Baseball Playoffs: Rummel, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Charles Catholic, Lakeshore, Lutcher post important Game 1 wins

In a well-pitched game Thursday night, No. 6 Archbishop Rummel held off No. 3 John Curtis Christian 3-2 in the opening game of a best-of-three Division I series at Mike Miley Stadium.

In a game that featured just seven hits, Brock Bullinger came up big for the Raiders.

The junior missed the early part of the season with an injury but he is back full throttle now and has given the Raiders a huge lift.

Against John Curtis, Bullinger pitched six shutout innings before surviving a two-run homer by Austin Ackel in the bottom of the seventh inning for a complete game victory.

Bullinger allowed two runs on four hits, walking just one and struck out six for the victory, using 90 pitches.

Rummel scored two runs in the top of the third inning as freshman Gavin Nix was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by junior Casey Avrard. Freshman Evan Burg singled home both to give the Raiders a lead they would not relinquish.

The Raiders got an important run in the fifth inning on walks to Nix and Avrard and an error on a bunt by Ruben Ramirez, scoring Nix to make it 3-0.

After Mason Despaux was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, Ackel launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 3-2 but the Patriots could get no more.

Ackel pitched well in a losing cause, allowing just two earned runs on three hits. Ackel walked three and struck out six, using 99 pitches.

Tulane commit Michael O’Brien had two hits, including a triple for John Curtis, who swept a pair of district games from the Raiders in District 9-5A play.

Rummel (22-14-1) goes for the sweep Friday night at 6:30 p.m. in a game that you can watch live at CrescentCitySports.com while the Patriots (19-11) look to extend the series to a third game, which would be Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Mike Miley Stadium.

Also in Division I, No. 2 seed Brother Martin rallied in its final at-bat to down No. 10 St. Augustine 9-7 at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in a game aired live at CrescentCitySports.com to force a third and deciding game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Mike Miley Stadium.

Also in Division I, top seed Catholic High of Baton Rouge eliminated No. 8 Archbishop Shaw, winning 15-2 in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule to sweep the series in two games.

Catholic put up four runs in the first inning, three in the second, four in the fourth and four runs in the fifth inning. The Eagles managed a run in the first and a run in the fourth inning.

Clayton Porciau had two hits and four RBI for the Bears while C.J. Sturiale was 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Logan Muhleisen had a hit and an RBI for Shaw.

Prescott Marsh got the win for Catholic while Justin Oubre took the loss for Shaw (19-18).

The Bears (25-6) advance to Hammond to face the winner of the series pitting No. 5 Jesuit at No. 4 Byrd, which begins Friday evening in Shreveport.

In Division II, No. 2 St. Louis Catholic handled No. 10 De La Salle 11-2 in game one of their best-of-three series in Lake Charles as Reid Snider drove in four runs for the Saints.

Game two is Friday at 4 p.m.

In Division III, top seed St. Thomas Aquinas downed NO. 8 Lafayette Christian 5-2.

Senior Layton Pittman picked up the win, going six and two-third innings. Pittman allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four. Pittman added an RBI single. Danik Reed belted a home run as part of a three-run fourth inning for the Falcons. Jordan Trapani added an RBI double. Gavin Foster escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning to pick up the save.

St. Thomas Aquinas (27-7) looks for the sweep Saturday at 11 a.m. Should the Knights win, game three would immediately follow game two.

No. 2 seed St. Charles Catholic had no problem with District 11-2A rival Newman, battering the Greenies 10-0 in a game shortened to five innings in LaPlace.

The Comets scored three runs in the first inning, three in the third, one run in the fourth and ended it with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ayden Authement and Ryan Laiche each had two hits and two RBI to pace the St. Charles Catholic attack. Kade Edmunds added a pair of RBI.

Brady St. Pierre was outstanding on the mound, pitching a one-hitter with six strikeouts for the Comets (25-9).

Saint Villere had the only hit for the Greenies (22-13). Iv Guillot took the loss.

Game two is Saturday at noon with game three, if needed, to follow immediately.

In Class 4A, No. 6 Lakeshore edged No. 3 Assumption 2-1 in nine innings at Assumption in game one of a best-of-three series.

Logan Lomonaco had two hits and an RBI for the Titans (24-9). Dominick Letort pitched a complete game to get the win, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Letort added a pair of hits at the plate while Morgan Sauber had a hit and an RBI.

Sage Rivere took the loss for the Mustangs. Rivere drove in the only run for Assumption.

Game two is Saturday at noon with game three, if needed, to follow.

In Class 3A, No. 3 Lutcher blanked No. 6 Iowa 2-0.

Noah Detillier belted a two-run homer for the Bulldogs. Sensational freshman Marshall Louque was brilliant on the mound, pitching a complete game, allowing just four hits and struck out nine. Senior Koltin LeBleu pitched well but took the loss for Iowa.

The Bulldogs (29-9) go for the sweep Friday at 5 p.m.

​BASEBALL SEEDING

CLASS | DIVISION

BASEBALL BRACKETS

CLASS 5A   |   CLASS 4A   |   CLASS 3A   |   CLASS 2A
CLASS 1A   |   CLASS B   |   CLASS C

DIVISION I   |   DIVISION II   |   DIVISION III
DIVISION IV   |   DIVISION V