By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – St. Charles couldn’t ask for a better start to district play – or its season, for that matter.

The Comets moved to 3-0 in district and 15-4 on the season by finishing off a sweep of rival Riverside this weekend, toppling the Rebels 11-1 on Saturday at SCC and 5-0 on Sunday in Reserve.

“When we lost to Shaw, everyone was devastated,” said St. Charles coach Paul Waguespack.

“At that point we were 11-4. And I told them, if we can go 11-4 in the second half and finish 22-8, that’ll probably make us one of the top seeds. Since then we’re 4-0. We’re ahead of schedule.”

SCC had defeated Riverside 9-6 on Thursday to begin the series. Including tournament play, the Comets have defeated Riverside five times this season.

Sunday’s win saw St. Charles’ lefthander Henri Faucheux (3-0) hurl a complete game shutout. He scattered five hits while striking out nine and walking three.

“It was his best outing of the year,” said Waguespack. “He really threw well.”

SCC scored once in the first inning, once in the fourth, twice in the fifth and once more in the seventh.

Brady Hitt was 2-for-2 for SCC, while Shane McNeil hit a home run.

Saturday’s game blew open in the second inning, where St. Charles scored seven runs with two outs.

Hitt’s two-run single started the charge.

“We’ve got a couple guys who are just on fire, and he’s certainly one of them,” said Waguespack. “He’s been really playing well.”

Picciola followed up with a two-run double before Brandon Becker landed the big blow of the inning, a three-run home run.

Nick Reine also homered in the game.

On the mound, Picciola improved to 3-2, pitching five innings and allowing one run on six hits and a walk. He struck out three.

SCC turns its attention to Class 3A Livonia on Saturday, which currently sits at 20-1.

“It’s a humongous game,” said Waguespack. “We beat them in Monroe a couple years back in the playoffs. They’ll be coming in with that in mind, looking to knock us off.”