By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

ESJ coach Ryan Sims called his team’s opening game loss to South Terrebonne something of a minor setback. On Thursday, his team proved that that was perhaps all it was.

After falling to the Gators 9-1 in Reserve on Monday, ESJ fired back with a 9-7 victory over Vandebilt Catholic at the E.D. White tournament Thursday.

“It was big,” Sims said of his team’s ability to answer the loss. “Our guys learned that you can’t come out flat and expect to win. You have to throw strikes. You can’t make mistakes. Our effort on Thursday was much better.”

Lionel Weston earned the win for the Wildcats (1-1) against the Terriers. He went four innings and allowed four earned runs. He struck out three.

Brighton Trepagnier came on in relief and earned the save, pitching 2.2 innings. Trepagnier struck out the final two Terrier batters of the game to clinch the win.

At the plate, Shane Nicholson came up big. He was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. His biggest hit came in the seventh inning – with ESJ leading 7-5, his two RBI single pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 9-5.

“I think we were more concerned with fixing our level of play than the outcome itself,” said Sims. “Our overall intensity was much better.”

Akeem Brown went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

On Monday, Trepagnier took the loss after giving up five e runs in three innings. He struck out four.

ESJ pitchers combined to walk six batters, and the defense committed three errors, adding up to the loss.