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March 12, 2012
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March 12, 2012
With new, watered down bats having arrived in prep baseball, teams are scrambling to score runs in the opening weeks of the season.
Amidst the offensive struggle, South Terrebonne believes they have found the formula for success.
The Gators are currently boasting a young, but talented pitching staff, which is recording outs behind a strong defense.
Once in the dugout, South Terrebonne is recording enough timely hits to spark the team’s 4-1 start to the season – a run that included a 3-1 win last Tuesday against Riverside Academy, who advanced to the state quarterfinals last season
“We’ve definitely gotten off to a good start,” Gators coach Nathan Cotten said. “I’m very excited about how we’re playing baseball. We’ve been in some tight ballgames … but we definitely love being on the positive side of well-played 3-1 victories.”
“We’re coming into our own right now,” South Terrebonne senior third baseman Zachary LeBeouf said. “We feel like we’re playing some of our better ball. We’re playing as a unit and we’re just a close-knit group of guys. … That goes a long way.”
The strength to the Gators start has unquestionably been pitching.
After allowing 16 runs in an opening night shellacking at the hands of Central Lafourche, South Terrebonne’s hurlers rebounded and allowed just 6 runs in their next four games.
The formula to that success has been control.
Against Riverside, South Terrebonne kept walks to a minimum and both starter Seth Cadiere and reliever Jerreth Sevin pounded the strike zone.
That allowed the Gators’ defense to make plays and keep Riverside’s offense out of rhythm.
“We feel like as long as we’re throwing strikes, we’re giving ourselves a chance to make plays to get outs,” Cotten said. “We’re confident that if they put the ball in play, we can get outs.”
The Gators’ strong pitching start comes as a surprise to some – even a few within the South Terrebonne locker room.
Cadiere missed time in preseason with a torn PCL in his left knee, putting an early-season strain on experienced hurlers like LeBeouf and Britt Pellegrin, while also thrusting an inexperienced Sevin into the pressure cooker.
So far, so good, and everyone has responded well.
“At first, it was kind of sketchy,” Cadiere admitted. “We didn’t think we had enough arms. But a lot of people have stepped up and have showed that they have it.”
With pitching and defense on lock, the Gators are trying to be more consistent on offense.
Currently, the Gators are scoring runs with sound base running and timely hitting.
“Whenever we need that guy to get a hit, we push runs across,” LeBeouf said. “We play scrappy baseball.”
Against Riverside, LeBeouf did just that, stealing his way home twice out of the leadoff position.
Both LeBeouf and the team’s two-hole hitter, Pellegrin, give the Gators an offensive edge, according to their coach.
“He’s a very instinctive base runner and he’s a solid hitter,” Cotten said. “On other teams, he’s probably not a leadoff hitter, but that’s where he suits us best. … And I think Zachary sees a lot of pitches because Britt’s right behind him. It just trickles down the lineup the same way.”
With district play nearing, LeBeouf said the Gators can become the total package offensively if they get increased production from the bottom of their lineup.
“Those are the guys that will win you the game,” LeBeouf said. “Your six-through-nine guys and how they perform and how they hit the ball, that goes a long way in winning a baseball game.”
Offense and defense aside, the Gators have mojo working in their favor – a trait they earned this summer.
South Terrebonne won the 2011 Swampland championship.
Historically teams that win the summer league title carry those victorious ways into the varsity season.
Gators’ players say the same happened for their team, and confidence was gained amidst the warm summer heat.
“The way we played in the summer let us know that we had something to work with,” Cadiere said. “We knew we had the players to have a solid season.”
So far, so good for the Gators who say their summer success instilled confidence in them that they could become an elite club.
Cotten and his players are excited to see what lies ahead with the meat of the season yet to be played.
“It’s an exciting time, yes,” Cotten said. “We’re anxious to building on this early success and seeing where this thing leads us.”
South Terrebonne pitcher Seth Cadiere fires a pitch during a game this season. The Gators have rode strong pitching to a fast start this season.
