ESJH baseball hitting its stride: Talented pitching, work ethic lead improving Wildcats
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 13, 2019
- Standing from left are manager Allen Schnyder, head coach Wendell Henderson, Marcus Jackson, Dontae Fleming, Lonnie Ellis III, Rayvon Joseph, Collin Harris, Asian Webb, Herman Farlough, Eric Breaud, Kyrin Johnson, coach Chase Dicharry, Brendon Nunnery, coach Ronald August Jr., kneeling, manager Morgan Ursin, Kevin Breaux, Mason Webb, Jeremy Wells, Wade Williams, Alonso Rios and Barry Ellis.
RESERVE — Work ethic is never a concern for the East St. John baseball seniors, battle tested and rich in experience from years of regular season and summer play.
Coach Wendell Henderson said the Wildcats are nothing if not committed, and he’s seeing the progression of stellar pitching and defense on the baseball diamond with each passing game.
The East St. John Wildcats are 6-7 following Monday’s 6-5 win against St. James, and Henderson said his team is hungry to establish a winning streak.
The opportunity will come this week with a tournament that includes a Thursday doubleheader against South Lafourche at 3:15 p.m. and South Terrebonne at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 3:45 p.m. Saturday game against A.J. Ellender in Houma.
Henderson said consistency defines the approach to every game, noting it’s important for his guys to trust in their style.
“We’ve been getting great pitching, and we’re just starting to get time to win a couple of games,” Henderson said. “We lost a couple of close games. We’re always in the game. We’ve still got some young players who have to put it all together, but my seniors are doing great.”
Kevin Breaux is at the forefront, equipped with experience from a series of MLB-sponsored training camps. In summer 2018, Breaux was selected by MLB to attend the Commissioner’s Cup training camp in Washington D.C.
“Kevin Breaux is maybe the best catcher in the state of Louisiana, and I’d put him up with anybody,” Henderson said. “The seniors are really prepared because they’ve played a lot of ball and they’ve been playing together for a long time. They really have seen what it takes to be leaders right now.”
Herman Farlough has received baseball offers from schools around the country, including Alabama State University, Grambling State University, Georgia State University and Cincinnati Christian University, among others, and he spent his summer in Georgia playing for the Atlanta Bluejays.
This season, Farlough is excelling as a pitcher, outfielder and an occasional first baseman.
Senior Rayvon Joseph is performing well at shortstop and as a pitcher, while Brendon Nunnery is proving himself a talented infielder, who thrives at shortstop, second and third.
Senior Wade Williams is a great centerfielder who has command of the outfield, according to Henderson. Stepping up among the Wildcats juniors is Lonnie Ellis III, who has professional dreams and experience playing on a Future Prospect Scouting team in Florida.
“Lonnie Ellis is hitting the ball well, plying third base and pitching very well,” Henderson said. “He’s maybe one of the better juniors who has hit a couple of home runs.”
While pitching is the Wildcats’ strength, Henderson said his players must work on acquainting a large group of younger players to the game.
“When we get them comfortable in their roles, I think we’re going to take off,” Henderson said. “The program is coming along well. When people play us, they know we have a real good, strong team. Our goal is to win District. I don’t think it’s out of the question.”
Tuesday starts a stretch of 12 consecutive District games against Terrebonne, Thibodaux, Hahnville, Destrehan, Central Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois.