Ponstein’s stages furious rally to down Retif Oil

It is not over until it is over.

For a while, it appeared that defending champion Jesuit-based Retif Oil would get its first Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League victory Wednesday night at Tiger Park.

Then, Holy Cross-based Ponstein’s Food Store awakened, staging a furious rally to overcome Retif Oil 8-7.

Trailing 7-1, Ponstein’s scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win in walk-off fashion.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ryder Planchard walked and Dominic Pellegrin singled and Luca Saltaformaggio drove in the tying run with a fielder’s choice grounder. Denny Trosclair then reached on an error and Will Andrade drove in the game-winner on a fielder’s choice grounder.

Retif Oil jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Patrick Berrigan, a sacrifice fly by Luke Werling and an RBI groundout by Joe Bosco.

Planchard got the Tigers on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

Retif Oil made it 4-1 in the third inning as Berrigan singled, stole second and third and scored on an error.

The lead grew to 5-1 in the top of the frth as Beau Matulewski singled, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on a passed ball.

It became 6-1 in the fifth when Jake Moreci singled and Berrigan was hit by a pitch. Werling singled to load the bases and Connor Donnelly drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Retif Oil added a run in the top of the sixth as Brandon Thomas reached on an error, Ryan Saunders singled and Matulewski was hit by a pitch. Michael Brothers singled home a run, setting the stage for the Ponstein’s charge.

In the bottom of the sixth, Planchard, Pellegrin and Saltaformaggio each singled to load the bases. A balk scored Planchard to make it 7-2 and Trosclair doubled home a pair of runs to make it 7-4. Aaron Guichard doubled home a run and it was 7-5 and Colton Garretts singled home a run to make it 7-6.

Planchard was 3 for 3 for the Tigers.

Trace Thomas started and went four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. Thomas walked two and struck out three. Matthew Watson pitched the final three innings to get the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with three strikeouts.

Matulewski took the loss in relief of Bosco. Matulewski pitched the final inning after Bosco started and allowed six runs on nine hits.

Ponstein’s (2-1) will host Mandeville-based Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Thursday while Retif Oil (0-5) travels to LaPlace to take on St. Charles Catholic-based Cretin Townsend Homes.

FINAL
Retif Oil 301 111 0 7 12 1
Ponstein’s 100 005 2 8 11 2