By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

THIBODAUX — Riverside-based Fatty’s Restaurant struggled in its opener at the E.D. White tournament last weekend, but would more than make up for it in its final two contests.

After falling 3-1 to Lutcher-based Imperial Sugar — and being two-hit by Imperial pitcher Trevor Englade — Fatty’s scored a combined 25 runs over the next two contests, rolling past St. Thomas More, 10-3, and then South Lafourche, 15-4.

“We’re looking to fill holes this summer,” said Fatty’s coach Britt Waguespack. “Defensively, I think we’re fine. But our offensive output, that’s what we need to address this summer.

“You have to compete to be on the field. And after the first game, I think guys realized that if they don’t come to play every day, the next guy in line will.”

Fatty’s big surge in the South Lafourche win came in the fifth and sixth innings, in each of which Fatty’s scored five runs.

Ashton Perret went 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs for Fatty’s (4-2). Dylan Martin and Bryant Tassin each went 3-for-4, and Tassin hit a 3-run home run. Taylor Brignac was 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBIs.

Against St. Thomas More, the teams were locked in an early 3-3 stalemate in the second inning.

But after Ashton Perret came on in relief of starter Ritchie Terrio, STM’s bats were silenced completely. Perret pitched the final 5.1 innings and allowed no hits, only walking one.

Tate Scioneaux went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Martin was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, and Tassin went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs.

Imperial Sugar got three runs in the second inning of its game against Fatty’s and never looked back as Englade kept runners off the bases all day.

Fatty’s scored its only run on a Tassin RBI single.

“(Englade) did a great job on the mound, but we had opportunities,” said Waguespack. “Runners on second and third, less than two outs, you have to come through there at this level. A double, it’s a different game. A fly ball to left and it’s a different game.”

Tassin took the loss in the game, but allowed no earned runs. All three Imperial runs came on the back of Fatty’s errors.

But Waguespack was pleased overall with his team’s output, and feels closer to answering some questions.

“We have three spots to fill, and I feel like we have six guys legitimately competing for those spots,” he said. “So we’ll see how it shakes out.”