By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – St. Charles-based Townsend Homes had a chance to topple Jesuit-based Retif Oil in the seventh inning, but Retif wriggled out of trouble to leave Kirsch-Rooney Stadium with a 4-3 victory Saturday night.

The game was part of a Legion kickoff tournament involving teams in the Second District.

Townsend Homes loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Retif allowed no runs in after inducing a pop up and a ground out.

Townsend loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batter.

“We had a chance, but we didn’t capitalize,” said Townsend Homes coach Paul Waguespack. “It’s still early, and I like this team a lot. But they’ll be some growing pains. We have a lot of guys to replace.”

Retif went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, but Townsend took the lead in the second on a two out, two run double by Donnie Savoie.

Retif went back ahead 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth, but Townsend Homes tied it up on Macky Cortez’s RBI single. But in the fifth, Retif Oil tacked on what would go on to be the winning run.

Jared Keating, Cody McMurray, and Brennon Zeringue combined to throw a five-hitter. Keating allowed three hits in three innings and struck out six. He allowed one unearned run. McMurray allowed one earned run and two unearned over his three innings of work.

Waguespack said that his team’s two errors were critical.

“We dropped a couple of pop ups. It was at night, but its no excuse,” said Waguespack. “We let in some runs. But we’ll correct it. We’ll be okay.”

Townsend Homes won’t have to wait long for potential payback, as the two teams are set to face off again today at 7 p.m., again at Kirsch-Rooney.

Monday’s game at Destrehan-based Valero-St. Charles was rained out. On Friday, Townsend will face Brother Martin’s Legion team Friday, then Rummel’s Legion team on Saturday.

“The only thing we didn’t do was schedule the Yankees,” said Waguespack. “When you talk about those four games in one week, it’s tough.”