VILLE PLATTE -- After a close 3-0 win over St. Martin’s Episcopal in game one of their best two-out-of-three regional playoff series, the Sacred Heart Trojans found the offense they were looking for, as they trounced the Saints 16-1 on Saturday and advance on to the quarterfinals.
Now, the No. 6 seeded Trojans must tangle with the No. 3 seeded Ascension Catholic Bulldogs in another two-out-of-three series for the right to move on to Sulphur and the state tournament. Game one is slated for today at 6 p.m. in Gonzales. Game two will be tomorrow at 4 p.m. with the if necessary game slated for 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs were 23-8 during the regular season and were the district runners-up to St. John’s in District 6-1A. They defeated St. Mary’s two games to one in the regional round of the playoffs.
“We just came out and hit the ball,” stated Sacred Heart head coach Gary Ashworth after the game on Saturday. “I could see that we were improving everyday at practice during the week and it paid off for us. Our guys have been focused ever since the playoffs began and I hope we can continue to do that against Ascension Catholic.”
In game two on Saturday, the Trojans started slowly on offense and built up momentum from there. Sacred Heart was unable to score in their first at bat, but made up for it in their next three plate appearances.
The Trojans got on the board in the top of the second, scoring two runs. Alec Gotro led off with a single and moved to second on base hit from Cade Manuel. Gotro and Manuel moved up a base on a steal and scored on a single off of the bat of Cody Shipp.
After holding St. Martin’s scoreless in the bottom of the second, Sacred Heart blew the game wide open by plating eleven runs in the top of the third inning.
Garrett Fontenot led off the scoring with a solo home run. Singles by Wesley Launey and JT Harper followed, as the two runners reached the next bag on steals. An error with Manuel at the plate scored both Launey and Gotro.
Gabe Fontenot followed with a two-run home run over the left field wall. Cody Shipp reached on a single and Cannon Beaver reached when he was hit by the pitch.
Jacob Castille took first base on an error by the Saint defense. With the bases loaded Garrett Fontenot doubled, scoring all three runners. Harper and Gotro would score later in the inning to give the Trojans a commanding 13-1 lead.
The final three runs for the Trojans came in the top of the fifth inning. Harper reached on a lead off walk and touched home plate on a two-run blast over the left field wall from Gotro.
Manuel walked, reached second on a steal, then moved to third on a balk. Shipp plated Manuel for the final run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field.
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX