Gators playing strong in Swampland

South Terrebonne coach Terrel Hebert wasn’t happy with Thursday’s 6-5 Swampland League loss to Morgan City.

And who could blame him? The Gators entered the game piping hot following a convincing 13-1 victory over A.J. Dohman earlier in the week.

Then things fell apart.

&#8220We were coming off a 14-hit game and were only able to get three hits against Morgan City,” he said. &#8220We just played one of our worst games and couldn’t win. Credit a lot of the loss to Morgan City’s pitching.”

In spite of the loss, Hebert can’t help but credit his squad as well.

South Terrebonne was sitting strong in the Swampland Baseball’s National League standings with a 4-1 record through Monday afternoon.

With the first half of the season complete, the Gators are poised to return to the championship. South Terrebonne lost the title game to E.D. White in 2006.

The secret to the team’s early success?

&#8220We have some very committed kids,” Hebert said. &#8220Everyone from our program is playing Swampland ball because it was a positive experience last year.”

In some ways, the Gator’s 2006 summer campaign might have been what helped the program turn the corner.

Only Thibodaux and Central Lafourche finished ahead of South Terrebonne in the District 6-5A regular-season baseball standings. The Gators’ 8-6 record helped them advance to the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

&#8220The kids are especially committed to this Swampland team because they see the results and they want to do even better,” Hebert said.

According to Hebert, South Terrebonne has benefited from a solid pitching rotation that includes Alex Prestenbach, Ben Landry, Kurt Charpentier and closer Josh Neil.

Charpentier entered the week with a 2-0 record. He pitched a no-hitter against H. L. Bourgeois.

Prestenbach, Brock Hebert (shortstop), Chris Bankston and Carl Leblanc (catcher) have added electricity to the Gators’ batting order.

Hebert, Leblanc and outfielder Michael Barba have kept South Terrebonne solid on defense.

The Gators hosted the Terrebonne Red Sox Monday evening.

The results of the game were unavailable by press time.