Baseball: St. Thomas Aquinas edges Curtis, Newman and Rummel meet Saturday after winning efforts

Two of the hottest, best teams among select schools in the state collided Friday.

Something had to give but it took a while for that to occur.

St. Thomas Aquinas pushed a home a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge John Curtis Christian 2-1.

With the win, the Falcons maintain the top spot in the Division III power rankings in narrow fashion over St. Charles Catholic.

The Falcons loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and Drew Milton was hit by a pitch, plating the winning run.

The Patriots got their run in the top of the first on an RBI single by Josh Eames.

The Falcons answered with a run in the bottom of the first Layton Pittman singled home a run to make it 1-1.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth.

Pittman started the rally with a single and Justin Dominao singled. Logan Pierre was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Milton to produce the game winner.

Pittman pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Bryce Simoneaux came on to get the win, pitching two scoreless innings.

Delgado commit Logan O’Neill went six innings for John Curtis, allowing just a run on four hits with just one walk and five strikeouts. Josh Lopez came on in relief and took the loss.

Dominao had three hits while Pittman had two hits for the Falcons.

Buddy Micheu had a pair of hits for John Curtis, including a double.

St. Thomas Aquinas (25-7) won its 11th straight game and the Falcons carry a very narrow lead over St. Charles Catholic for the top seed in the Division III playoffs. St. Thomas Aquinas hosts Destrehan this morning at 11 a.m.

John Curtis (19-10) saw its nine-game win streak end. The Patriots figure to be the third seed in the Division I playoffs.

A pair of teams making strong late season runs will collide today as Newman plays Archbishop Rummel at 2 p.m. at Raider Park.

The Greenies and Raiders arrive at their regular season finale as hot teams.

Newman ripped South Plaquemines 15-1 at South Plaquemines Friday for its fourth straight win. The game was shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

The Greenies have won 13 of 16 games and are now up to eighth, unofficially, the LHSAA Division III power rankings.

Newman scored a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Iv Guillot before tacking on five runs in the second on walks to Grayson Gallinghouse and Will Zurik and RBI singles by Saint Villere and Michael Baumer and the Greenies played add-on the rest of the way.

Newman finished with nine hits, led by Guillot, Michael Baumer and Villere, each of whom had two hits.

Everett Ott picked up the win, going three innings, allowing two hits in three innings. Ott struck out five and walked just one. Hugh Miller pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Pratt took the loss for the Hurricanes.

Rummel made it five straight wins, shutting out Archbishop Shaw 5-0 at Mike Miley Stadium.

The Raiders got all of their runs in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Rhett Centanni, an RBI double by Josh Sterling and a two-run double by Brock Bullinger. The fifth run scored on an error.

While Bullinger got it done at the plate, he excelled on the mound.

Bullinger pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits. Bullinger walked two and struck out four, using 102 pitches.

Sterling had two doubles for the Raiders while Ruben Ramirez added two hits.

Leo Kerner took the loss for the Eagles, only able to go two-thirds of an inning, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits. Logan Muhleisen did a nice job in relief, going four and a third shutout innings before Jacob Pereira finished up for the Eagles on the bump.

With the win, Rummel (19-12-1, 9-3) finishes tied for second in the Catholic League with Brother Martin.

The Raiders are unofficially sixth in the Division I power rankings but it is very close between Byrd, Jesuit and Rummel for the fourth, fifth and sixth spots.

Newman won 7-6 at Rummel on the final Saturday regular season finale a year ago.

Area Prep Baseball Results from Friday, April 22

Archbishop Rummel 5, Archbishop Shaw 0

Covington 7, Lakeshore 3

De La Salle 16, Haynes Academy 3

Destrehan 9, Terrebonne 0

Doyle 14, Port Barre 4

Dunham 11, Holy Cross 7

Episcopal 11, French Settlement 1

Fisher 16, Livingston Collegiate 2

Loranger 10, Independence 0

Lutcher 11, Slidell 7

Newman 16, South Plaquemines 1

Pope John Paul II 4, Archbishop Hannan 2

Riverside Academy 2, Lusher Charter 0

Salmen 10, Riverdale 0

Springfield 13, Holden 3

St. James 8, Ellender 5

St. Martin’s Episcopal 8, Kenner Discovery 1

St. Thomas Aquinas 2, John Curtis Christian 1

Walker 9, Hammond 1