MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / June 3, 2000

River Parish teams again enjoyed success on the baseball diamond in 2000. Lutcher and Hahnville both captured district titles and, along withDestrehan, Riverside, Reserve Christian and St. Charles Catholic, made itto the state playoffs. Hahnville, behind River Parishes MVP Erik Donnaudand Coach of the Year Mark Sims, advanced to the Class 5A state tournament in New Iberia.

Erik Donnaud Senior Pitcher Hahnville Most Valuable Player

Donnaud came up big time and time again for the Tigers in 2000, whether it was at the plate or on the mound.

Donnaud was named the District 7-5A MVP after helping the Tigers capture their second straight district title. He batted .370 with a team-high 11 home runs and 44 runs batted in. On the mound, the senior went 7-2 with a 1.99 earned run average. He especially shone in district, allowingjust one earned run while compiling a .35 ERA. Against Destrehan in theDistrict 7-5A championship game, Donnaud went deep twice, driving in six runs.

“We had a good season,” Donnaud said. “We had a lot of fun and a lot ofgood memories.” Hahnville coach Mark Sims said a lot of those good memories were because of Donnaud.

“He was an outstanding competitor,” Sims said. “He had a great season atthe plate and pitching. We knew whether he was pitching or at the plate,good things were going to happen and he came through for us. Without ErikDonnaud, there was no way Hahnville would have made it to the state tournament.”

Mark Sims Hahnville Coach of the Year

Sims had quite an act to follow. After all, former coach Britt Oubre hadled the Tigers to a district title and the state regionals before leaving for Louisiana-Lafayette.

Sims followed that and more. Having come from one successful program inWest Monroe, he kept up the winning tradition at Hahnville. The Tigersdefeated cross-parish rival Destrehan for the District 7-5A title, making it back to the playoffs. A 1-0 victory over perennial power Catholic ofBaton Rouge sent the Tigers to the state tournament in New Iberia. There,the Tigers held Covington scoreless for five innings before falling, 5-0, to finish 23-8 on the season.

Paul Labiche Junior Pitcher Reserve Christian

Labiche was Reserve Christian’s MVP in 2000 and was the team’s best all- around player. He was moved around during the season, playing everyposition, but shone brightest on the mound where he went 6-2 with an ERA of 1.97 and 98 strikeouts in 42 innings. At the plate, the all-District 12-Bselection batted .275 with four home runs and 11 RBIs. Jason LaPorte Senior Pitcher St. Charles Catholic

LaPorte was the leading pitcher on a solid Comets staff. The senior wasnamed all-District 9-3A first team after going 6-2 with a 1.89 ERA and67 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Bo Louque Senior Pitcher Lutcher

Louque had another outstanding season on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2000. The all-District 9-3A first team selection, Louque went 5-1 with a1.75 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Craig Naquin Senior Pitcher Destrehan

Naquin had a hand in a number of wins for the Wildcats in 2000. The seniorfirst-team all-District 7-5A selection went 7-1 on the season with a 2.98 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings.

Brian Risinger Senior Pitcher Hahnville

Risinger teamed with Donnaud to give the Tigers one of the best pitching staffs around. A competitor, the senior went 9-2 in 2000 with a 2.15 ERAand 79 strikeouts. Risinger blanked Catholic of Baton Rouge on two hits inthe state regionals then came back to hold Covington scoreless for five innings in the quarterfinals.

Damian Ursin Senior Pitcher Lutcher

Ursin combined with Louque and Matt Roussel to give the Bulldogs perhaps the best pitching staff in the district. An excellent athlete in all aspects,whether it be at the plate, on the mound or in the field. He batted .324with two home runs, eight doubles and 24 RBIs in being named to the all- District 9-3A first team. On the mound, he went 10-1 with a 2.47 ERA amd65 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.

Dustin Deslattes Junior Catcher Lutcher

Deslattes will be one of only two returning starters next year for the Bulldogs and will be looked upon to provide leadership. He stepped up as ajunior, earning first team all-district honors after batting .333 with twohome runs and 14 RBIs.

Chris Hawkins Senior Catcher Hahnville

Hawkins was solid both behind and at the plate for the Tigers this past season. The senior catcher was named to the all-District 7-5A team afterbatting .404 in the regular season with four home runs and 20 RBIs.

Tie Reese Senior Catcher East St. John

Reese came to the field ready to play every game. A competitor, coachNick Mitchell said with two strikes on him, you knew Reese would battle.

