Rummel outlasts Jesuit in 10-inning thriller

NEW ORLEANS – What else is new?

The latest chapter in one of the very best rivalries in Louisiana did not disappoint. In fact, it lived up to expectations and then some.

Sophomore Logan Bertucci dropped a bloop single into short left field just off the glove of diving shortstop Seth Dardar to plate the Ron Franklin, giving Archbishop Rummel a thrilling 2-1 victory over Jesuit in 10 innings Tuesday night at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in an absolute thriller in District 9-5A aired live on WGSO 990 AM.

Bertucci’s single came off of Gannon Hyer, the third Jesuit pitcher of the game.

In the winning inning, Franklin, a Delgado commit, led off with a solid single to center, his third hit of the game. Kyle Walker sacrificed him to second with a bunt and Chandler Fields was walked intentionally. After Tyler Cook grounded out, advancing both runners to second third, Jackson Dennies, who had two hits, was walked intentionally to load the bases, setting the stage for Bertucci.

The Raiders (18-12, 5-6) took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Stephen Powers singled to left before Jesuit starting pitcher Connor Sarrat left with an arm injury.

Brenden Berggren relieved Sarrat. Lance Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error. Franklin singled to load the bases and Walker drove in Powers with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Jesuit (21-9, 8-3) tied it in the top of the sixth as Parker Serio reached on an error before Tripp Haddad doubled to deep center, scoring courtesy runner Eddy Seaone. Serio paced the Jesuit offense with a pair of hits and a walk.

Berggren was outstanding in relief for the Blue Jays, going seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits but he was charged with the loss. He walked two and struck out seven, using 114 pitches. He allowed the single to Franklin, which proved to be the deciding run, before exiting for Hyer.

The real story was the pitching of Rummel starter Matt Villa and Walker.

Villa went seven innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits. He walked just one and struck out 10 and had to exit after 112 pitches.

Walker, a sophomore, had pitched just 6 1/3 innings on the season. He entered the game in the eighth inning and was simply brilliant. Walker allowed no hits in three innings and struck out seven, using just an excellent fastball as Rummel pitching recorded 17 strikeouts.

“I’m proud of them, especially the guys on the mound,” Rummel coach Nick Monica said. “What Matt and Kyle did tonight was special. They made so many key pitches in big situations with guys in scoring position. It started there and we played good defense. We were able to get it done in the end.”

After watching his team go through a five-game losing streak, the Raiders have now won three straight games.

“This was the most energy and most enthusiasm we’ve showed all year,” Monica said. “I’m just happy we have something to show for it.”

Walker was drove in a run, singled and set up the winning run with his sacrifice bunt as well as pitching brilliantly.

“Matt pitched so well and I had his back and my teammates had my back,” Walker said. “Jesuit is a really good team. I just had to pitch my best. I prayed that my team had me and they did. I used to pitch in travel ball but I started focusing on football. I wasn’t really ready to pitch but Coach Monica saw me throw and liked my velocity and opted to use me. You have to do what is best for the team.”

Walker was clocked at 86 mph with his fastball.

This was yet another epic affair between the two teams.

In 2012, Jesuit won an epic 18-inning game 2-1 over Rummel. In 2015, Rummel beat Jesuit 6-5 in 10 innings. In the first game of a 2017 playoff series, Rummel won a 7-6 thriller in eight innings over Jesuit on a walk-off home run by Zach Cook.

Both of last year’s games were decided in the final inning –  a 3-2 Jesuit win and a 1-0, eight-inning Rummel victory.

The two teams have played several other extra-inning games over the past several years and faced each other in state championship games in 1980 and in 1997, with each side winning once.

With the loss, Jesuit fell into a first-place tie with Brother Martin in District 9-5A play with one game to go. The Crusaders blasted St. Augustine 10-1 Tuesday night and will face the Purple Knights Thursday at 2 p.m. at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

Jesuit and Rummel will conclude Catholic League play Thursday at John Ryan Stadium at 2 p.m.

Jesuit 000 001 000 0—1 5 1, 9 LOB
Rummel 001 000 000 1—2 10 1, 13 LOB
WP—Kyle Walker (2-1)
LP—Brenden Berggren (6-2)
Time of Game: 2:55
SB—Eddy Seaone 2
2B—Tripp Haddad