Jays stun No. 2 Lions

For the second season in a row, the St. Edmund Blue Jays stunned a second-ranked team in the Class 1-A playoffs.

No. 18 St. Edmund (15-13, 5-4 in District 5-1A) earned a 6-2 win over No. 2 Covenant Christian (22-9. 10-0 in District 8-1A) to advamce to the quarterfinals.

Last season, No. 7 St. Edmund stunned No. 2 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte 4-2 to earn a spot in the state semifinals.

St. Edmund will face No. 7 Oak Grove (15-7, 4-0 in District 2-1A), who earnned a 4-1 win over No. 10 Houma Christian.

The game is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Blue Jay Field.

“This game and the last game ( a 5-4 win over Ascnesion Christian) are the best two games we played all year,” St. Edmund head coach Scott Richard said after the win. “I told the kids we were the underdogs and weren’t supposed to the game so go play relaxed and free.”

After stopping Covenant Christian scoring opportunities in the first two innings, the Jays grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Jack Brown walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Brock Bieber.

St. Edmund added two more runs in the bottom of the third when Miller singled and Gibson LaFleur hit a controversial inside -the-park home run.

LaFleur hit a ball over the wall and raced around the bases when the Lion centerfielder’s foot was caught under the fence and could not reach the ball.

The Blue Jays pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth inning as Cole Bergeron walked and scored on a sacrifice by Austin Gradney.

St. Edmund extended its lead to 6-0 with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, begun when LaFleur doubled and scored on a double by William Chachere.

Two batters later, Chachere crossed home plate on a single by Brown.

After being held to four baserunners over the first  five innings, Covenant Christian rallied to score twice in the top of the sixth frame.

Jake Bates walked and courtesty runner Devyn Allen scored on a double by Cameron Solet.

Solet scored on  a hit by Ryan Boudreaux to close the gap to 6-2.

The Lions threatened to continue to rally when Caleb Sietz and Austin Champange walked but the Blue Jay defense stiffened to end the inning.

Dylan Sharpe doubled to left field in the top of the seventh inning. but the Lion failed to score as the Jays celebrated the upset the win.

LaFleur earned the win as he struck out four, walked two and allowed two runs on six hits.

The Jays finished with six hits, led by Brock Bieber (2-for-2, BB) and LaFleur (2-for-3, HR, 2B).

Chachere, Brown and Jack Miller all went 1-for-3).