Thibodaux beats So. Terrebonne, 11-6

A split-second decision has lasting impact
April 15, 2008
Terry J. Bourgeois
April 17, 2008
A split-second decision has lasting impact
April 15, 2008
Terry J. Bourgeois
April 17, 2008

Some teams just have another team figured out.


This year, Thibodaux has been the kryptonite to South Terrebonne’s super season.


The Tigers went to Bourg yesterday and defeated the Gators for the second time this season, 11-6.

The Tigers (15-12, 7-3 district) used a seven-run fifth inning to break open a deadlocked gamed and propel them to victory. They are within a game of the Gators (20-2, 7-2) for the District 8-5A lead and hold the tiebreaking win.


“I’m glad they’re in the district and I don’t have to see them again,” Thibodaux coach Scott Abadie of the Gators.


Thibodaux scored in the second when a pass ball from Gators starter Gil Bergeron got away, allowing Cody Dufrene to plate from third base.

The Gators manufactured a run in the bottom fourth. With Josh Neal on third, Tigers starter Brent Bonvillain walked Steven Wurzlow. An alert Neal took advantage of the Tigers’ lack of focus and stole home to tie in the game 1-1.


Gators pitching fell apart in the fifth inning. Bergeron gave up two runs on a hit batter, a double and a single. He was pulled for South Terrebonne ace Alex Prestenbach, who began the game at first base, but the slaughter continued.


Coach Abadie made a bold decision. “I made a move I usually don’t make – I pinch hit. The guy [Brian Kraemer replacing Brandon Thibodaux] put it in play.” he said.

Kraemer (1-for-2) hit a two-run single to increase the lead to 5-1. Janson Fauchaux (1-for-4) followed, blasting a three-run homer far over the left-centerfield fence and pushing the Tigers lead to 8-1.


“It’s almost like two ballgames,” said South Terrebonne Nathan Cotten.


The Gators battled back in the bottom half with aggressive base running. With the bases loaded, Kurt Charpentier scored Ben Landry and Carl Leblanc on a fielder’s choice putout at second.

Both teams squeezed minimum results out of maximum opportunities in the sixth.


The Tigers loaded the bases twice, but only got one run across on a Mike Stieb (1-for-1, 3 walks) single.

South Terrebonne was worse. After scoring twice to cut the deficit to 9-5, the bases were loaded with no outs when Bonvillain was pulled for sophomore Jacob Benoit.

Benoit struck out Prestenbach, induced a fielder’s choice putout at home, and forced a groundout to get through the inning without further damage.

“Facing that lineup is very, very tough, but once again my two pitchers came in and did a great job and we responded,” said Abaide.

“Pitching, nine times out of ten, will beat hitting,” said Cotten. It didn’t seem like we came up with the big hit.”

The Tigers scored twice in the seventh, and the Gators once to end the game.

Bonvillain got the win going five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, striking out four, walking six and committing two balks.

Bergeron endured the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four, and walking four.

Randall Daigle went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Tigers at the plate.

Brock Landry went 1-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Gators at the plate.

With three games left for the Tigers and four for the Gators, the district title race leaves no room for error on either side.

“Now their backs [are] against the wall,” said Abaide. “[South Terrebonne’s] got to win out, but so do we.”

“We definitely understand the importance of every ballgame,” said Cotten. “We’re not going to look pass any teams.”

The Thibodaux High Tigers defeated the South Terrebonne High Gators yesterday for the second time this season. * Photo by KEYON JEFF