Season complete

DONALDSONVILLE -- The run is over for the Sacred Heart Trojan baseball team.
After completing a 20-7-1 regular season and defeating St. Martin’s Episcopal in the regional round of the Division IV playoffs, the Trojans were ousted out of the post-season on Friday with their second loss to the Ascension Catholic Bulldogs in the best of three quarter-final series.
Sacred Heart put up a valiant effort against the Bulldogs, but could not overcome huge innings in both games and were unable to produce very much offense, as they fell 12-1 on Thursday in game one and 10-1 on Friday in game two.
In the two games played the Trojans were out hit 16-10. Probably the biggest stat to come out of the series was the fact that Sacred Heart committed eight total errors, with seven of those coming in game one.
“In that first game, we invented ways to make errors,” stated Sacred Heart head coach Gary Ashworth. “But, you have to tip your hat to them, they hit the ball hard and forced us to make plays. We just did not do that. Still, I am proud of the way we were able to overcome some adversity this year. We have some great players and some great people on this team, no doubt about it.”
On Thursday, the Trojans fell behind early, as the Bulldogs were able to jump out to a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
A free base on a hit by pitch and a double to left field gave Ascension Catholic a 4-0 lead at the end of two complete innings.
In the top of the third, Sacred Heart got on the board, plating a single run to cut into the Bulldog advantage. Senior outfielder Jacob Castille singled to lead off the inning.
Garrett Fontenot then doubled home Castille and took third base on a passed ball. However, Fontenot was put out at home plate on a fielder’s choice with Alec Gotro at the plate.
Gotro reached second on a stolen base and then made it to third on a passed ball, but stalled at the bag when the Trojans failed to pick him up.
The big inning for Ascension Catholic came in the bottom half of the third inning, when the Bulldogs brought home nine more runs. Ascension Catholic was aided by five errors on the part of the Trojan defense.
The only other threat for Sacred Heart came in the top of the fifth inning. Nick Perry singled and reached second on a stolen base. But, a fly out and two strike outs later, the Bulldogs had sealed the run-rule win.
On Friday, things looked up for the Trojans in the early part of the game. Sacred Heart retired Ascension Catholic in order in the top of the first inning and picked up a solo run in their at bat.
Fontenot singled to lead off the inning and stole second base. A single by Wesley Launey put runners at first and third with no outs.
Alec Gotro flied out deep enough to left field to allow Fontenot to score on the sacrifice. Cody Shipp singled moveing Launey to second base. After another fly out, Launey was put out at third base on a steal attempt.
Ascension Catholic tied things up in the top of the second and went ahead 2-1 in the top of the third. The Bulldogs ended two Trojan threats in the bottom of the second and third innings to keep their one run lead.
The Bulldogs blew the game open in the top of the fifth inning, scoring six more runs. All of the runs were earned, as they recorded six hits, including three doubles.
With the lead now in hand, Ascension Catholic cruised the rest of the game, adding to their total with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
After the game, Ashworth praised his lone senior on the team for his leadership and dedication.
“Jacob (Castille) was definitely the heart and soul of this team,” said Ashworth. “He has grown as a man over the last two seasons. We will miss his presence on and off the field and what he brought in terms of leadership to this program.”