By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside is off to a hot start this season — according to power points, in fact, it’s off to the hottest start this season in Class 2A.

The Rebels sit atop the 2A power point rankings after sweeping three games at its own tournament this past weekend, the Fatty’s Invitational. The Rebels defeated Thibodaux and Country Day on Friday and Sunday respectively and defeated Slidell on Thursday (see last Saturday’s edition for details on the Slidell victory).

“It’s something to build off of,” said Riverside coach Matt White. “I haven’t seen Riverside at that top spot since they started the power ratings system. So we’re excited today.”

Riverside (8-3) got to don the rally caps for the first time this season in a comeback win over Thibodaux. Dustin Madere’s walkoff single scored Tate Scioneaux for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, adding up to a 6-5 win.

“Last year they did it to us, rallying from behind,” said. “To get down like that and come back, the kids were excited. When Dustin pushed that hit through the right side, we had to settle them down. They might have charged the field.”

Thibodaux (5-8) led 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh after scoring a run in the inning’s top half. Thibodaux led 4-0 after two innings.

Scioneaux was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Madere and Wren Vicknair each went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Freshman Tanner Lawson started and went 6.1 innings, allowing four hits. Ryan Broussard pitched 0.2 innings and earned the win, allowing no runs and a single hit. “It’s big to beat a team like Thibodaux when you’re starting a freshman on the mound and a couple of eighth graders as well,” said White. “He did a real nice job.”

Against Country Day (2-6), the Rebels fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but quickly took charge from there, scoring six in the first, four more in the third and then five in the fifth for a 10-run rule, 15-5 win over the Cajuns.

“Going into that fifth inning, I challenged the team to finish, and we put up a five spot to 10-run rule them,” said White. Deuce Wallace was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Tate Scioneaux was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Cameron Bivonia allowed two hits over two innings and picked up the win. He didn’t allow a run.

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