Malcolm Dienes edges River Ridge in CCSL pitcher’s duel

METAIRIE – During the prep baseball season, John Curtis Christian rallied from a game down to eliminate Archbishop Rummel in the Division I state quarterfinals.

The rivalry continued in Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League play Tuesday evening at Raider Park.

This time, the Rummel-based Malcolm Dienes squad edged the John Curtis-based River Ridge Patriots 2-1 in a well played, well pitched game.

Shane Hirstius and Ryan Claverie combined to hold River Ridge to a run on three hits. Hirstius went five and two-third innings, allowing a run on three hits. Hirstius walked just one and struck out eight. Claverie came on to get the save, pitching the final inning and two-thirds, allowing no hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Offensively, Malcolm Dienes (4-2-1) did its damage in the second inning on an RBI double by third baseman Casey Avrard and a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Anthony Mooney produced a run to make it 2-0.

After managing only one base runner in the first five innings, River Ridge (6-2) was able to create traffic on the bases in their final two frames.

A two-out double by third baseman Dagan Bruno in the top of the sixth scored catcher Jason Curtis to shorten the lead to 2-1. After the next batter, Josh Eames, drew a walk to give River Ridge another baserunner, Malcolm Dienes went to the bullpen and brought Claverie to close the game.

Claverie was able to get out of the sixth inning jam by striking out Syris McClinton to retire the side.

After Malcolm Dienes was retired in order in the bottom of the sixth, Claverie retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh, and after a couple of two out walks, he was finally able to obtain a fly-out and record the save.

“I thought our guys threw the ball really well, and they needed to do that for us,” Malcolm Dienes coach Frank Cazeaux said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit offensively and they kept us in the game. Both arms worked very well under pressure for us when facing base traffic and deep counts that proved to be the difference in the game.”

For the Patriots, left-handed starter Alex Lagasse kept the game close despite recording only one strikeout. Lagasse went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Lagasse walked one and struck out one. Gilbert pitched a scoreless frame in relief.

“He came out, challenged the hitters and kept us off balance,” Cazeaux said.

Lagasse’s pitching to contact approached proved to be effective in a losing effort, drawing many soft fly-outs and ground balls to keep Rummel’s offense at bay after the second inning.

In a tight pitcher’s duel in a well played game, the ability to scratch runs across early and to escape high leverage jams proved to be the difference in favor of the Rummel based team to pick up a key victory.

FINAL
River Ridge 000 001 0 — 1 3 1
Malcolm Dienes 020 000 X — 2 4 0
WP—Shane Hirstius
LP—Alex Lagasse
2B—Casey Avrard, Mikey Ryan, Dagan Bruno