By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

ESJ struck first Saturday, but Destrehan struck last.

The DHS Wildcats claimed the 5-5A runner-up playoff berth with a 10-1 home win over River Parish rival East St. John, riding a grand slam by Logan Gares in the fifth inning.

ESJ started off fast with a run in the first. Corwin Brown and I’Keem Brown, who each singled twice on the day for East St. John’s four total hits, got their Wildcat squad on top first.

But Destrehan took advantage of ESJ’s three errors in the game and tied it up in the second. They took the lead for good by posting a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings as Jules Roussel who went 3-for-3 from the plate for the game.

Kyle Schnowski went the distance and got the win for DHS, putting his record at 5-3 for the year.

Lionel Weston took the loss for ESJ, dropping his record to 3-1. The loss puts East St. John into a road match for the first round of the playoffs as they were set to travel to play Ruston yesterday. But due to deadline constraints, that final was unavailable as of press time.

The Bearkats are the 1-5A district champions and have compiled a record of 19-14 this season. ESJ enters the match with a 13-13 record.

Destrehan, meanwhile, earned a home game against Byrd. The 1-5A runners-up, Byrd stands at 18-15-1 on the season.