Bobcats rally past Kaplan

The Eunice High Bobcats scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim a 4-3 victory over the Kaplan High Pirates in opening round action of the Class 3A state playoffs played Monday at Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats, the number eight seed, had all it could handle against the Pirates, the No. 25 seed, and pitcher Trace LeMaire.
LeMaire and Bobcat starter Caleb Taylor controlled the offensive action for much of the contest after each gave up a run in the first inning.
The Pirates opened the scoring as lead-off batter Grant Frick singled and Jase Breaux was hit by a pitch.
A bunt single by TJ Broussard scored Frick for a 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game in the bottom of the first.
Leadoff batter Cade Richard drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Richard went to third on a Logan Manuel bunt and scored on an errant throw on the play.
Taylor would retire the side in order over the next three innings for the Bobcats and he rewarded by his offense in the bottom of the fourth.
With two out, Tyler Darbonne, who had doubled in the second inning, drew a walk and stole second base. Josh Youngblood doubled to score Darbonne.
Caleb Taylor aided his own cause with a single to score courtesy runner Ian George to go on top 3-1.
The Pirates would tie the score at 3-3 in the sixth.
LeMaire and Broussard opened the inning with singles.
A bunt single by Nate Bertrand scored one run and the other scored on a single by Brody Stelly.
Kaplan chased Caleb Taylor with two out in the seventh after LeMaire doubled.
Christian Taylor came on in relief to retired Broussard on a fly out to Bobcat centerfielder Christian Lejeune, who had the defensive play of the game on an earlier catch.
Eunice was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, but Christian Taylor retired the side in order in the top of the eighth to give his team a chance to win the game.
Taylor opened the bottom of the eighth with a double into the right-center field.
Kameron Givens entered the game as Taylor’s courtesy runner and Kaplan head coach Michael Williams decided to intentionally walk Wes Hebdert and Darbonne to load the bases and set up a double play with Youngblood coming to the plate.
With the count 3-1, Youngblood watched a LeMaire pitch miss outside, allowing Givens to score from third with the winning run.
LeMaire went 7 1/3 innings, scattering eight hits and giving up three earned runs.
Caleb Taylor went 6 2/3 innings, scattering eight hits and two earned runs. Christian Taylor (7-0) earned the win, allowing no runs and no hits, with two strikeouts.
Richard, Youngblood, and Caleb Taylor had two hits apiece to lead the Bobcat offense. LeMaire and Broussard led the offense for the Pirates with two hits apiece.
The Bobcats will face the winner of the Lutcher/Albany game in the next round of play - a best two of three series Friday and Saturday to determine who advances to the quarterfinal round.