John Curtis completes unbeaten district season, makes case for top seed after win at Holy Cross

BOX SCORE

They left no doubt.

The defending Division I state champion John Curtis Christian Patriots are the best team in District 9-5A by a substantial margin and a definite threat, if not the favorite, to repeat as state champions again this season.

The Patriots finished off an unbeaten District 9-5A campaign with a convincing 6-0 victory over Holy Cross at Tiger Park Wednesday afternoon.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College signee Ian Landreneau put the Patriots on top with a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the top of the fourth to make it 1-0. Tulane signee Logan Stevens drilled a two-run double and a third run scored on an error in the top of the fifth to make it 4-0 before LSU signee Cade Beloso belted a two-run home run to right-center field in the sixth to account for the final margin.

LSU signee Will Ripoll, who was brilliant. Ripoll pitched a three-hitter, walking four and striking out five. He used 98 pitches.

The home run for Beloso was his 11th of the season. Ripoll improved to 8-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.02 with his latest gem. Frank Timphony had a double for Holy Cross. Alex Wiltz took the loss, going five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out three. Gavin Peyroux pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He walked four and struck out one.

Patriots head coach Jeff Curtis could not hide his feelings about going unbeaten in district play.

“To say I’m not excited would be an understatement,” Curtis said. “I’m proud of the focus of the team, the commitment to being excellent everyday, whether it’s practice or games. They have avoided complacency and ultimately did whatever it took to win, including a 13-inning win over Jesuit in the rain or a big win when the offense flexed its muscle. That’s the mark of a good team, when you can win different ways. That is what I am most proud of.”

Now comes the chance to win another state championship.

“We feel good about our chances of repeating,” Curtis said. “Our motto is ‘so what, next pitch, next game. It’s about the next game, the next moment. If we don’t play well, we will fall short. I like where we are as a team and as a program. We have the pitching depth and we have the hitting. We have to stay focused. We could end up facing another team from our league and they all know us well. We are going to try to get a little bit better.”

The Patriots (26-4, 12-0) will be the first or second seed in the upcoming Division I playoffs with Catholic of Baton Rouge being the other top seed. Curtis downed Catholic in the Division I title game a year ago. Holy Cross (18-13-1, 8-4) will end up anywhere from the fourth to sixth seed following the loss.

With a top three seed, Curtis will get a bye into the quarterfinals, which will not be played until May 3 or May 4.

“We will likely play an exhibition game, possibly with St. Thomas Aquinas, to prepare for the playoffs, Curtis said. “You don’t want to get stale. You want to be sharp.”