Jays, Gators split in 5-1A battle

The battle for the District 5-1A championship got tougher for St. Edmund on Wednesday as the Blue Jays split a doubleheader with False River Academy.
St. Edmund (16-6, 3-1) won the first game 8-2, but fell 8-6 to the Gators (3-15, 1-3) in the finale.
The Jays now face district leader Sacred Heart of Ville Platte (21-2, 3-0) in two games on Monday and Thursday to determine the district champion.
False River scored first in the opener when Blake Fulmer walked and scored on a sacrifice by Konner Jones.
St. Edmund grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame, begun when Ross LaFleur reached on an error and scored on a hit by Drew Brown.
Brown later scored on a sacrifice by Alex Hunt.
The Jays added two more runs in the bottom of the second to push ahead, 4-1.
Ross LaFleur singled as Will Chachere and Drew Brown followed with consecutive walks.
Gibson LaFleur was hit by a pitch to plate Ross LaFleur, while Chachere scored on a bases-loaded walk by Drake Brunet.
The Gators closed the gap to 4-2 in the top of the third inning when Gage Fulmer singled and scored on Kyle Blanchard’s hit up the middle.
St. Edmund added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ross LaFleur walked and scored on a passed ball.
The Jays forged ahead 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Ross LaFleur hit a solo home run over the right field fence.
St. Edmund added an insurance run when Drew Brown singled and courtesy runner John Hull scored on a hit by Gibson LaFleur.
Drew Brown earned the win as he struck out seven, walked two and allowed two runs on four hits.
Jack Brown threw the final inning as he walked one, but the Jays turned a double play to end the game.
Ross LaFleur went 2-for-3 with a walk, a RBI and four runs scored.
Drew Brown went 2-for-2 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored.
In the finale, the Blue Jays scored three runs in the seventh inning but could not rally enough for the win.
With the game tied 2-2, the Gators moved ahead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Blake Fulmer singled and scored on a bases-loaded hit by Hayden Jarreau.
Kyle Blanchard walked and scored on a ground-out by Nick Clement.
The Jays closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the fifth when Ross LaFleur was hit by a pitch and later scored.
Trailing 8-3, the Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the seventh inning/
Sittig walked and scored on a double by Will Chachere, who scored on a single to right by Drew Brown.
Brown scored a two-out single by Gibson LaFleur to close the margin two runs but a fly-out ended the threat.
Chachere went 3-for-3 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored.
The Blue Jays will hold Senior Night on Thursday at 4 p.m.