March 26
March 26, 2008
Howard Edward Green
March 28, 2008
One day it may be known as THE DOUBLE OUT. Or maybe 8-1-6-2.
The South Louisiana high school equivalent of Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series, or Derek Jeter’s “Flip” to tag out Jeremy Giambi in the 2001 American League Division Series.
For now, it’s just the play that saved Vandebilt’s toughest win of the season.
Despite allowing 13 hits and committing four errors, the Terriers prevailed over district rival Archbishop Shaw 7-6 in last Saturday’s epic, back-and-forth battle.
The win extends Vandebilt’s (18-1, 3-0 district) 11-game winning streak and breaks Shaw’s (12-11, 2-1) 3-game winning stretch.
Terriers’ ace pitcher Jeff DeBlieux struggled in the first inning, giving up four runs on five singles, two wild pitches and a walk to spot the Eagles a 4-0 lead.
In the second, DeBlieux surrendered a RBI triple to right fielder Scott Fabre (4-for-5, two RBIs) to push the lead to 5-0.
“I felt my pitch selection, ’cause I called the pitches, I put him in a bad situation a couple of times,” said Vandebilt coach David Constant.
Vandebilt bats came alive in the bottom of the inning against Eagles starter Beau Boudreaux. Boudreaux loaded the bases when Terriers’ centerfielder Alex Freeman (1-for-2) blasted a 3-run double to the wall to cut the Terriers deficit 5-3.
In the next at-bat, DeBlieux (2-for-5, two RBIs) scored Freeman on a RBI double to bring Vandebilt within one, 5-4.
Both teams pitched into and escaped from trouble over the next two-and-a-half innings.
In the bottom of fifth, shortstop Evan Mistich hit an RBI triple that scored second baseman Jacob Allen, giving the Terriers their first lead of the game, 6-5.
“Hats off to our guys for battling back,” said Constant. “I think they were pressing early on to catch up.”
Boudreaux would be pulled later in the inning after loading the bases. He allowed six runs on six hits, with five strikeouts, three walks and two hit batsmen.
In relief, Jared Landry forced a ground-out from third baseman Doug Champagne to get Shaw out of the inning without further harm.
Shaw answered in the sixth. After Fabre hit a single, he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. First baseman Drew Mulligan hit a sacrifice fly to score Fabre and tied the game 6-6.
DeBlieux was relieved by Allen after a five strikeout, one walk effort, where he allowed five runs and 10 hits on 110 pitches.
The drama reached its zenith in the top of the eighth. With one out and Fabre on second, Shaw second baseman Corey Wilson hit a pop fly to the right-center gap. Right fielder Stephen Martinez tried to make a diving catch but came up short.
Deblieux, a defensive substitute in center field, retrieved the ball and fired it to Allen who tossed it to Mistich, who was covering second. Wilson was stuck between bases.
For a moment, Wilson and Mistich glanced over to see Fabre rounding third base. Wilson tried to prolong the rundown but Mistich tagged him out. Fabre was midway to home plate when Mistich made a quick tight pivot and rocketed the ball to catcher Sam Pitre.
Fabre slid head-first into home plate, but even the kicked-up dirt and dust could not block the umpire’s out signal. Vandebilt players exploded out of the dugout with jubilation while Shaw erupted from their dugout in disbelief.
Fabre was ejected from the game for the arguing the call; Shaw head coach Doug Faust protested to no avail.
“It looked like he and the ball got there at the same time,” said Faust. “I thought he beat it (the tag). But hey, their kids made a great play.”
“Our catcher, Sam Pitre, made a great play just to hold on to the ball,” said Constant. “A lot of times in that situation, the ball gets knocked out.”
Vandebilt won the game in the bottom of the eighth when Deblieux hit a bases-loaded single to score Martinez.
“I can’t say enough about the leadership on this team,” said Constant. “A win like this really shows the kind of character our kids have.”
Allen got the win for the Terriers and Landry took the loss for Shaw.
The Eagles stranded 11 runners on base. “We got a lot of hits but couldn’t get them home after the second,” said Faust. “You can’t give a team like them that many chances.”
The Eagles and Terriers play twice more this season – April 3 at Shaw and April 15 at Vandebilt.
Vandebilt starts a three-game homestand tomorrow night against Ellender at 6 p.m. That will be followed by Belle Chasse on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Helen Cox on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Terriers shortstop Evan Mistich hit a RBI triple in Vandebilt’s 7-6 victory over Shaw. Below, catcher Sam Pitre tags out Shaw’s Scott Fabre on the 8-1-6-2 double out. * Photo by KEYON JEFF
