Scoring two runs in sixth inning, Comets win pitchers duel, 2-1

BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

LAPLACE-This is what a game between arch-rivals should be like.

There was not any taunting, just a hard-fought battle between two very tough teams that saw the Comets of St. Charles come out on front 2-1 Thursday afternoon at Comet Field.

With the win, the Comets improve to 11-7-2 and more importantly 3-0 in district 10-3A.

A pitcher’s duel for most of the game between St. Charles Catholic’s Jesse Martin and E.D. White’s Robbie Breaux, both teams first threats to score came in the second inning.

A one-out double by centerfielder Allen Crochet gave the Cardinals (14-4), their first runner in scoring position. Crochet advanced on a strikeout by Daniel Gravois and was on third with two outs.

However, Martin got second baseman Caleb Prestonbach to ground out to Matt Heltz to end the threat.

Heltz would lead off the bottom of the inning with a walk and after a wild pitch and groundout was on third base with two outs.

With an opportuntity to help himself out on the mound, Martin popped up to the second baseman to end the threat.

The Comets next opportunity to score came in the bottom of the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles from Matt Sutton and Heltz, St. Charles Catholic had runners at second and third with no one out.

Breaux then preceded to retire the next three batters in order to thwart the scoring threat.

The Cardinals finally broke threw in the sixth inning scoring a single run without the benefit of a hit.

After Martin walked Caleb Prestonbach to lead off the inning, he hit Robbie Falgoust A sacrifice bunt by Jordy Toups moved the runners to second and third and Prestonbach would score three pitches later on a sacrifice fly from Jacob Prestonbach to give E.D. White a 1-0 lead.

Trailing heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Comets rallied for two runs on three hits, including RBI doubles from Heltz and David Rollo.

After Casey Robottom led off the inning with a single, Heltz launched a Breaux pitched into the left-center gap, scoring Robottom to tie the score at one.

Breaux was replaced by Roland Rodrigue who proceeded to induce a groundout from James Callahan for the second out of the inning.

Rodrigue could not retire the gutty Rollo for the third out however as the first baseman lined a fastball into the center field gap, scoring Heltz with the go-ahead run.

Michael Onacle came on in relief of Martin to pick up the win.

Despite not picking up the win, Martin was magnificent on the mound for the Comets, giving up only one run in 5.2 innings of work and striking out five.

Martin was happy to come away with the win against their rival.

“I was really focused out there and wanted to be intense. Happy to come away with the win.

“We really have worked as a team and everyone really played well.”

A happy Head Coach in Paul Waguespack was pleased with his team’s performance and particuarly their ability to come up with the clutch hit.

“I expected a tight ballgame,” Waguespack said. “Jesse was throwing the ball really well for us despite a deceiving 3-2 record. He has come on throwing the ball for us lately and I knew that he would keep us in the ballgame.”

“We played good defense the whole season and we finally got a timely hit. We didn’t get it early, but we finally got it when it mattered most. That’s been our problem.”