By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Longtime best friends, Brady Hitt and Tate Scioneaux shared uncommonly successful prep baseball careers at St. Charles Catholic and Riverside Academy, respectively.

Now the two share that kind of uncommon success at the college level.

Hitt, a sophomore left-handed pitcher, and Scioneaux, a freshman righty, each recently concluded extremely memorable seasons recently, each contributing to a winning squad in ways that were likely no surprise to those who followed them at the high school level.

In his second season with Delgado, Hitt helped spur the Dolphins to some unprecedented feats at the school.

The team set a new program record in wins, tallying a 47-11 record and far outpacing its 2011 wins output of 30. Delgado also set a new program record in wins, rattling off 19 straight victories, helping it to ascend to the rank of No. 1 among all junior colleges in America entering the National Junior College Athletic Association Regional.

Though Delgado did not emerge from the regional to the JUCO World Series – after winning its first game over Maple Woods, it fell to host Connors State in two straight – Hitt was part of a team that elevated Delgado to national prominence.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Hitt. “It was definitely nice going out to practice everyday and getting that kind of publicity, to see people knowing who Delgado is … We feel like we set the bar high, to where anything less than the great success  we had isn’t enough.”

Hitt said that everything fell into place during the team’s historic winning streak this season, and that when it came down to crunch time, somebody always found a way to deliver.

“Once we were in those last three innings, whatever we needed to come away with a win is exactly what happened,” he said. “Whether it was clutch hitting, a big strikeout … We found a way.”

One of the big reasons for Delgado’s success was the strength of its pitching staff. The Dolphins boasted a whopping 11 pitchers boasting ERA’s under 4.50, including Hitt (4.18), and eight pitchers logging between 25 and 82 innings, all of them effective. Hitt made five starts this season and three more relief appearances.

His presence on the pitching staff came as a bit of a surprise; Hitt was recruited as an outfielder but was converted to pitcher before his freshman season.

He graduated from St. Charles after posting a monstrous senior season as a slugger, batting .530 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs and 47 runs scored; his home run and RBI totals were school records.

But with Delgado’s outfield stacked with talent, Dolphins coach Joe Scheuermann wanted to find a way to keep Hitt on the field on a regular basis.

“At first, I was a little iffy,” said Hitt, who was a regular part of the pitching staff at SCC. “I wasn’t sure why.

“He told me that we had our outfield basically set, but that I needed to be on the field. And for me, I knew I wanted to do what was best for our team.”

He found quick success as a freshman, being installed early on as the team’s Sunday starter.

This season’s staff, he said, was something he takes great pride in having been a part of.

“We had great starters, closers, relievers, guys that came at you at all different speeds,” said Hitt. “So, knowing that going into the season, I had some high hopes for us.”

Scioneaux, meanwhile, moved on from Riverside to Southeastern. He also rolled into his collegiate career on a wave of momentum, after guiding Riverside to a state runner-up finish on the back of a spectacular four-start postseason.  He finished his senior season with an ERA of 0.55, a 10-3 record and 120 strikeouts in 91 innings, making the leap from a good starter to a dominant one.

Given that success, he didn’t see fit to change much at Southeastern.

“I just stayed with my game plan,” said Scioneaux.

“I had so much success as a senior that I really didn’t want to change much. So I brought my approach to college.”

And that approach continued to find success. Scioneaux not only earned a rotation spot as a freshman, he thrived in it, going 7-3 on the mound with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, striking out 87 batters over 96.2 innings.

He helped lead Southeastern to a 35-24 finish. The Lions were a victory short of coming away with the Southland Conference championship, falling in its championship game.

Scioneaux made his presence felt early in the season, announcing his arrival with a sterling performance against BYU. He earned the victory after holding the Cougars to one run on four hits while striking out seven in a 3-2 win, beating a team that had defeated LSU that very same weekend, 9-4.

“I was so amped up for that game,” said Scioneaux. I wanted the ball in my hands for it. It was a chance to prove myself that even as a freshman that I had what it took to start. To have a shot to play that team, I was more than ready.”

He kept on proving it, running his record to 5-0 at one point; he didn’t lose his first start until late April.

Scioneaux was also remarkably consistent – not just for a freshman, but for anyone at all, never allowing more than four runs in any start.

“I was surprised at the overall numbers, once the season was over,” said Scioneaux. “A lot of freshman tend to struggle early. I was proud of the season I had.

“It’s a big difference from high school ball because the hitters you face all have such an advanced approach to what you see before. You have to work just as hard as they do to have a chance to get them out.”

He said that next season, he believes the Lions will be ready to take that next step and win the Southland Conference.

“That weekend was big for us. We knew what we had to do … you just have to tip your cap to Central Arkansas. They played a great game.”

He said that he and Hitt speak often, trading stories and comparing notes as pitchers.

“We’ve been friends since we were babies. We want to help one another,” he said.

Both players will play ball this summer to help prepare for next season. Hitt moves on from Delgado and is currently mulling offers; he will soon decide where he’ll play next.

Scioneaux wasn’t surprised that his friend has continued to win big, just as he did year in and year out at St. Charles. He expects the same will be true at Hitt’s next stop.

“I was so happy for him. To be part of the number one junior college team in the nation is something not a lot of guys can ever say they were a part of. He can.

“Brady’s always looking to help out a teammate, on the field and off. He’s the kind of guy you can build a winning team with.”

Hitt said Scioneaux met his high expectations.

“I expected him to come out and dominate like he’s done,” said Hitt.

“He’s not afraid to push himself to get better. And he’s always getting better.”