Almost perfect

VILLE PLATTE -- Liam Vidrine is a giant in more than one way.
Not only does he tower over all of the players in the Dixie Youth Baseball 10U league, but he also wears the Giants logo on his jersey.
Vidrine was definitely a giant this past Friday night in league action, as the hurler fanned nine of the 10 batters faced to help secure a 16-0 win over the Cubs. The only miscue stopping Vidrine from pitching a perfect game, a single off of the bat of Jeremy Quibodeaux in the bottom half of the second inning.
The Giants wasted no time in getting things started, scoring 12 runs in the top of the first inning. Carson Johnson began the at bat by drawing a base on balls.
Gus Guillory followed with a walk of his own. A slow roller in the infield put in play by Will Chapman allowed Johnson to cross home plate for the first run of the game and put runners at second and third.
Another Cubs’ error plated Guillory and Chapman and gave Vidrine first base. Vidrine moved to second when Leo Lahaye was issued a walk. Two wild pitches put Vidrine touching home plate and gave Lahaye the opportunity to reach third base.
Payton Veillon, a fill-in for the Giants, singled home Lahaye for the fifth run of the at bat. Veillon moved to second on a wild pitch and scooted across the plate on a single by Nicholas Soileau.
Noah Gremillion followed with a single of his own, putting runners at the corners. Bentley Ardoin drew a walk, loading the bases for the Giants.
A strikeout gave the Giants their first out of the inning. But, an error on Johnson’s grounder to second base set off a multitude of bad throws by the Cubs that produced two more runs and gave the Giants runners at second and third.
Guillory singled, plating both Ardoin and Johnson. An ensuing single off of the bat of Chapman allowed the Giants to have runners at the corners once again.
Chapman took second base on an uncontested steal. A fielder’s choice got Vidrine out at first base and scored Guillory, but an error on a throw to the plate pushed Chapman across as well. The Cubs were able to end the inning with a strikeout, but not before 12 Giants’ players crossed home plate.
Meanwhile, Vidrine cruised on the mound. In the bottom of the first, Vidrine threw a total of 14 pitches in getting the Cubs down in order.
The top of the second saw the Giants pick up two more runs. Veillon doubled to lead things off and promptly stole third base.
A strike out produced the first out of the half inning. Gremillion walked and took second base uncontested. Two wild pitches later and both Veillon and Gremillion were home safely.
Vidrine allowed the hit from Quibodeaux in the bottom of the second and settled in to retire the next three Cubs’ batters on strikeouts.
The final two runs of the game for the Giants came in the top of the third inning. Guillory drew a walk to lead things off and after two wild pitches sat at third base.
Vidrine singled after a strike out, scoring Guillory. The wild pitches continued, as Vidrine was able to move all the way around the bases on three errant pitches.
Vidrine completed the one-hitter by striking out the side in the bottom of the third, finishing the run-rule win.