By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — St. Charles Catholic baseball is historically known for strong pitching and defense, and it looks like the Comets will once again be able to rely on those attributes as it seeks another contending campaign.

SCC captured three wins in four games at its annual Comet Classic tournament, sweeping Mandeville and splitting a pair of games with rival Lutcher (2-2) .

Over the Comets’ three wins, they allowed just one total run.

 “We’re pretty excited about the weekend,” said St. Charles coach Wayne Stein, who is in his second season as Comets head coach. “I thought out of 28 innings, 27 of those we played extremely well defensively.

“We didn’t swing the bats well, but we’re not panicking. That usually is the last thing to come, and we think we’ve got a good little lineup here.”

Austin Weber got SCC (3-1) rolling on the mound in its Thursday opener, taking the ball and turning out a complete game shutout as the Comets bested Lutcher 1-0, Weber earning the win in a pitcher’s duel with Lutcher’s Cameron Guillot.

Justin Loupe’s second inning RBI single proved the winning run.

Weber allowed one hit and came close to finishing a no-hitter, that lone hit coming in the seventh inning. Lutcher (2-2) got runners on second and third in the final inning before Weber regrouped and slammed the door.

“We know what to expect from Austin, and he provided all that and then some,” Stein said.

On Friday, it was Nick Scioneaux picking up the victory on the mound, throwing 4.1 innings of one-run ball as SCC captured a 3-1 win over Mandeville.

Loupe and Justin Ory each drove in runs for St. Charles. Zach Weber earned the save in relief.

In SCC’s third tournament game, the Comets again beat Mandeville, this time by a 3-0 score.

Zach Weber pitched five scoreless innings, while Brennan Gilberti notched the win in relief.

Austin Weber was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to push home the first run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ory then came up and drove home two more via a single.

The Comets finally absorbed defeat in their fourth game, with Lutcher earning a 9-4 win on the back of a seven-run fifth inning.

Gilberti took the loss for SCC.

Lutcher’s big fifth came after the Comets tied the game 2-2 with a pair of scores in the fourth inning.

Dane Authement collected two hits, while Ory drove in 3 runs.

Stein said the weekend was encouraging as the Comets look to sort out their pitching rotation. Austin Weber is the lone returning regular starter.

“We’re seeing who is going to be most effective in what roles,” Stein said. “Everyone did the job over the weekend.”

This week, the Comets will be tested again. They had a home date with Holy Cross set for Tuesday, after press time, and beginning Thursday SCC begins play on its yearly roadtrip to Monroe for tournament action. SCC will face Ouachita Christian, Tioga and North Webster.

Stein noted the traditional trip began when the state championship tournament was played in Monroe, as a way to prepare the players for what routine was expected were the team fortunate enough to advance that far.

While the start tournament has since moved, many of the same benefits manifest themselves today, he said.

“It’ll be our toughest stretch of the season,” Stein said. “To make any kind of run in the playoffs, you’ve got to be able to handle a road trip of that magnitude. If we’re lucky enough to make it (to the final weekend), we want our guys to know what’s expected.”