CHS Baseball Wins Derek White Memorial Tournament at Parkview

By Austin Myer; Photo by Michael Spangler of Expressions Photography

ABOVE: Dylon Buhler gave a stellar pitching performance against Parkview, striking out 4 and giving up only 1 run. 
Photo by Expressions Photography

    Central baseball continued its hot streak last Thursday with a 13-3 win in 6 innings over Ponchatoula in their first game of the Derek White Memorial Tournament at Parkview Baptist.  Team leaders were Jacob LeSage 3-4, 2B, Sam Doucet 2-4, 2B, Brett Courville 2-4, and Chet Myer 1-4, HR, 5 RBI.  Myer pitched 6 innings and had 10 strikeouts.

    Friday’s opponent, Parkview Baptist, lived up to their storied baseball history proving to be a tough opponent for the Wildcats.  Parkview jumped out to an early lead.  Evan Richard singled, stole second and then scored on an RBI single by Brennan Bozeman.  Parkview went on to score 2 in the second, 2 in the fifth and 2 in the six.  Central’s only score came when Chet Myer led off the 4th with a walk and scored on an RBI single by Dylon Buhler.  The final score was 7 to 1.

    Saturday was a great day for baseball.  The day started with Parkview eliminating Ponchatoula from the championship bracket.  The Wildcat’s goal was to beat the Runnels Raiders and advance to the championship for another showdown with Parkview.  Having beat Parkview in Houma earlier this month, the season series was now tied 1-1. 

    In the first inning Runnel’s Josh Morris was hit by a pitch, and scored on an RBI double by Alden Cartwright.  After scoring a run to tie the game in the second, Central broke it open in the third. Zack Edgens and Brett Courville drew walks to open the third followed by an RBI single by Chet Myer and a two RBI double by Dylon Buhler.  Corey Davis hit a single, stole 2nd and 3rd and scored in the inning also.  Central finished the game with 7 runs on 7 hits.  Pitchers Kelby Blalock and John Fralick held the Raiders to 2 hits and 2 runs to seal the victory.

    The championship game between tournament host Parkview and Central would be a rubber match of sorts with each team having beaten the other once this season.   Central’s Dylon Buhler pitched a great game against a strong Parkview lineup giving up only 1 run in 5 2/3 innings, striking out 4.  Sam Doucet pitched the final 1 1/3 facing 6 batters and striking out 4.  The defense for Central was stellar the whole game including two textbook 4-6-3 double plays turned by senior shortstop Sam Doucet and Sophomore second baseman Jared Roberts.   Offensively Central struggled early against Parkview junior and Central resident, pitcher Colin Rodgers.  Rodgers, an outstanding left hander, didn’t have his best stuff and managed to strike out 8 but hit 4 batters in some crucial situations.  The final result, Central  7 runs on 4 hits, Parkview 1 run on 5 hits. 

    Central will travel to play in Lafayette’s Atchafalaya Challenge beginning today.  They will also play at Southeastern on Monday, March 21, at 6pm vs. St Charles Catholic.  That would be a great game for fans to come and  support the Wildcats at Southeastern and see a good high school game in a college venue.