Blue Jays advance to title game

Editor’s note: See Page 1 for the championship game story.

By Tom Dodge
tom.dodge@eunicetoday.com

SULPHUR – The Blue Jays acted like they had been there before as No. 7 St. Edmund (20-11) rolled into the championship game with a 8-1 win over No. 6 Central Catholic of Morgan City (26-4) on Friday in the semifinal contest.
The truth is St. Edmund’s last semifinal win was a 9-2 romp past St. John’s in 2001.
That year, the Blue Jays finished state runners-up in a 2-1 loss to Oak Grove under head coach Scott Rider.
Against Central Catholic Blue Jay senior pitcher Drew Brown lead St. Edmund to their fourth straight win as he went the distance again as he struck out three, walked five and allowed one run on five hits.
“We were able to help him with some runs,” coach Scott Richard said. “He arm got tired but we wanted him to finish to save our other arms for the championship game.
“He did a great job all year for us,” the coach said of his ace pitcher.
“We played really good defense behind him,” Richard continued. “Jack Brown played an exceptional game, knocking down at least three that were potential base hits.”
Drew Brown credited both his team’s defense and offense as keys to the win.
“Having our bats hot was a big factor,” the pitcher said. “I was able to throw strikes and watch our defense make routine plays.
“We played really good team baseball.”
St. Edmund jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Austin Sittig singled then stole second and third before scoring on a passed ball.
The Blue Jays exploded for four runs in the top of the fourth to push ahead, 5-0.
Gibson LaFleur walked with one out and scored when Drake Brunet singled and advanced to third on an Central Catholic fielding error.
Alex Hunt reached on a fielder’s choice and Brunet scored on another Eagle error.
Jack Brown doubled and Sittig followed with a hit to plate Hunt.
Ross LaFleur doubled in Jack Brown to give the Jays their five-run cushion.
“That inning said so much about our team,” Richard said. “When we hit the ball, we are hard to beat.”
Central Catholic threatened in the bottom of the fourth but left the bases loaded.
The Eagles closed the gap to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Charlie Barron walked and scored on a hit to left field by Samuel Guarisco.
The Blue Jays put the game out of reach with three more runs in the top of the seventh for an 8-1 advantage.
Ross LaFleur (3-for-4, RBI) singled and Will Chachere doubled to open the frame.
Drew Brown then helped his own cause with a double up the middle to drive in LaFleur and Chachere.
Drake Brunet was intentionally walked and scored on a two-out double by Jack Brown.
Central Catholic threatened in the bottom of the inning when Stefano Guarisco walked and Mitchel Lemoine singled but both were left stranded as the Jays defense sealed the win.
“It was good to see our guys get the bat off their shoulders and hit the ball,” Richard said of the 11 Blue Jay hits. “They hit good pitching and I am very proud of the way they hit the ball.”
Heading to the battle against top-seed Ouachita Christian, the Blue Jays had earned six state championships and two runners-up trophies over the past 35 years.
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.
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.
The Blue Jays’ sixth title came in 1998 with a victory over Central Catholic led by head coach Tad Richard.
“This is a great group of kids who worked hard to get where they are at,” Richard said. “I am real proud for them.”