LHS rips DeQuincy, makes it to state

Published 5:00 am Sunday, May 6, 2018

DEQUINCY — After spotting DeQuincy an early lead, the Loreauville Tigers took full control and rolled to a 11-1 rout in five innings to sweep the best-of-three Class 2A quarterfinal series on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore southpaw Caleb Washington spun a one-hitter to improve his record to 10-1 on the year and also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run homer and four RBIs. 

“Winning never gets old,” Loreauville head coach Rob Segura said. “I can tell you that. These kids, they stay together, and that’s what I’m most proud of. 

“They continue to fight for each other and it’s all 27 of them. It’s special.”

The homestanding Tigers took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the first despite the fact that Washington struck out three hitters. 

DeQuincy (25-9) leadoff hitter Cooper Hext fanned but reached first base after a sharp-breaking curve bounced to the backstop. 

Hext came around to score on a fielder’s choice that was erroneously listed as a hit on the scoreboard. 

“We were able to get five runs in the bottom of the first and I told our guys that if we kept applying pressure, that hopefully they would crack,” Segura said. 

“They’re a good ballclub. That’s not the team today that they’ve been all year. They’re good. We were just a little better today.”

Loreauville (23-11) sent nine batters into the box in the bottom of the first to take a commanding 5-1 lead on three hits and three walks. 

After Zy Alexander and Washington both walked to begin the inning, DeQuincy head coach Brady Carlson made a quick call to the bullpen and replaced starting pitcher Xavier Guillory with Owen Taylor. 

“Some people may not know, but my best pitcher had the flu and wasn’t able to play for us at all this weekend,” Carlson said. “He plays shortstop and pitches and wasn’t here at all. 

“He had been good for us all year with only a couple of losses and was a very consistent guy. We were short-handed and had a senior (Guillory) who wanted the ball.”

Taylor gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Michael Latulas, to load the bases.

Clean-up man Shajuan Nora then fell behind in the count 0-2 before drawing a base on balls to bring in Alexander and open the floodgates.

Number five hitter Rhette Viator singled to left to score Washington, all before DeQuincy was able to record an out.

“They were good,” Carlson said. “Loreauville was very athletic. Both of their pitchers we faced in the series were very good. They made plays.

“They were hard outs for us to get every at-bat. They just put constant pressure on you every inning. Even yesterday, when the final score was closer (6-2), there was constant pressure every inning.”

Alexander went 2-for-3 on Saturday with a double and scored three runs.

“We all did good,” the sophomore said. “If we bring the hitting next week the way we did today, we’ll have a chance to win.”

Washington struck out five through the first three frames and didn’t allow a hit through 4 2/3 innings.

“I think I did my job,” he said. 

“My defense had my back and I was able to just throw strikes.

“My change-up and fastball were working great – the way I wanted it.”

DeQuincy was only able to muster three runs in two games versus Washington and game one starter, Deven Richard.

“What more could you ask for?” Segura said of Washington’s performance. “He threw his heart out and that’s what it takes. Richard threw a helluva game yesterday and I thought (Washington) was excellent today.”

Loreauville’s entire lineup was productive in game two. Dale Sonnier (1-for-3, RBI), Jobe Hebert (1-for-3, RBI), Jordy Broussard (1-for-2, double, RBI), Peter Crum (1-for-3), Viator (2-for-3, two RBIs) and Latulas (2-for-4, double) combined to rough up a quartet of DeQuincy pitchers.

Nora reached base twice, in addition to scoring a run, and pinch-runner Cameron Trahan stole a base and scored in the second inning.

Washington talked about his two-run blast in the top of the third that scored Alexander.

“It was a low pitch inside,” he said. 

“I knew he was coming with it, so I just picked it up and hit it hard.”