Bobcats run past Bulldogs

Eunice High improved their District 5-3A record to 6-0 with a 14-2 run-ruled victory over the Ville Platte High Bulldogs in baseball action Thursday evening at Bobcat Field.
Eunice scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead.
Cade Richard singled to start the inning and Logan Manuel doubled to put runners at second and third with none out. Richard scored when Christian Taylor’s ground ball was mishandled for an error. Manuel would score on Wes Hebert’s single and another error on a grounder by Tyler Darbonne loaded the bases. Josh Youngblood singled home one run and Caleb Taylor drove in two more to end the inning.
The Cats added two more runs off Ville Platte starter Nick Vidrine in the second inning. Christian Lejeune singled and advanced to second on an outfield error. Hebert doubled home Lejeune and Hebert would score on a single by Darbonne for a 7-0 lead.
A seven-run fourth inning by the Bobcats put the game out of reach. An error allowed Christian Taylor to reach first base and Seth Venable would pinch run for Taylor. Hebert would walk and Darbonne would reach on an error, allowing a run to score. Youngblood and Caleb Taylor would single and Jonas Granger would drive in two runs with a double. Granger and Richard would also score before reliever Cameron King retired the side.
Junior pitcher Brandon Martel was the beneficiary of all the run support by his teammates. Martel allowed just two hits and no runs over his first four innings. Martel issued a couple of walks with two out in the fifth and Nick Vidrine would double to score both runners to make it a 14-2 game before Martel got the final out.
Martel (1-0) earned the win, giving up just two hits and striking out five in his five innings of work. He walked four.
Offensively, Logan Manuel, Hebert, Caleb Taylor, and Youngblood had two hits apiece to lead the Bobcat offense.
The Bobcats were scheduled to travel to face the Beau Chene High Gators on Friday. The Cats will return to district play with a visit to Northwest High School on Tuesday.