By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Crosstown foes St. Charles and East St. John began their American Legion seasons against one another on Memorial Day, and fans in attendance were treated to a back and forth slugfest.

St. Charles-based Townsend Homes were the team standing in the end, winners of a 12-10 decision decided with two outs in the top of the seventh inning in a Second District game.

East St. John-based Reserve Post 159 led 10-8 when Jeffrey Hall cut the lead to one with a solo home run. With two outs, Donnie Savoie drew a walk on a full count. Chad McNeil and Macky Cortez doubled as Townsend tied things up. Trey Bartholomew put the Comets ahead for good when, while he ran for Cortez, he stole third and then scored on an error.

“This summer is about building confidence and teaching our guys how to finish games,” said Reserve Post coach Ronald August. “We had the lead late there. But we needed three outs and couldn’t get that third one. We didn’t finish, and it’s something we’ll have to work on and build from.”

Cortez went 2 for 4 with five RBIs. He collected two doubles. Hall was 2 for 4. Luke Poche went 3 for 5 and Nick Montagut was 2 for 3.

For Reserve Post, Andrew Taylor, Ashton Lewis, Daniel Franklin and Darnell Lee each went 2 for 3. Lewis collected three RBIs, while Taylor and Lee each drove in two. Taylor and Franklin each had triples while Lewis and Lee doubled.

The teams traded the lead back and forth – three times, a team had a lead of two runs or more and saw the other come back to tie.

Connor Smith started the game for Townsend and gave up six runs in the first two innings. But he would settle down and pitched three consecutive scoreless innings, including two perfect innings.

“He could have easily folded after the first couple of innings, but he wouldn’t do it,” said Townsend Homes coach Paul Waguespack. “He struggled but turned things around, and that gave us a chance to get back in it. So that was big to see.”

Waguespack said that the meat of Reserve’s order was extremely tough to deal with.

“Wow, those first four or five guys can really swing it,” said Waguespack. “That was our first time facing them. Out of 20 at bats, those guys probably got 12 hits. And if it wasn’t 12, it sure felt like it.”

He said that this summer will be about replacing some graduating seniors. In particular, the rotation must be rebuilt: Jared Keating, Cody McMurry and Brady Hitt each were seniors that played a major role on the mound for the Comets.

“We might have to do it by committee. We’re hoping to see some guys step forward,” said Waguespack. “That’s our big concern right now. We’ve got to find some pitching.”

Said August, “It was a real see-saw battle. The stands were filled on both sides. It was a good, competitive game and a great atmosphere. We just need to look at this and learn from it.”

ESJ will play at Destrehan Saturday against Jesuit-based Retif Oil and Fuel. Townsend Homes will host Destrehan-based Valero-St. Charles at 5 p.m. today.