By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

A late rally by Hahnville-based Otto Candies spelled the first Second District defeat of the summer for St. Charles-based Townsend Homes, who fell 5-4 in eight innings at home on Wednesday.

Townsend (3-4, 2-1) had won district games with East Jefferson and Fatty’s Restaurant (Riverside) before the matchup with Otto Candies.

Otto Candies trailed 4-1 after five innings, but scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game, before going ahead in the eighth.

“I’m disappointed. It’s one that we let get away,” said Townsend Coach Paul Waguespack.

Otto’s Justin Zoglio (2-1) notched the win after coming on in relief. B.J. Cancienne (0-1) took the loss for Townsend after entering the game in the sixth for starter Jared Keating.

Otto Candies scored the first run of the game, but Townsend took a 3-1 lead after Nick Reine hit a 3-run home run in the bottom half of the inning.

Townsend added a run to that lead in the second.

“We got up, and we relaxed,” Waguespack said.

 Otto Candies scored two runs in the sixth inning, and one in the seventh to tie the game.

Waguespack said that his team must do a better job of hitting in the clutch to put teams away – Townsend couldn’t cash in during a number of situations with the bases loaded, or runners on second and third.

“We can’t leave runners out there,” he said. “Someone’s gotta be a hero and step up. Nobody did that (Wednesday).”

Otto’s John Gomez hit a home run in the game, one of the team’s six hits.

Townsend had eight hits and two errors.