Perrilloux’s blast and McCollum’s arm paces Wildcats past Thibodaux

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 28, 2005

Wildcats commit only one error against Tigers

BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

RESERVE-There is no question that East St. John has the bats to contend in district 6-5A.

They just need the gloves.

Thursday afternoon, they got it.

Behind a defense that allowed only one error, the Wildcats defeated Thibodaux, 3-0 at home on Thursday afternoon.

East St. John got all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first inning. After leadoff hitter Greg Sentimore led off with a single, senior centerfielder Ryan Perrilloux launched a Drew Coranier pitched deep over the left-field wall for a two-run homer to give ESJ a 2-0 lead.

“It was a fastball on the inside corner,” Perrilloux said. “He (Coranier) pitched to me the same the entire game and I just sat on it.”

Perrilloux said the Wildcat defense was a big reason for the victory.

“If we don’t give teams extra outs because of our errors we will be fine,” Perrilloux said. “We have a very talented team and we could win a lot of games if we just do not beat ourselves.”

The Wildcats would add an unearned insurance run in the third inning on a RBI double from first baseman Jamal Breaux.

While Perrilloux provided the offense, Alex McCollum was nearly unhittable on the mound, picking up the complete-game shutout. In seven innings of work he struck out 10 and only allowed three hits.

“I was feeling strong out there today,” McCollum said. “All the pitches were really working good.”

McCollum agreed with his teammates comments about how important good defensive play is to any future Wildcat success.

“Extra outs kill us,” McCollum said. “Every game that we have lost it has been because we make mistakes and give teams second chances. You can not do that if you expect to win games.”