By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAFAYETTE – The final game of St. Charles baseball coach Paul Waguespack’s head coaching career will go down as one of its most memorable, most emotional, and, in many ways, most bizarre.

In a contest that began Wednesday night and finished early Thursday morning, Waguespack’s Comets fell to Parkview Baptist, 4-2, in a Class 3A regional round game full of intensity and intrigue.

Part of that intrigue was, in fact, when or where the game would be played and ultimately finished. The contest was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday night at Parkview Baptist in Baton Rouge, but heavy rain caused its postponement. Then, it was to be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday before ultimately being moved to ULL’s M.L. Tigue Moore Field for 7:45 p.m.

Parkview Baptist led 2-1 when rain began to pour down in the middle of the fourth inning. Play would be suspended for 2.5 hours, nobody completely sure whether play could ultimately resume that night or whether both clubs would have to travel back a day later.

It did, in fact, pick up again, at about 11:20 p.m. Play concluding about an hour later.

The Eagles’ Brennan Bozeman dropped a single into right to score two fifth inning runs, breaking a 2-2 tie just minutes after the Comets fought back to tie the game.

Waguespack hugged each of his five seniors and assistant coach Wayne Stein in an emotional postgame scene. Stein will step up as St. Charles’ head baseball coach, with Waguespack now serving as the team’s pitching coach.

“I love these seniors,” said Waguespack. “You saw how they played tonight. They battled their butts off. I’m just disappointed in the way it ended for them. They’re just a great group of kids.

“You just have to give the credit to Parkview. They made all the plays they had to tonight. We didn’t do that.”

Waguespack said that the decision to hold on and try to finish the game that night was discussed thoroughly as the delay stretched on.

“We were calling the weather station, trying to figure out where this thing was headed, can we get it in,” said Waguespack.

In the end, he did as he’s done for years – he fought for his team.

I thought playing it tonight gave us the best chance to win and move on. That’s just how I felt,” said Waguespack. “If we suspend it, we lose (pitcher) Chad (McNeil) … I had to convince some people.”

Parkview (17-17) has perhaps been the greatest nemesis to Waguespack throughout his coaching career. SCC is 0-8 against the 3A power during his tenure, including losses in two state championship games.

Even beyond the rain, Parkview Baptist coach Darron Mitchell said that this particular regional round game carried a different feel to it.

“It wasn’t really your typical second round game. It felt like more of a quarterfinal or semifinal matchup, when you look at the programs involved,” said Mitchell.

The Comets (18-15) began the game with lefthander Connor Smith on the hill. Smith more than held his own against a slate of tough teams throughout the year, but the Eagles hit him hard early: back to back RBI triples by Zack Hamilton and Cody Daigle put Parkview ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first.

That prompted Waguespack to call McNeil into service after just five batters.

“It’s like I told Chad … if I start you, I can’t bring you back (after the delay),” said Waguespack. If he gets up to 70 pitches and then we have to sit, you can’t do that to a kid.”

Parkview Baptist starter Gage Pickett was effective over four innings of work, but was done after the delay – he threw 77 pitches and allowed one run. He allowed one hit while walking two and striking out four. In contrast, McNeil tossed just 29 pitches and would return.

The Comets drew within a run on Jon Brown’s RBI single in the top of the fourth. He hit a ball up the middle that scored Connor Western, running for McNeil who reached on a hit-by-pitch to lead off.

St. Charles tied things up in the fifth inning after Luke Poche singled on a hot shot up the middle, the ball ricocheting off the foot of Hamilton, who was on in relief of Pickett. Courtesy runner Brady Becker stole second, setting up Austin Weber with two outs – Weber ripped a triple to the outfield to score Becker and tie the game. But the slick, rain-soaked field came into play for the first time –  Weber beat the throw to third, but his slide carried him completely over the bag, and he was tagged out upon his scramble to get back.

“We can what-if until the cows come home, tonight,” said Waguespack.

Parkview responded in the bottom of the fifth. Peter Currier led off with a single; then the Comets committed a crucial error when Brennan Bozeman’s fly ball was dropped in the outfield.

McNeil got Chris Dupont to ground out, but Randolph blooped a single to right on a full count one batter later.

Hamilton struck out four of the next five batters he faced.

Poche drew a walk with one out in the seventh, but Parkview turned a double play on an Ian Mitchell ground ball to clinch the win.

“I was really proud of the mental toughness our kids showed,” said Darron Mitchell. “These kids who are 15 to 18 years old come out and execute after  that delay, it showed you what they’re made of. The St. Charles guys did the same thing.”

McNeil finished the game going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs (none earned) on three hits, a walk and a hit batter. The senior struck out four.

“The job Chad did gave us a chance. He was tremendous,” said Waguespack.

Gillies registered a sixth inning double for SCC. Poche reached base in two of his three at bats.

Hamilton earned the win for Parkview, going three innings and allowing one earned run on three hits and a walk. He struck out four.

While Waguespack isn’t going away, the coaching switch does stand as the end of a long and successful era. He earned his 300th career victory this year in just his 13th season, averaging more than 24 wins a season. His teams have finished as state runner-up four times in the last nine years. 

He believes the program is in extremely capable hands with Stein.

“He’s been doing so much already, since I’ve been a head coach. The success I’ve had as a head coach, it’s because of the work he puts in. He’s going to do an incredible job,” said Waguespack. “Now, I’ll be the pitching coach, and I’ve got to do a great job for him in that role.”