Stephen Richardson Memorial Tournament Draws Top Programs

By Austin Myer

The Stephen Richardson Memorial Tournament is so large it takes eight fields to host.  Thirty teams from throughout the state came to the Baton Rouge area last weekend for some early season high school baseball action.  The tournament is named in honor of Stephen Richardson, a member of East Ascension’s 2003 Class 5A state championship team who was killed in an auto accident in 2004.

Coach Chris Mire’s Central squad represented well against some stiff competition early.  Thursday night at Walker the wildcats lost a nail biter in extra innings against preseason rank C. E. Byrd out of Shreveport. Tied 11-11 after 7 innings, Byrd scored a run in the bottom of the 8^th for the win.  Friday, Central traveled to East Ascension to face New Iberia.  The Wildcats handled up on New Iberia 12-2.  On Saturday, Central traveled to Catholic High to face perennial powerhouse West Monroe in what was expected to be the toughest matchup of the tournament for Central.  Central’s bats were hot from the first pitch and the score at the end of two was 14-0 Central.  Coach Mire was able to clear the bench in the bottom of the 4^th with the score 15-0.  The game ended with Central run ruling West Monroe in 5 innings with the final score 15-5.

The final game of the weekend was not so pleasant.  Central faced St. Amant at St. Amant, a team Central had scrimmaged two weeks ago and beaten handily.  The Gators hit three home runs in the first two innings and never looked back.  Central, after scoring 38 runs in the three previous games, failed to get a hit and lost 10-0 in 5 innings.  Central will play at Destrehan today and will be traveling to take on Parkview at Vanderbilt Catholic in Houma Thursday evening at 5 p.m.