Blue Jays vie for state championship

The baseball tradition is strong at St. Edmund as the Blue Jays have earned six state championships and two runners-up trophies over the past 35 years.
At 5 p.m. Friday at McMurry Park in Sulphur, St. Edmund hopes to add another chapter to its historic program as the Blue Jays face No. 6 Central Catholic of Morgan City (26-3), who grabbed a 2-1, 10-inning win Monday over No. 14 Ascension Catholic in the quarterfinals.
The Blue Jays advanced after a 4-2 win over District 5-1A rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte Saturday.
The semifinal game will be played on Field 37 at McMurry Park, located at 300 Hazel St. in Sulphur.
With a win over Central Catholic’s Eagles, St. Edmund would take on the winner between No. 1 Ouachita Christian and No. 5 Covenant Christian at 4 p.m. Saturday on Field 37.
St. Edmund head coach Scott Richard said he is excited about what the weekend possibilities are for his team.
“I am very excited for our kids to play in this environment and I am happy to see the spotlight on St. Edmund as a school.”
St. Edmund is facing a familar foe in Central Catholic, a team they have seen over the years in the playoffs.
The Blue Jays won the 1980 title with a 2-0 win over Central Catholic.
Last year, the Blue Jays lost to the Eagles, 12-2 in the regional round of the playoffs.
The last trip to the state baseball tournament for the Blue Jays was in 2010 when St. Edmund beat Vermilion Catholic 4-2 in the quarterfinals before falling to Ouachita Christian (7-3) in the semifinals.
In 2009, the Blue Jay defeated Ouachita Christian 8-7 in the quarterfinals before dropping a 7-5 heartbreaker to Northlake Christian at Bringhurst Field in Alexandria.
Richard said the state tournament is stressful but so is school with the seniors taking finals and getting ready for graduation.
“They know the seriousness of the moment, but they are ready to play,” he said. “I told them no matter how many people are in the stands, they are the only ones on the field making plays,” he said. 
If we play defense and put the ball in play, we have a chance to beat any one in Class A.”
This season was the return to program for Richard, who helped build the Blue Jay baseball legacy.
After winning the 1980 championship as a player, Richard’s team finished second to St. Frederick in a 6-5 loss in the 1982 finals.
The Blue Jays captured the 1983 championship with a 6-0 win over St. Frederick.
As a coach, Richard helped lead the Blue Jays to the 1988 title over Ascension Catholic (9-1) and again in 1991 over Ascension Catholic (8-4).
Richard and St. Edmund won their fifth state title in 1996 against St. John. He earned two state coach of the year honors.
The Blue Jays’ sixth title came in 1998 with a victory over Central Catholic led by head coach Tad Richard.
St. Edmund finished state runners-up in 2001 in a 2-1 loss to Oak Grove under head coach Scott Rider.
“I am excited for our guys,” Richard said. “For this group of seniors, it is their one shot to shine.”