Baseball: John Curtis, St. Thomas Aquinas remain red hot with wins

Area Prep Baseball Report for Thursday, April 21

A pair of teams that will be very tough to beat in the upcoming select playoffs looked the part again Wednesday.

In Division I, red hot John Curtis Christian clinched at least a tie for the District 9-5A championship with a 10-0 victory over Holy Cross in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule at Mike Miley Stadium.

The Patriots scored three runs in the second inning, added a run in the third and exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to end it.

Tulane commit Michael O’Brien was a big part of the story, pitching a one-hitter, striking out four in a dominant performance, using 75 pitches.

Austin Ackel paced the offensive attack, going 3 for 3, including a double and two RBI. Bruno Dagan added a hit and an RBI, Reed Duthu had an RBI and Andrew Martinez ended it with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Christopher Sercovich took the loss for the Tigers. Jeffery Louis had the only hit for Holy Cross.

John Curtis (19-9, 10-2) has won nine straight games.

The Patriots, who are secure at No. 3 in the Division I power rankings, will play their final game of the regular season Friday at Division III power St. Thomas Aquinas at 5:30 p.m.

Brother Martin (22-6, 9-2) can claim its share of the Catholic League crown tonight when the Crusaders face St. Augustine at 6:30 p.m. at Wesley Barrow Stadium. Brother Martin swept John Curtis in a pair of district games.

Holy Cross (11-21, 3-9) will host Dunham at 6 p.m. Friday.

St. Thomas Aquinas is battling St. Charles Catholic for the top seed in Division III.

The Falcons continue to roll, completing a District 10-2A sweep of Pope John Paul II in Slidell, winning 11-3.

The Jaguars grabbed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning and it stayed that way until the top of the fifth when the Falcons erupted for six runs to take a 6-1 lead. St. Thomas Aquinas tacked on a run in the sixth and put it away with four runs in the seventh inning.

Jordan Trapani led a14-hit attack with three hits and two RBI, Brayden Thompson had two hits and two RBI and Dane Watts had a hit and two RBI for St. Thomas Aquinas. Laydon Pittman had two hits and an RBI and Austin Davis and Parker Perriloux each added a hit and an RBI.

Logan Pierre picked up the win in relief, pitching two shutout innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Watts pitched the first three innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts before Tristyn Bradley went two innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits.

Zach Dauzat took the loss for Pope John Paul II.

St. Thomas Aquinas (24-7, 10-0) has won 10 straight games and will collide with John Curtis Friday.

The Jaguars (12-17-1, 4-6) will host Archbishop Hannan at 6 p.m. Friday.

Area Prep Baseball Results from Wednesday, April 20
Amite 16, Mount Hermon 10
De La Salle 3, Kenner Discovery 2
Doyle 9, French Settlement 2
Dunham 3, Lutcher 0
Ecole Classique 11, Livingston Collegiate 5
Grace King 12, Helen Cox 2
Independence 18, St. Helena 7
John Curtis Christian 10, Holy Cross 0
Lakeshore 4, Pearl River 0
Newman 14, Morris Jeff Community 0
Pine 11, Holden 10
Plaquemine 16, Belle Chasse 2
Springfield 10, Northlake Christian 0
St. Thomas Aquinas 11, Pope John Paul II 3