The senior all-district selection batted .397 in 2000 with 29 hits and 27RBIs.

Mike Catalano Senior Infielder Destrehan

Catalano combined a solid bat with a solid glove at third base for the Wildcats. The first-team all-District 7-5A selection batted .365 with sixdoubles and 26 runs scored.

Rusty Crosslin Senior Infielder Lutcher

Crosslin put up some impressive numbers for the Bulldogs in 2000 in being named the District 9-3A MVP. He batted .421 with four home runs, fivestolen bases and 18 RBIs at the plate and was 7-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 53strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings on the mound. But what impressed coachScott Tribble the most about his second baseman was his work ethic as Crosslin worked his way up to being one of then team leaders in his senior season.

Sean Delaneuville Junior Infielder Riverside

Delaneuville was one of the top hitters on the Rebels’ squad and was recently selected as the team’s MVP. He was an all-District 9-2Aselection in 2000.

Brandon Mason Junior Infielder East St. John

Mason kept playing hard no matter what the score was. He providedleadership at shortstop, helping out a young Wildcat team. At the plate, hebatted .307 with 26 stolen bases and a .505 on-base percentage.

Nick Monica Senior Infielder St. Charles Catholic

Monica helped the Comets advance to the state quarterfinals in 2000. Anall-District 9-3A selection as a utility player, Monica batted .333 with 23RBIs in his senior year.

Risley St. GermainJunior Infielder Lutcher

Along with Deslattes, St. Germain will be one of the players the youngBulldogs will be counting on next season to provide leadership. As ajunior, the first-team all-District 9-3A first baseman batted .333 withseven home runs, 30 RBIs and 23 runs scored.

Bo Bourgeois Utility St. James

Bourgeois was a big reason for the Wildcats’ steady improvement in 2000.

The senior was an all-District 9-3A first team selection as an outfielder this past season.

Darnell Fleming Senior Outfielder West St. John

Fleming was one of the most versatile players on the Rams’ squad, playing wherever needed. He led the team in hitting and RBIs in 2000 and wasnamed to the all-District 9-2A first team, becoming the first Ram so honored since 1991.

Mike Mustian Junior Outfielder St. Charles Catholic

Mustian started for the first time in the outfield in 2000 and immediately stepped up. The junior was named first team all-District 9-3A afterbatting .340 with 18 RBIs.

Kade Rogers Senior Outfielder Hahnville

Rogers led off the Tigers’ attack in addition to providing solid play in centerfield. He scored the game’s only run in Hahnville’s regional victoryover Catholic, leading off the inning with a walk and coming around to score on a single by Tim Sirmon. For the season, the all-District 7-5Aselection batted .360 with four home runs and 28 RBIs.

Roydell Williams Senior Outfielder East St. John

Williams was one of the most exciting players in the area throughout his career with the Wildcats. Coach Nick Mitchell said he was a competitor,never feeling he could be beat at the plate or on the mound. The all-District 7-5A selection batted .468 with 19 stolen bases, 23 RBIs and 30runs scored. He also went 2-4 on the mound with 28 strikeouts in 25innings.

Dustin Braud Senior Designated Hitter St. Charles Catholic

Braud got the job done for the Comets at both the plate and on the mound.

The second team all-District 9-3A selection batted a team-high .360 forthe Comets with 27 RBIs and two home runs. On the mound, he went 5-3with a 2.52 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 63 innings.

Mike Picard Junior Designated Hitter Hahnville

Picard was one of the top hitters on the Hahnville team. The all-District7-5A selection abtted .380 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.

Nathan Louque Sophomore Utility Reserve Christian

Louque made the switch from the infield to catcher in 2000 and provided solid defense behind the plate for the Eagles. At the plate, he led theEagles in a number of categories including batting average (.409), RBIs(20), hits (27) and doubles (five). He stepped up in district, batting .462.He also stole 11 bases in 15 attempts.

Randy Roth Junior Utility Destrehan

Roth was one of the most consistent hitters in the area. A steady player,he led by example. At the plate, that example was a .500 batting averagewith 38 RBIs, 35 runs, 10 home runs and 11 doubles. But his mostimpressive stat may be that he only struck out six times all season. Rothfinished the season with a first-team all-District 7-5A selection.

Britt Waguespack Sophomore Utility Riverside

Waguespack avoided any sophomore jinx, following a solid freshman season with another one in 2000.

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