Central Lafourche shuts out Bourgeois

The last time H.L. Bourgeois and Central Lafourche met, Central Lafourche cost itself the game by committing four errors on the day.

When the two teams met last Thursday at Southland Field, the Trojans limited their errors to just one, and beat H.L. Bourgeois 5-0.

On this night, it was the Braves (16-12 overall, 6-6 District 6-5A) that hurt themselves, committing five errors on the night. H.L. Bourgeois coach Rondon Anderson said no team can expect to win while making that many mistakes. “Last time we played them, we made two errors,” said Anderson. “They had … four. Opposed to tonight where we make five errors and they make one.”

Trojans coach Scott Duplantis said his team has been aiming to reduce the amount of errors it makes as the playoffs approach. We’ve been talking about it a lot,” he said. “Trying to work towards playing our best baseball at the end of the season. Every game, for the past four games, we’ve gotten better and better and better.

“Tonight is almost to right where we want to be,” he added.

The Trojans (19-11 overall, 10-2 District 6-5A) also played well at the plate, recording nine hits on the night. Neil Adams and Walt Foran led the way, each going 2-for-4.

“A team like Central Lafourche, they can smash the ball and you cannot make errors against them,” said Anderson. “I mean, they can really hit the ball. The guy they had on the mound tonight, he dealt.”

Trojans pitcher Cully Guidroz had the complete game win, giving up just four hits and striking out five batters. He didn’t walk anyone.

Duplantis said Guidroz’s performance might have been his best of the season. “It was one of the first times in a while he really had command of all three pitches,” said Duplantis. “Putting them where he wants, when he wants.”

Central Lafourche got on the scoreboard in the second inning. An error at third base scored Dustin Punch, and allowed Andy Stewart to reach first.

Two batters later, an error in leftfield scored Stewart for a 2-0 lead.

The Trojans added two more runs in the third inning, when Lucas LeBlanc’s sacrifice fly plated Kevin Caro.

Walt Foran followed with a single to left-centerfield that scored Adams, making it 4-0.

Central Lafourche finished the scoring in the fourth inning. Adams connected on a line-drive single to left field that scored a runner for a 5-0 lead.

Duplantis said an adjustment to H.L. Bourgeois’ pitching helped his team to score runs. “Their pitcher kind of forced the issue with keeping the ball outside on us,” he said. “We finally made the adjustment, and moved up in the box and started going the other way with it. We got some base hits. I was impressed with what we did at the plate.”

Still, Duplantis knows defense is what will be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit. “Defensively, it’s coming around,” he said. “If the pitching stays strong, we’ll be okay.”

With the loss, H.L. Bourgeois fell to fifth-place in the district. Ellender and South Terrebonne are currently tied for third-place, each at 7-5.