Brother Martin edges Rummel to open Catholic League baseball play

NEW ORLEANS – With a host of Division I commits and prospects, Archbishop Rummel is considered by many to be the favorite in the always tough District 9-5A.

The Raiders will most certainly be formidable but Brother Martin made a statement of its own Tuesday.

Kolby Hunter drove in a pair of runs while Cole Navarro and Patrick Laiche combined to shut down a potent Archbishop Rummel lineup in a 2-1 victory at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in the district opener for both teams.

The Crusaders (9-5) jumped on top in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of control issues for Raiders starter Brock Bullinger. Andrew Sieta started it with a single to center before Bullinger walked Reece Roussel, Brent Mioriana and Hunter, the latter of which came on a very close pitch, scoring Roussel to make it 1-0.

Rummel (11-5) answered in the top of the second inning with a triple by Lenny Cline and an RBI double by Tulane commit Giancarlo Arencibia to tie the game 1-1.

Brother Martin recaptured the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Frank Randol singled, Roussel walked and Mioriana grounded into a double play. Hunter followed with an infield single, scoring Randol to make it 2-1.

Rummel had ample opportunities to get even but the Raiders stranded nine on base and lost a runner on the bases in a key situation.

Navarro pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits. He walked four and struck out four to pick up the win.

“I felt going out there,” Navarro said. “It helped me when we got the one-run lead and I was able to go out and throw strikes.”

Laiche picked up the save, striking out two in the seventh inning.

“It really is important to get off on the right foot,” Brother Martin coach Jeff Lupo said. “That’s a quality ball club who I think most people have picked to win the league. Our guys just competed from the first pitch. We made our fair share of mistakes but every time we did, we had one of our guys step up and make a play. Cole was outstanding on themound. It was really a complete team win.”

Bullinger fought through his control issues to pitch a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits. Bullinger walked six and struck out three.

Tulane commit Evan Burg had three hits to pace Rummel.

“Hats off to them, they played well, their pitcher was gutsy,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said. “We hit a lot of fly balls, they made the plays, that’s what happens. We’ve got to bounce back tomorrow.”

The rivals wrap up their two-game district series Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Mike Miley Stadium.

FINAL
RUM 010 000 0 — 1 6 1, 9 LOB
BM 101 000 X — 2 4 1, 7 LOB
WP—Cole Navarro (3-1)
LP—Brock Bullinger (2-2)
SV—Patrick Laiche (3)
Time of Game: 2:02
SB—Evan Burg
2B—Giancarlo Arencibia, Evan Burg
3B—Lenny Cline

Area Prep Baseball Results from Tuesday, March 14
Archbishop Hannan 2, Chalmette 0
Assumption 6, E.D. White Catholic 2
Ben Franklin 8, Warren Easton 2
Brother Martin 2, Archbishop Rummel 1
Catholic (BR) 10, Pearl River 0
Catholic (PC) 8, Kenner Discovery 0
Covenant Christian 22, Belle Chasse 6
De La Salle 6, Ponchatoula 5
Denham Springs 10, Springfield 0
Donaldsonville 15, White Castle 11
Doyle 11, Port Allen 0 (game one)
Doyle 12, Port Allen 1 (game two)
East St. John 11, John F. Kennedy 4
Ecole Classique 18, Varnado 2
Fisher 12, West Jefferson 2
Fontainebleau 7, Lakeshore 4
Franklinton 12, Pine 2
Hahnville 13, South Plaquemines 0
Haynes Academy 8, St. James 2
Jewel Sumner 7, Bogalusa 3
John Curtis Christian 10, St. Thomas Aquinas 0
Live Oak 6, Destrehan 5
Morgan City 12, Highland Baptist 5
Morris Jeff 16, McMain 3
Newman 12, Terrebonne 5
Northshore 10, Archbishop Shaw 4
Patterson 16, Slaughter Community Charter 0
Pope John Paul II 2, Covington 1
Riverdale 11, John Ehret 1
South Terrebonne 13, Central Lafourche 5
St. Amant 6, Central Catholic 1
St. Augustine 7, Jesuit 4
St. Charles Catholic 8, Lutcher 2
Teurlings Catholic 6, Berwick 5
Thibodaux 7, Ellender 5
Vandebilt Catholic 9, H.L. Bourgeois 1
Walker 10, French Settlement 0
West Feliciana 8, Albany 7
West St. John 13, Crescent City Christian 3