Tulane signee Arencibia no-hits Curtis as Lydia Curtis is remembered

METAIRIE – It was more than just a game. There was a game but there was quite a game story to tell.

Tulane signee Giancarlo Arencibia pitched a no-hitter as Archbishop Rummel blanked John Curtis Christian 3-0 in the District 9-5A opener for both teams at Mike Miley Stadium Tuesday evening in a game streamed live on CrescentCitySports.com and also broadcast on The Ticket 106.1 FM.

Arencibia was dominant from the start as the Patriots never threatened to get a hit.

The only hard-hit ball was a line drive off the bat of Jason Curtis to Rummel first-baseman Aiden Gernard in the second inning.

Arencibia walked five on a night where the strike zone was a bit tight and struck out six.

The question was not whether Arencibia would allow a hit but whether he would make it to the finish line before running out of pitches.

Arencibia started the final batter of the game with 111 pitches and struck out Tyler Mitchell on his 118th pitch of the game. Arencibia walked five and struck out six.

“It’s great, it’s a great feeling, of course, but it’s a better feeling to get a win with my guys in the first game in district, especially against Curtis whom we’ve had trouble with in the past” Arencibia said. “I had trouble finding the zone in the beginning. Halfway through the game I was able to feel that out. It was working for me later on.”

Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux had a simple answer for what worked for his team.

“Giancarlo did,” Cazeaux said. “We came out and played extremely hard. I could tell in their eyes they were ready to play and I’m very proud of them. He was hurting a bit with his oblique muscle in his side and he fought through it.”

The Raiders got the only run they needed in the first inning, executing to perfection.

Ruben Ramirez started the frame with a single to left, advanced to second on a groundout by LSU signee Mikey Ryan, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Louisiana Tech commit Gavin Nix to take a 1-0 lead.

Gernard provide the second run in the second inning on a long home run to left-center field and it was 2-0.

The Raiders added an insurance run in the fifth inning on a single by Ramirez, a walk to Ryan, a sacrifice bunt by Nix advancing both runners and a wild pitch, scoring Ramirez.

The Patriots never had a player reach third base.

Bryce Hebert took the loss, going four innings, allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Tony Macaluso and Aiden Karr each pitched an inning for the Patriots.

Ramirez and Gernard each had a pair of hits for the only hits of the game.

“Ruben was outstanding,” Cazeaux said. “Aiden Gernard got a couple of big hits for us.

Then, there was the rest of the story.

John Curtis and head coach Jeff Curtis elected to play the game on the day where his mother and the wife of J.T. Curtis, Lydia Curtis, died after a long battle with illness.

That the Patriots played was noble, exemplary, courageous. Did Jeff Curtis and the Curtis family consider not playing the game?

“There’s no way my mom would have allowed that had she had been here,” Curtis said. “She’s going us to put the red, white and blue on and go out and fight like Patriots, just like she did in her battle. She fought like a Patriot for a long time. She’s going to meet her maker. She entered the gates and grandpa was there singing out of tune. She came in singing like a charm.”

While it was a tough task for Curtis to play, it was a heartwarming, inspiring gesture well before game time.

With no fans in the stands, Arencibia led his Rummel teammates to the John Curtis team and asked if he and his teammates could pray with the Patriots over the loss of Lydia Curtis.

At Mike Miley Stadium for ⁦@rummelbaseball⁩ and ⁦@JohnCurtis_BSB⁩. Watch live ⁦@CCSprep⁩ and listen live on The Ticket, 106.1 FM at 6:45 pm. ⁦@ArchRUMMEL⁩ players praying with ⁦@Curtis_Patriots⁩ players on passing of Lydia Curtis. Not just a game. pic.twitter.com/4I0s1L6BXp

— Ken Trahan (@kentrahan) March 12, 2024

The rivals were brothers in locked arms. The rivals were friends, united in a common cause and faith.

“I was touched by that, by their players and Coach Cazeaux,” Curtis said. “Just having that leadership. It’s reciprocal on our part. That’s what I told both teams. I was touched. I thanked them on behalf of the Curtis family. I told if it’s all about a scoreboard, what am I doing if it’s just about a score at the end of the day? We’re trying to build champions for life just like Rummel’s trying to. If we can do that and I can do my part, I’m good with whatever happens with the outcome.”

When the no-hitter was complete, Jeff Curtis quickly made his way over to Arencibia to congratulate him as they embraced.

The outcome on the field was not what the Patriots desired and met the clear desire of the Raiders.

The outcome in life from the experience of two class coaches and class institutions are desirable qualities for any school, coach or player to aspire to.

After the players prayed together, Jeff Curtis chose to address both teams.

In doing so, a bright ray of sunshine illuminated the circle of players and beamed right at Curtis.

Mom was watching.

I saw J.T. Curtis walking out of the stadium. We spoke about the loss of his wife and his pain was evident as was his faith.

The Raiders (9-4) and Patriots (9-3) will meet in the second game of the series Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Mike Miley Stadium.

FINAL
John Curtis 000 000 0 0 0 0, 4 LOB
Rummel 110 010 X 3 4 0, 6 LOB
WP—Giancarlo Arencibia (3-1)
LP—Bryce Hebert (3-1)
Time of Game: 1:52
HR—Aiden Gernard (1)