By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Riverside’s Timmy Teague blasted one pitch over the outfield fence. He hit another much shorter, not even to the pitcher’s mound.

Each came with the bases loaded. And each was crucial against 10-2A rival Newman on Thursday.

Teague’s coupled a grand slam in the first inning with a game-tying, bases-loaded infield single in the seventh.

One batter later, the Rebels’ Bryant Tassin drew a walk on a full-count, allowing the game winning run to score – and Riverside to become the favorites for the second automatic playoff spot in 10-2A, 8-7 winners at Fernandez Field.

“It’s an unbelievable win,” said Teague. “It gives us a lot of momentum moving toward the playoffs. We just have to take care of business in the next few games.”

While John Curtis leads the district, undefeated at 7-0, Riverside (11-16-1, 6-2) now only needs one victory in its last two district games (@ St. James (5-12) on Tuesday, @ Lusher (0-12) on Thursday) to clinch a playoff berth.

While Newman (13-12-1, 5-3) only trails by one game, Riverside holds a season sweep over the Greenies, and would own any tiebreaker between the two teams as a result.

“Everyone stepped up, and everyone competed. It’s the sign of a total team victory,” said Riverside coach Britt Waguespack. “I do know one thing, and that is that this team’s gonna fight and overcome adversity, like we did today.”

 Teague finished his day 2-for-4 with five RBIs. Unbelievably, that’s been par for the course this week for the Rebel shortstop, which in the Rebels’ past two district games has gone 7-for-9 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.

With Newman leading 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh, there was one on and one out when Wade Delaneuville up to bat. Delaneuville crushed a ground-rule double to put runners at second and third. Jake Roussel drew a walk to load the bases for Teague, who hit a short ground ball between Napoli and Newman catcher Wes Luquette.

Napoli mishandled the ball trying to make a play at home, and the game was tied up at seven.

“I was just trying to put it in play,” said Teague. “It ended well. It was just a little dribbler, but it scored the run.”

With Tassin up, and the count at three balls and a strike, Napoli went away from his curveball, a pitch that had aided in his striking out seven of the first eight batters he faced in the game. Instead, he threw a fastball, which Tassin swung and missed at.

“He was fastball only there,” said Waguespack. “He took a good swing, he just missed.”

But Napoli’s next pitch would be too far outside, and Tassin drew the walk to win the game.

The Rebel showed great plate patience throughout the game, drawing five walks and allowing the Greenies few easy trips through the order.

“We gave them no easy outs,” said Waguespack. “Our kids competed every pitch.”

Teague’s grand slam in the first inning gave Riverside a 4-3 lead. Newman would go ahead 5-4 after three, but Riverside would tie the game at five after a Colby Vicknair RBI. A Jade Falgoust sacrifice fly put the Rebels ahead 6-5.

A fifth inning RBI-single by Newman’s Bronfin Neil, and a sixth inning RBI double by Luquette gave Newman a 7-6 lead.

What started as a slugfest quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel when Falgoust and Napoli entered the game in relief for their respective teams. While Napoli’s seven strikeouts were a game high, Falgoust notched six himself in three innings of work, earning the victory.

Falgoust pounded the strike zone, getting ahead of almost every hitter he faced.

“Coach Bourgeois always tells us, the best first pitch we can throw isn’t a fastball or a curveball, its strike one,” said Falgoust. “When you get ahead, it gives you more options and a better pitch selection. And I was able to hit my spots.”