By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

EDGARD – The Rams put together six good innings of play Thursday afternoon against North Iberville, taking a 7-3 lead into the top of the seventh. The Bears made WSJ head coach Lennix Madere sweat it out as they posted three runs in their final chance at the plate to make it a one-run game with runners on the corners and two outs away. But catcher Kenny Taylor preserved the Ram win as he forced the runner at third into a rundown where he was tagged by third baseman Barry Hanson for the last out of the game for the 7-6 Ram win.

&#8220We hit the ball well today” said coach Madere. &#8220We knew we could score. Ascension Catholic and St. John of Plaquemine got us in district play, but we led both of them and had a chance in those games. And they’re consistently good year in and year out. So we know that we’ve got to get our games against the Ibervilles’ to stay with it.”

West St. John has helped themselves into a tie for third place in district 9-1A with the victory. Their 2-2 record in league play is identical to North Iverville, two games ahead now of East Iberville.

&#8220Coming into this game, we were eight runs away from being perfect in district play,” Madere said. &#8220I think we surprised Ascension Catholic and St. John this year. We led them both at one point and just couldn’t hold on to the lead. If we can take a win from one of those teams next time, we can turn this district upside down.”

WSJ’s ace pitcher, Daron Bartholomew got the start in Thursday’s game, holding the Bears to four hits while striking out six. Bartholomew also two hits and an RBI pair in addition to a walk in the third. Hanson also reached base safely three times, The first two came on errors and a single in the sixth. Also recording hits for West St. John were Kenny Taylor, with two RBIs, Alton Joseph, with a double, and Brad Robinson with a single in the sixth.

It all came down to the seventh inning for WSJ as the Rams held a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom each of the next three innings.

____ _____ walked to start the third. ______ singled to get runners on the corners and ___ _____ and _____ both had RBI singles. In the fourth, WSJ found themselves in a jam as North Iberville put a pair of runners in scoring position with one away. But Bartholomew got the next batter to strike out leaving just one more out. A short drive to center field was snagged on a diving catch by _____.

&#8220That was a heck of a catch,” said Madere. &#8220If I had that on film, I’d send it to ESPN and it’d be a top play of the day. He was fast, fully extended… It was a great play. I’ve been out here a long time and I’ve seen a lot of great plays and great athletes. And I can tell you that catch was as good as your going to see.”

On the Rams side, _____ doubled with one away and was knocked in on a triple by ______. ______ scored two batters later on a passed ball.

It nearly fell apart for West St. JOhn in the seventh inning as North Iberville scored two runs before the Rams could record an out. Bartholomew got the first out on strikes and forced a ground out to first. With two away and the tying run on third, _____ eyed the runner taking a large lead and forced him into a rundown for the third and final out of the game.