Jesuit edges Rummel, 1-0, in Division I Select baseball title game

SULPHUR – Going into the Division I Select state championship game, you just knew it would be this type of game.

The great rivalry that is Jesuit and Archbishop Rummel has featured a host of one-run games, extra inning contests and matchups with a flair for the dramatic.

This season, the second-seeded Blue Jays had beaten the 13th-seeded Raiders twice in the regular season by one run. The bird song remained the same Saturday at McMurry Park.

Tulane commit William Good pitched six shutout innings and was the middle of producing the only run of the game as the Blue Jays edged the Raiders, 1-0.

“It was our third one-run game with them,” Jesuit coach Kenny Goodlett said. “It’s a good team, well coached. Frankie (Cazeaux) does a good job. Will Good, what a job he did today. Our guys came to play today. That’s been the case all year with great pitching and good defense.”

Locked in a great pitcher’s dual with Rummel senior Brady Schmidt, Good received all the support he needed in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Hunter Oufnac drew a leadoff walk, Good singled to left and Alex Jeansonne advanced both on a sacrifice bunt. Patrick Berrigan singled to left, scoring Oufnac to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

‘24 Patrick Berrigan drives a single to put @JHSNolaBaseball up 1-0!

Jesuit HS | 2024 | LA#Uncommitted #2D2024 #2DHitting pic.twitter.com/krfGXtBo9o

— 2Dsports Baseball (@2D_sports) May 13, 2023

Rummel had more chances to score than Jesuit but the Raiders came up empty.

In the first inning, the Raiders had two on but Good struck out Brock Bullinger to get out of it.

In the second inning, Jesuit got a double play when Giancarlo Arencibia was called for batter interference, ending a potential Rummel threat.

In the third inning, Rummel loaded the bases with one out and cleanup hitter and Louisiana Tech commit Gavin Nix hit a shallow fly ball to left field. Tulane commit Evan Burg tried to score and was thrown out by a few feet on the relay throw.

In the fifth inning, the Raiders got two on again but Good got Rhett Centanni to ground out to short on a close play at first.

The killer for Rummel came in the sixth inning when Bullinger doubled and Lenny Cline had an infield single on a slow roller down the third base line.

Everett Denny fielded the ball, saw he had no play at first and faked a throw to first base before wheeling and throwing to Jake Moreci covering third. Courtesy runner Wayne St. John had rounded the bag too far and Moreci tagged him out to effectively end Rummel’s final chance to score.

“We worked on that play,” Goodlett said. “That was a heads-up play. It’s great to see coming up in a big game. Everett Denny right there doing an unbelievable job. (Jake) Moreci being in the right spot. That was a good one.”

I told @JesuitNOLA 3B Everett Denny that he faked the camera man out, as well as everyone in the stadium. This was a game-changing play, as @ArchRUMMEL would have had a runner on third with 2 outs. Watch the 6th-inning play here and full highlights on https://t.co/J8FbPJdIjE.… pic.twitter.com/pR18Rx1p0a

— Jack Culotta, Jr. (@TalkCulotta) May 14, 2023

Jesuit closer Gates Barre’, who earned a save in the Blue Jays’ semifinal win over Pineville, came on and retired the Raiders in order in the seventh.

Good tossed six innings, using 101 pitches, allowing just four hits just two days after starting the semifinal win against Pineville, throwing 41 pitches in two scoreless innings before being lifted after an hour and 15 minute rain delay. Good walked two and struck out six.

“I had to get with it and make the pitch and execute,” Good said. “I got the chance to start Thursday and being able to come back today, I could not be more fortunate. It was very hot today. Gates is the reliver of the year. He’s my best friend and I love him.”

Oufnac went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

Schmidt went the distance for Rummel, allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

“We couldn’t get one across, my heart breaks for these kids right now,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said. “I told them that these are life lessons moving forward, you’re not always going to get what you want. We wanted a state championship but we’ll learn. These seniors did a great job. It’s going to sting for a while.”

After earning a second Division I title in three years, Jesuit is the all-time leader in Louisiana history with 22 state championships. Rummel, which has not won a state title since 1997, finished as a runner-up for the second time in four seasons and for the seventh time overall.

A veteran team with 13 seniors prevailed against a younger team with talent in another classic game between two great rivals.

“I’m so proud of these kids, Ken,” Goodlett said. “I’m at a great school and they’re great kids who come to work every day. I’m very lucky.”

FINAL
Rummel 000 000 0 — 0 4 0, 7 LOB
Jesuit 000 100 X — 1 5 2, 5 LOB
WP—William Good (7-1)
LP—Brady Schmidt (6-2)
Time of Game: 1:52
2B—Brock Bullinger