Jesuit uses big inning, outstanding relief to down Northshore

NEW ORLEANS – Baseball games are all about coming up with a big inning or avoiding a big inning.

At Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, Jesuit and Northshore each had a big inning but the Blue Jays put up the big crooked number in an 8-5 victory Monday night in the season opener for both teams.

After the Panthers scored a run in the second, they put up four runs in the top of the third to take a seemingly commanding 5-0 lead.

The Blue Jays then answered with a huge 7-run inning in the bottom of the third which proved decisive

Northshore jumped on top of the second inning on a walk to Alex Umberger, a throwing error, a single by Jack Buell and an RBI groundout by Gage Garrity to take a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Panthers opened a 5-0 lead with four runs. Alex Umberger plated a run on a bases loaded walk against starting pitcher Ryan Porche of Jesuit. A wild pitch plated a second run before a throwing error made it 4-0. Garrity completed the uprising with an RBI single to make it 5-0 with Michael King relieving Porche on the mound.

Then came the big inning.

Jesuit rallied in the bottom of the third on walks to Collin Loupe and Giovanni Licciardi and an RBI double by Zack Casebonne to make it 5-1. Tripp Haddad followed with a 2-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 5-3. Luke Brandau followed with an RBI single and it was 5-4.

Stephen Bateman relieved Northshore starter Cole Randazzo and walked Cameron Desroches with the bases loaded to tie the game 5-5 before Hayden Morris was hit by a pitch to give the Blue Jays a 6-5 lead. Loupe then singled home a run and it was 7-5.

The Blue Jays got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Loupe and a throwing error which allowed him to score to make it 8-5.

“It is a good win,” Goodlett said. “Their two pitchers did a real nice job against us tonight. I’m very happy with the way we responded, We were down 5-0, gave up a 4-spot. We knew we had five frames left. We talk about just chipping away. We got the big inning.”

King came on in relief and pitched four and a third innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits, walking one, hitting a batter and striking out one to pick up the win in an outstanding performance.

“King came in and really helped us out and we made some good defensive plays behind him,” Goodlett said. “He’s comfortable coming out of the ‘pen. He’s a senior, a guy that we know is going to go in there and throw strikes and give us a great opportunity.

Jesuit will play four games in the WGNO Classic this weekend while Northshore will take on Loranger in the Slidell City Tournament Thursday.

“It’s exciting to be back on the field,” Goodlett said. “You could tell the guys were anxious. It is great to be back in the pinstripes. We are looking forward to the rest of the week.”

FINAL
Northshore 014 000 0 5 5 2, 6 LOB
Jesuit 007 001 x 8 6 2, 6 LOB

WP—Michael King (1-0)
LP—Cole Randazzo
Time of Game: 2:06
2B—Zack Casebonne, Tripp Haddad, Collin Loupe
E—Porche, Casebonne, Buell, Umberger