Bobcats grab three wins in Young-Frey tourney

By John Burson
Sports Writer
The Eunice High Bobcats earned three victories in the John R. Young Chevrolet/Frey Holding Company baseball tournament held this past weekend at Bobcat Field.
Rain impacted the tournament, with changes to the schedule being made on a daily basis as teams struggled to get games played at various locations.
Thursday games were washed out by the weather, but the Bobcats were able to play their game against North Vermilion on Friday.
Saturday contests were canceled due to storms, but the Bobcats were able to play two games on Sunday against Westgate and Westlake.
The Bobcats claimed a 2-0 victory over the North Vermilion Patriots behind the superb pitching of Caleb Taylor. The senior allowed only two hits as he improved his season record to 3-1. Taylor walked three and struck out three in his complete game effort.
North Vermilion pitcher Brett Hollier matched Taylor’s effort, allowing just one hit through four innings. But the Bobcats scratched a run off Hollier in the fifth inning. With two out, Cade Richard was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Logan Manuel followed with a single to score Richard. The Cats would add a run in the sixth off reliever Devan Georgia, who walked Christian Taylor with two out. Courtesy runner Seth Venable eventually scored on a single by Josh Youngblood to give the Cats a 2-0 lead. Caleb Taylor shut down the Patriots in top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.
On Sunday, the Bobcats’ Christian Lejeune shut out the Westlake High Rams through six innings before allowing a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 1-1.
The Cats had taken a 1-0 lead with a run in the fourth when Logan Manuel walked, stole second, and scored on a single by Christian Taylor.
Taylor came on in relief of Lejeune in the top of eighth and retired the Rams in order. The Cats won the game in the bottom of the eighth as Tyler Darbonne drew a walk, advanced on an error, and scored on an errant throw to win the game.
Lejeune worked seven innings, giving up just five hits. He walked three and struck out six. Taylor earned the win in relief.
Christian Taylor would start the game on the mound for the Cats against the Westgate High Tigers.
He worked into the sixth inning before giving up two runs which tied the game at 2-2. Reliever Jayden Brasseaux got the final three outs of the sixth and worked the next four innings as the game remained tied into the tenth inning. Brasseaux scattered three hits, struck out three as he shut out the Tigers.
The Bobcats would win the game in the bottom of the tenth as Richard was hit by a pitch, Logan Manuel singled, and Hebert smashed a grounder that eluded the shortstop to score Richard and gave the Cats a 3-2 victory.
The Cats has scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings for the early lead.
In the third, Logan Manuel singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hebert. Manuel scored on a single by Christian Taylor. In the fifth, Richard singled and later scored on a single by Hebert.

Acadiana 13, Eunice 3
SCOTT – The Eunice High Bobcats were unable to hold on to an early lead as they dropped a 13-3 decision to the Acadiana High School Rams here Tuesday afternoon at the Scott McCullough Field.
The Bobcats took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning off Ram starting pitcher Brandon Duhon. With one out, Logan Manuel singled and went to second base on a single by Wesley Hebert. A single by Christian Taylor loaded the bases. Christian Lejeune drove in Manuel with a sacrifice fly and Tyler Darbonne singled home Hebert before Duhon retired the side.
The Rams scored one run in the second inning off Eunice starting pitcher Caleb Taylor. Jacob Landry singled, advanced on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Courtier. The Cats got that run back in the top of the third. Christian Taylor singled and scored on a double down the left-field line by Lejeune, giving the Cats a 3-1 lead.
After the Rams scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third to cut the Eunice lead to 3-2, had a chance to answer back in the fourth inning. Zac Guillory was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jonas Granger. Cade Richard singled, but Duhon retired Logan Manuel to end the inning.
The Rams would pull away in the fourth, scoring four unearned runs to take a 6-3 lead. Acadiana added to their lead in the fifth, scoring four runs to force Taylor (3-2) to be relieved by Austin Manuel. The Rams added three more runs to the sixth and shut down a Bobcat threat in the sixth to claim the win by 10-run rule.
Christian Taylor and Cade Richard led the Cats on offense with two hits apiece. Lejeune drove in two runs with his double and Darbonne had the other RBI.
The Cats will open play Thursday at the Ascension Episcopal Tournament against Highland Baptist.