Baseball: Lou Carboni has number retired as current Holy Cross squad honors former coach with big win

Thursday night at Tiger Park in Gentilly, Holy Cross returned to winning ways with a convincing 17-2 victory over St. Martin’s Episcopal in a game which ended in the fifth inning by the mercy rule.

The Tigers (7-3) put up crooked numbers in every inning, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first, two in the second, three in the third and seven runs in the fourth inning to put the game away.

Tulane commit Gavin Schulz belted a 2-run homer, stole three bases and scored three times. Max Licciardi had a double and drove in three runs. Todd Canatella drove in three runs. Josh Orr had two hits, including a double with two RBI and Chandler Welch had two hits and an RBI to pace a 10-hit attack for Holy Cross.

Starting pitcher Andrew Bradley was the winning pitcher, going two innings, allowing no runs on one hit while Johnny Morreale took the loss for the Saints (3-5). Skyler Shank, Christian Pevey and Morreale each drove in a run for St. Martin’s.

Holy Cross coach Andy Cannizaro was pleased with the performance after his team had lost its last two games.

“It was a great night for us,” Cannizaro said. “It was one that we certainly needed. I was excited that we came out with a lot intensity tonight. We took the fight to these guys tonight and we came out early with great at-bats in the first inning, got out early, continued to build it, didn’t let them off the mat, so to speak.”

While the current Tigers flourished on the field, the night belonged to a former Tiger great.

When talking about the rich history of Holy Cross athletics, there are many great names that rise to the surface from past accomplishments.

In my lifetime, it is easy to think about the greatness of Brother Melchior Polowy, Billy Truax, Dalton Truax, John Kalbacher, Billy Rapp, Bobby and Kenny Hrapmann, Joe and Bob Heap, Alan Rappold, Glenn Smith, August Vegas, Roland Barbay, Ray Culotta, Ed Kavanaugh, Coleman Ruiz Sr. and Coleman Ruiz Jr., Tony Bouie, William Burtchaell, Hank Lauricella, Barry Wilson, Vic Eumont, and Earl Schneider.

There are others, to be certain.

When it comes to baseball, there is one name which stands above all others.

Lou Carboni was a superb player at Holy Cross, a 3-year letterman and a 2-time All-District performer, serving as captain of the team in 1968.

He returned to his alma mater in 1980 as an assistant baseball coach and he ascended to head coach of the Tigers in 1982.

Carboni went on to serve in that capacity in brilliant fashion for 25 years. In that quarter of a century, Carboni amassed 417 victories to become the winningest coach in school history.

Carboni remained at Holy Cross teaching through 2017 before retiring.

Prep teams under Carboni were most often outstanding, playing in what was the toughest league in the state.

In Carboni’s 25 years on the job, Catholic League schools combined to win 10 state titles and to reach 14 title games. In that period, Jesuit won four titles, Archbishop Rummel captured three, Brother Martin took home two championships and De La Salle won once. It was clearly the best of baseball in Louisiana and Carboni and Holy Cross were squarely in the thick of that.

In 1987, Holy Cross reached the state championship game. Carboni earned Class 5A Coach of the Year in Louisiana in 1996.

Carboni’s Holy Cross-based American Legion teams were often elite and the Saucer Marine squad won a state title in 1982.

Carboni’s contributions to Holy Cross were so significant that Holy Cross baseball has honored Carboni by presenting the Lou Carboni Award annually to its Most Outstanding Player.

Thursday night, Carboni was honored with his familiar No. 3 being fixed on the left field fence permanently, unveiled as he threw out the first pitch.

“To be remembered, to be recognized is beautiful, it really is,” Carboni said. “Looking at the Tiger baseball program today and the last few years, they definitely have it on the right track. The kids are playing real hard.”

Carboni was touched by the gesture.

“When we first find out the news about the number retirement from Coach Cannizaro and Coach Bruce Kamlade that they wanted to do this, it was such an honor. My wife and I both retired in ’17. We left to be with our son and his children. We baby sit five days a week.”

There are so many great memories for Carboni at Holy Cross and many of the players and coaches who helped make the memories were on hand Thursday night.

“The ’82 state championship team with Saucer Marine and the ’87 prep team, to see where they are today, it’s so special,” Carboni said. “We follow those guys all the time. We know where they are and how big their families are. We stay in contact. This past week, my phone has been blowing up with calls from former coaches and players. It’s very touching in my heart.”

What does Holy Cross mean to Carboni?

“Today, I still feel like I lived the mission that Holy Cross taught me,” Carboni said. “One of the most important things to me was I was looking at The Grotto and I can’t tell you how many times we used to come to the Grotto for a little peace and quiet and then the St. Joseph Chapel was so special to us. My wife and I renewed our 25-year vows there. This place means everything to me My heart, soul, mind body, everything goes with it.”

The current Tigers did the Tiger Hall of Fame great proud with an easy victory.

“He’s such a neat man and did so much for this school,” Cannizaro said. “Over 400 career wins here. That’s really hard to do. That’s so impressive. He had so many great baseball teams over those years. We just wanted to honor him tonight and to let him know that we’re all appreciative for the groundwork he’s laid down with this program.”

Area Prep Baseball Results from Thursday, March 11
Archbishop Hannan 10, Hammond 8
Archbishop Rummel 8, Sulphur 4 (8 inn.)
Belle Chasse 8, Slidell 3
Chalmette 12, De La Salle 2
Destrehan 14, East Ascension 11
Doyle 8, Alexandria 0
Doyle 12, Buckeye 2
Dutchtown 7, Archbishop Shaw 1
East Jefferson 14, Thomas Jefferson 5
Ecole Classique 19, Helen Cox 1
Fisher 13, Grace King 1
Franklinton 3, Jewel Sumner 2
Holy Cross 17, St. Martin’s Episcopal 2
John Curtis Christian 10, Salmen 0
Lusher Charter 8, Riverdale 7
Mandeville 6, Warren Easton 0
Mount Hermon 10, Varnado 0
Pearl River 12, Bogalusa 6
Pope John Paul II 11, Loranger 4
St. Charles Catholic 10, Slidell 6
St. Paul’s 8, Salmen 0
Warren Easton 14, Landry 3