Baseball: Jesuit walks-off Rummel in extra innings to sweep series

When Jesuit and Archbishop Rummel hook up on the diamond, you can expect a spirited, competitive respectful game.

You can also expect a one-run game.

Quite often, you can expect a long game, as in extra innings.

In recent years, the two sides have gone extra innings four times. That includes an enormous 18-inning affair in 2012 and a 15-inning game a year ago.

This time around, the Blue Jays and Raiders went nine innings and, you guessed it, the outcome was decided by one run on a walk-off hit.

Hutner Oufnac lined a game-ending RBI single on the first pitch he saw from Coleman Capaci with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to left Jesuit to a 3-2 win over Rummel for a sweep of the two-game series.

“The first pitch I’m going up there looking for my pitch,” Oufnac said. “The moment I see that pitch, I’m jumping on it. He threw it middle-inside, right where I like it. I just did my job. It was an amazing moment. I grew up right by Rummel. It’s a little personal and I love it. All those guys, I know them. We know each other. It’s a battle.”

The Blue Jays edged the Raiders 5-4 this past Monday.

The win was the seventh straight for the streaking Blue Jays.

Pinch-hitter Jackson Stopa started the winning rally with a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single by Jake Moreci, who recovered from being hit squarely by a foul ball off the bat of Stopa while standing in the on-deck circle.

Everett Denny laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners and Tulane commit William Good was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Oufnac then saw a fastball and drilled it into center, scoring Scout Hughes, who ran for Stopa, with the winning run.

Rummel took a 1-0 lead in the third, thanks to LSU commit Mikey Ryan, who doubled, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a throwing error. The Raiders left the bases loaded.

An error led to Jesuit tying it in the bottom of the third. Denny walked, advanced to second on an error and scored on a single by Alex Jeansonne to make it 1-1. Like Rummel, Jesuit left the bases loaded.

The Raiders tied it in the top of the seventh on a walk to Ryan before Rhett Centanni reached on a fielder’s choice and Ryan was safe at second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Gavin Nix then singled home Ryan to tie the game, sending the game to extra innings.

Oufnac was 3 for 5 while Nix was 3 for 5 as well.

Lee Bridgewater picked up the win in relief, setting Rummel down in order in the top of the ninth on just six pitches.

Bryce Pitts started and did an excellent job, going five innings, allowing an unearned run on five hits. Pitts walked four and struck out six. Gates Barre’ relieved Pitts and allowed an unearned run on just one hit in three innings pitched.

Jesuit coach Kenny Goodlett is very happy with the sweep.

“That’s a good team, Rummel is a good team, well coached and we were expecting a low scoring, hard fought game and that’s what we got,” Goodlett said. “It’s a great rivalry. Hunter has pretty hot for us lately. He just looked at me and smiled. I’m very happy and proud of him”

Goodlett also reserved special praise for a few other stars.

“Brothers is playing with confidence and he is still getting better,” Goodlett said. “Bryce Pitts did an absolutely phenomenal job. We could have helped him more defensively. Gates Barre did a nice job and Lee Bridgewater was solid.”

Brothers had the big hit in the 5-4 win over Rummel, a three-run double in a four-run first inning.

Tulane commit Giancarlo Arencibia pitched well for the Raiders, going six innings, allowing one earned run on six hits. Arencibia walked three and struck out six. Capaci pitched two and a third innings, allowing the winning run on three hits.

Rummel has lost seven games by a one run and the other four by two runs.

“We’ve got to make the plays and execute when it’s time to execute,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said. “Giancarlo and Coleman threw the ball fantastic. We’ve just got to keep plugging away. They got the hit when they needed it. We had a lot of opportunities. We try to do too much sometimes.”

Jesuit (21-5, 6-2) opens an important two-game series with John Curtis Christian Saturday at 1 p.m. at John Ryan Stadium.

“We’re on a hot streak, winning one at a time, that’s our goal,” Oufnac said. We’re playing loose. We’re jumping around. Our pitching has been phenomenal.”

Rummel (17-11, 6-4) returns to action Monday night at 6:30 at Chalmette in a game that you can listen to on NASH ICON 106.1 FM.

“We will break through,” Cazeaux said. “We’ve just got to keep fighting.”

FINAL
RUMMEL 001 000 100 — 2 6 1, 12 LOB
JESUIT 001 001 001 — 3 8 3, 11 LOB
WP—Lee Bridgewater (3-1)
LP—Coleman Capaci (1-1)
Time of Game: 3:06
SB—Gavin Nix-2, Ruben Ramirez
2B—Mikey Ryan
3B—William Good

Area Prep Baseball Results from Thursday, April 6
Archbishop Shaw 17, Helen Cox 2
Belle Chasse 6, Higgins 0
Berwick 17, Patterson 0
Central Lafourche 7, H.L. Bourgeois 6
Central Private 10, Kentwood 0
De La Salle 6, Kenner Discovery 3
Destrehan 5, Chalmette 4
Fontainebleau 4, St. Paul’s 2
Hahnville 5, Terrebonne 1
Holy Cross 10, Brother Martin 9
Houma Christian 5, Fisher 4
Jesuit 3, Archbishop Rummel 2
John Curtis Christian 13, Karr 1
Mandeville 11, Covington 1
Newman 12, Bonnabel 2
New Orleans Military & Maritime 18, Landry 12
Patrick Taylor 8, East Jefferson 6
Ponchatoula 8, Hammond 3
Riverdale 7, Willow School 6
Riverside Academy 5, St. Martin’s Episcopal 0
Slidell 6, Northshore 5
South Lafourche 10, Ellender 1
St. Charles Catholic 8, Covenant Christian 7
St. James 14, Donaldsonville 1
Thibodaux 13, East St. John 0
Thomas Jefferson 4, South Plaquemines 3
University Lab 5, Doyle 4
Warren Easton 14, John F. Kennedy 2