PINE PRAIRIE -- Gaining confidence is what every coach wants to see from his team as they head into district play.
That is just what first year Pine Prairie Panther head coach Jacob Guillory got from his team Tuesday evening, as the Panthers blasted their way past the East Beauregard Trojans in a 12 hit 15-0 run rule victory.
With the win, Pine Prairie improved to 8-4 on the season. The Panthers will host Church Point on Tuesday for their first league contest.
“At times throughout the course of the season, we have not played with a ton of confidence,” stated Guillory. “It is like they are scared to make mistakes. The other coaches and I are always preaching for them to quit worrying about making those mistakes.”
“We want them to remain aggressive,” he continued. “That is why, this game was such a big win for our confidence. This was the best we have played all season long, and we need that heading into one of the toughest districts in the state.”
Starting pitcher Gage Strother was stellar on the mound for Pine Prairie. The elusive lefty pitched a brilliant game, only allowing one hit and four total base runners in a five inning shut out performance. Strother struck out four, while not allowing a free base on balls.
“I have to give props to Gage, he threw extremely well,” said Guillory. “But, he had some great help from our defense and our offense. We definitely hit the ball today better than we have all year long.”
After getting the Trojans down in order in the top of the first, Pine Prairie attacked the ball with intensity in the bottom half of the inning, scoring six runs.
Kyler Carson reached first to lead things off after getting hit by the pitch. Nick Ortego followed with a single, moving Carson to third base. Ortego claimed second base on a passed ball.
Jordan Ardoin singled, scoring Carson and Ortego and promptly stole second base. Cole Thomas reached after also getting hit by the pitch, putting runners at first and second once again. Joel Franks followed with a single of his own, plating Ardoin.
JJ Sims blasted a ball to left center field for a double, scoring Franks, and Thomas and reached third base on a passed ball. After a strikeout, Strother reached on a error.
Sims came across the plate on another passed ball, which sent Strother to third base. Peyton Ledoux and Carson could not get Strother across the plate, however, the Panthers held a commanding lead.
No one reached base again for East Beauregard in the top of the second. Nevertheless, Pine Prairie was not going to be held scoreless in the bottom part of the inning, as the Panthers were able to put up three more runs.
Ortego flied out to right field to lead things off, and was followed by an Ardoin single. Ardoin reached second and third on a passed ball and touched home plate when the Trojan defense booted a ball off of the bat of Thomas, who traveled to second base.
Another East Beauregard error allowed Franks to reach base and moved Thomas to third. Franks stole second and reached third base on a fielder’s choice, which also plated Thomas.
BJ Ardoin took first base on a walk, putting runners at first and third with two outs. A balk by the Trojan pitcher plated Franks, ending the Pine Prairie scoring and giving the Panthers a 9-0 lead.
East Beauregard finally got its first runner aboard in the top of the third on an error by the Panther defense. It did not matter, as Strother and the Pine Prairie defense put the clamps down once again and shut the Trojans down for the third inning in a row.
The Panthers tacked on a solo run in the bottom of the third inning. A strikeout to begin the at bat was followed by a single off of the bat of Carson.
Carson reached second on a passed ball and touched third base when Ortego singled down the left field line. A deep fly ball to center field from Ardoin, sacrificed in Carson. Even though Ortego was able to reach second on a passed ball, the Panther offense could not get him to home.
Another runner-less inning followed for East Beauregard’s offense in the top of the fourth inning. Pine Prairie finished its scoring in the bottom half of the inning, as they were able to plate five more runs.
JJ Sims reached first on a single after Franks was put out on a ground ball to lead off the inning. BJ Ardoin continued the hit parade with a single of his own, putting runners at first and second.
An error off of the bat of Strother allowed Sims to score and put Ardoin on second base. Ledoux would single, loading the bases with only one out.
Carson laced a three-two pitch into deep left center field for a double, scoring Ardoin and Strother. Ortego managed to send a pitch to the right side to score Ledoux and move Carson to third base.
An error with Jordan Ardoin at the plate, scored Carson and gave the Panthers their fifteenth and final run of the game.
JJ Sims led Pine Prairie at the plate, going two for three with three RBI and two runs scored.