Central High Baseball Splits Pair of District Games

By Josh Walker

            We have reached the halfway point in district, and the Central Wildcat baseball team finds themselves right in the middle of the pack after a win at Scotlandville and a loss at Live Oak. On Thursday, the Wildcats traveled to Scotlandville to take on a much-improved Hornets team. Central scored six runs in the third and fourth innings on hits from Jared Roberts (1-3), Micah Jones (1-4, RBI), Mason Gautreaux (3-4, RBI), and Thomas Eddlemon (1-3, 3 RBI’s). The Wildcats tacked on one more in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Eddlemon. Ryan Navarra started the game and only gave up two runs in his four innings of work. Cole Edgens came in the seventh inning to secure the Wildcats’ 7-4 victory.

            On Saturday, Central traveled to Live Oak for a game that would decide who was in second place in district. The Eagles jumped out to an early three run lead in the bottom of the first, but the Wildcats would come clawing back to tie up the game over the next three innings. Jacob Schopp scored on a double by Jared Roberts in the second, Thomas Eddlemon scored on an RBI walk by Antonio Ragusa in the third, and Mason Gautreaux scored on a sacrifice fly by Micah Jones in the fourth. Live Oak scored the only other run in the bottom of the fourth to give them a 5-4 victory. Preston Fondren started and pitched all six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.

            The Wildcats (8-20, 2-3 District 4-5A) face an uphill climb over the last five games of the season. They currently sit ten spots below the last playoff spot, but it is still mathematically possible for Central to make the playoffs. They play Walker on Thursday, Denham Springs on Saturday, and Scotlandville on Tuesday.