third. With twoouts, Mitchell drove a single up the middle. Roussell followed with a shotto center that was misplayed by Jason Stoddard, allowing Mitchell to score and sending Roussell to third. Jerome Anderson then lined a triple tothe gap in right-center, plating Roussell to make it 6-5.

The Wildcats took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. RandySutherland led off by reaching second on a throwing error. Gardner walkedand Brandon Mason beat out a bunt to load the bases with none out.

Williams followed with a double to left, scoring Sutherland and Gardner to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

After a walk by Monica, a wild pitch scored Mason and put runners at second and third with none out. A wild pitch and a ground out by Mitchellmade the score 10-6. Roussell then beat out a hit to short and stolesecond. Pittman followed with a single to center to score Roussell andcame in himself as Sutherland doubled to right-center, making it a 12-6 East St. John lead.East St. John made it a 10-run game in the fifth. Mason led off by beatingout a bunt and stealing second. After a passed ball moved Mason to third,Williams walked and stole second.

After a walk by Monica loaded the bases, Mitchell drove a single up the middle to score Mason and Williams. Monica came in on a sacrifice fly toleft by Roussell. Anderson then ripped a single through the box, driving inMitchell to give the Wildcats a 16-6 lead.

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