Lutcher downs Lakeshore in game one, 7-3

Marshall Louque first arrived at stardom with the Eastbank Little League World Championship team in 2019.

He has carried that stardom on to Lutcher.

That was on full display again Thursday.

Louque pitched a complete game, striking out 10 to pace top seed Lutcher to a 7-3 victory over No. 8 Lakeshore at Lutcher in game one of their best-of-three Non-Select Division II series. Louque allowed four hits and walked three, using 105 pitches.

The Titans took the early run on an RBI double by Gabe Dalton in the top of the first inning and it was 1-0.

The reigning state champion Bulldogs (26-6) answered in the bottom of the first, tying it on an RBI double by Chaduthaddeus Carter to make it 1-1.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the third when Lutcher came up with the decisive inning, scoring three runs on an RBI single by Collin Roques and a two-run double by Kai Brown to lead 4-1.

Louque helped himself with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to increase the advantage to 5-1.

Lakeshore (20-12) cut the deficit to 5-3 with two runs in the top of the fifth, driving in by Preston Scott, but once again, Lutcher responded with two in the bottom of the frame as Brown and Luke Babin each singled home a run account for the final margin.

Brown had two hits and two RBI while Babin and Carter each had two hits and an RBI for Lutcher as the Bulldogs banged out 11 hits.

Tulane commit Eli Lirette took the loss for Lakeshore, going four and a third innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on 11 hits. Lirette walked four and struck out two. Lirette two hits. Dalton Anderson pitched the final inning and two-thirds for the Titans.

Game two is set for Friday at 4:30 with game three, if necessary, to follow at 7 p.m.

BASEBALL BRACKETS