Bobcats stay in district title hunt

By John Burson
Sports Writer

Eunice Bobcats banged out nine hits on their way to an 11-1 District 4-4A victory over the Washington-Marion High Chargin’ Indians on Thursday at Bobcat Field.
In addition to the offensive output, Eunice senior pitcher Kalum Fruge (6-1) tossed five innings of one-hit, one-run baseball.
He walked one and struck out ten before being relieved in the sixth by Christian Lejeune. Lejeune struck out two in his one - of work.
Romentee Lewis suffered the loss for Washington-Marion. Lewis led off the game with a double and scored the lone run for the Chargin’ Indians.
Wesley Hebert’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning gave the Cats a 2-1 lead. A.P. Sonnier’s RBI double later in the inning put the Cats up 3-1. Scott Lafleur was a key player as the Cats scored single runs in the second and third innings. Lafleur reached on an error, advanced to second on a bunt single by Gunner Fontenot and scored the Cats’ fourth run on a wild pitch. In the third, his groundout scored Sonnier, who had walked, gone to second on an error and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brennan Ashley.
Andrew Lomas and Scotty Bihm had singles as the Cats scored three runs in the fourth before Fontenot and Lomas drove in runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, in the fifth. Ashley’s double and Lafleur’s single produced the Cats final run in the sixth.
The Bobcats will host the Rayne High Wolves on Tuesday in a key 4-4A contest beginning at 6 p.m.
In Crowley, on Wednesday, the Eunice High Bobcats claimed a 5-1 victory over the Notre Dame Pioneers in a non-district contest. Bobcat pitcher Caleb Taylor picked up his sixth win in six decisions with a complete game performance. Taylor limited the Pios to three hits, walking one and striking out one. Senior center fielder Taylor Hanks turned in two outstanding diving catches to lead the defensive effort for the Cats.
Hanks converted on those catches into a d ouble play which helped Taylor escape a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the first inning. The Pios would score their lone of run of the game in the top of the seventh inning on a single by Sam Veillon, but Taylor would retire the side without further damage.
The Bobcats would score their first runs in the third inning off Notre Dame pitcher Royce Zaunbrecher. Scotty Bihm doubled with one out and moved to third on a groundout by Jordan Comeaux. Wes Hebert drew a walk and Bihm scored as the Cats executed a double steal for a 1-0 lead. Kalum Fruge drew a walk to set up another first and third situation, with Hebert scoring on an errant throw for a 2-0 lead.
Eunice added two more runs in the fifth inning as Andrew Lomas reached base on an error and Bihm followed with a single. Comeaux and Hebert followed with run-scoring singles to make it 4-0.
The Cats scored their fifth run in the sixth. Gunner Fontenot singled and courtesy runner Alex Richard stole second base. Richard scored on a single by Bihm.