By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – St. Michael had it all working on Tuesday – a strong performance from starter Cameron Cochran, an airtight defensive effort and a consistent offensive performance in a 14-2 victory in six innings over Riverside (10-6) at Fernandez Field Tuesday.

The game ended via the 10-run rule.

“We made countless errors through the first three innings,” said Riverside coach Matt White. “We gave them a few gifts. I thought they had three legit hits in the first three innings … when you spot a team like that a lead, you aren’t giving yourself a chance. We did the same against Menard this year.”

St. Michael (15-5) is ranked seventh in Class 4A power points. Riverside is ninth in 2A.

It was the Warriors’ sixth straight win and ninth in their last 10. Five have come via the 10-run rule.

Cochran had a no-hitter going through 3.2 innings before Bryant Tassin launched a solo home run to right field. He’d finish his five inning performance having allowed just one hit, one run, five strikeouts and two walks.

“He was hitting his spots,” said White. “He got the inside and outside corner, and he worked the count. He’s a very good pitcher and we got behind on too many at-bats.”

St. Michael struck first on Matt DeRobertis’ RBI single. The Warriors then took a 3-0 lead after a Riverside errant throw on a ball hit by Chris Bailey. The Rebels got out of the inning after tagging out Bailey at second, who tried to advance.

A passed ball plated the fourth and fifth runs for St. Michael’s, which loaded the bases in the second.

Austin Frey singled for an RBI to make it 6-0.

It was more of the same in the third. Four straight singles by Bailey, J.T. Mauklin, Austin Edens and Tres Gravois made it 8-0, and a ground out by Jose Dupuy plated the ninth run of the game.

The Rebels never could recover.

Myles Dearman added a two RBI double in the sixth for the Warriors.

“I’m a little disappointed in the mental errors we made. We scheduled them for a reason.

“We told the kids that it’s a big game, but you have to play like it’s a big game,” said White.