By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – A pair of sophomores came up big for East Ascension as Devin Speligene and Jace Fairchild each made decisive plays in the Spartans’ 4-3 win over East St. John in a District 6-5A matchup.

Each play came in the fifth inning. Speligene’s two-run home run provided the eventual deciding runs, and Fairchild’s fifth inning strikeout of the Wildcats’ Courtney Freeman with the bases loaded proved critical as EA (10-10) moved to 2-0 in district play.

“You can’t go in expecting your sophomores to make a big impact in 5A, but when they do, you have to take advantage,” said East Ascension coach Wayne Grenfell. “Those guys are winners.

“We had to play well today. The thing about coming here, East St. John is always gonna be ready, whether they’re 0-20 or 20-0. This is a tough place to play and win.”

With a runner on second base and one out, Speligene’s blast broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning to put the Spartans ahead by a pair of runs.

East St. John fired back in the bottom half, as LeBaron Sylvester reached after being hit by a pitch. He’d steal second and advance to third on an errant throw. Andrew Taylor launched a fly ball to deep left to score Sylvester, cutting the Spartans’ lead to one. Ashton Lewis singled, then Bruce Winn and Darnell Lee followed with walks to load the bases.

Grenfell then called upon Fairchild, who recorded the strikeout to get out of the jam. It would be the only batter he’d face.

“He’s been in that situation before,” said Grenfell. “After non-district play, we decided he would be our guy to do that job, to come in and get an out when we need one.”

East St. John went three up, three down in each of the next two innings against the Spartans’ Emerson Foster.

“We just didn’t execute,” said East St. John coach Ronald August. “We had plenty of chances to not only win but really break it open. We gave ourselves every chance to win, but we just didn’t finish.”

East Ascension trailed 1-0 in the third inning when Chris Sanchez drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing home the tying run.

Then, in the top of the fourth, Jack Cockrum’s RBI single put EA ahead 2-1.

East St. John tied the game when Freeman reached on an error and eventually came around to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the fourth.

Lewis pitched the complete game for East St. John and took the loss. He allowed four earned runs.

“He pitched well and had them off balance for most of the day,” said August.

“From start to finish we were in it. It was a big improvement from our first district game.”

St. Amant 9, ESJ 2 – The Wildcats dropped their first district game Monday as the Gators won the district opener between the teams.

Lewis went 2-for-4 in the game. Cardell Eugene had an RBI.

Daniel Franklin went five innings and allowed five earned runs, taking the loss.