CRIMES
May 13, 2015Body found in Cocodrie identified
May 15, 2015
The Covenant Christian Academy baseball team played state power St. Thomas More on April 21 – a game that was designed to polish both teams before the start of postseason play.
The Lions lost on that afternoon by a count of 7-0.
They haven’t been beaten since, officially sitting two wins away from the Class 1A State Championship.
The Lions punched their ticket to Sulphur and the Class 1A State Semifinals on Saturday afternoon in style, scoring a dominant 15-6 victory over defending state champions Cedar Creek.
The victory marked the biggest victory of the season for CCA. But after it was all said and done, one of the things Lions coach Joe Teuton wanted to talk about was the Lions’ last loss, because he believes that it showed the team that it could compete with anyone.
The Lions will take on No. 1 Ouachita Christian in the Semifinals on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m.
“I think that game with St. Thomas More was a real eye opener for us,” Teuton said. “That’s a Class 4A school that’s very, very talented. They beat us 7-0, but the game was competitive. We competed well. I think it opened our kids eyes in that they realized and understood that there’s no one in the 1A Playoffs who will be as tough as St. Thomas More was. So if we could compete with them, then why can’t we compete with anybody? I think that’s sunk in for our kids, and we’re peaking at the right time.”
Teuton said he had a feeling for a while now that this would be the year.
The Lions have been building their program steadily over the past few years, routinely reaching postseason play and having one of the top win/loss records in the Houma-Thibodaux area.
CCA was the No. 6 seed in the postseason a year ago, romping No. 27 Houma Christian in the opening round. But the Lions were upset 8-5 by No. 11 St. Mary’s in the second round in a game that Teuton said was an eye-opener for the program.
The coach said he liked his 2014 team, but wasn’t quite sure they were battle tested enough when it mattered most – a factor that he believes could have contributed in the second round loss.
“That St. Mary’s game was a teaching experience – we learned a lot in that game,” Teuton said. “I learned that as a coach, we need to play tougher teams in non-district to get those boys prepared for the playoffs. So that’s what we did. We went out and we made a tougher schedule, and we rolled with the punches. We knew we had a talented club. We always believed in the kids.”
Because of that top-heavy pre-district slate, CCA struggled early, limping to a 2-6 record. But as each lump came, the Lions learned a lesson – one that powered the team through the rest of the season.
By the time district play had rolled around, CCA was a polished club capable of competing with schools five times its size. The Lions beat H.L. Bourgeois and Morgan City before roaring through District 9-1A with an unblemished record.
“We played up, and we did take a few lumps,” Teuton said. “But those games taught us to compete against top-notch pitching. Those games got us ready for where we are now, because in playoff time, everybody’s got a guy that can pitch and that can get people out.”
Teuton mentioned pitchers.
The Lions have three who can sling darts.
CCA is blessed with a deep pitching staff for a Class 1A program – a three-headed monster of arms that enables the Lions’ offense to get by without always needing to score bunches of runs.
LSU-Eunice commit Connor Bates is the ace of the staff – the only senior on the squad and the two-time District 9-1A MVP. When he’s not on the bump, junior Cullen Ledet or lefty Ryan Boudreaux have proven capable of getting outs.
Ledet got the win for CCA on Saturday against Cedar Creek in the Quarterfinals.
“We have arms,” Teuton said. “We definitely have arms. If you can get outs, you’re always in the game. This year, those kids have been excellent.”
So now, the coach and his Lions are focused on finishing the job.
CCA will take on Ouachita Christian on Friday afternoon – a program that is the No. 1 team in the state for Class 1A entering the playoffs.
Teuton said Ouachita has a dominant starting pitcher who rings the ball to home plate upwards of 92 mph on a given pitch.
“He will give us our hands full,” the coach said.
But at the end of the day, the deciding factor may be chemistry or one’s will to win. If that’s the case, CCA just may have the edge.
Bates will be able to pitch Friday’s game at full rest – a coup to the Lions’ chances. Add that to CCA’s current swagger and winning ways and anything can happen.
“I think the kids have bought in,” Teuton said. “I think we’re gelling and we’re playing our best baseball at the right time. They have a heck of a club out there, and it certainly won’t be easy. But we’re going into it thinking that we can win. I think it’ll be a good ballgame. In baseball, anything can happen. That’s why we play the game on the field and not on a sheet of paper. We’re definitely happy about being in this position to make that trip to play in Sulphur.”
Covenant Christian Academy pitcher Connor Bates fires a left-handed pitch during a game this season. Pitching has been one of the biggest strengths for the Lions throughout the season – a team that is now in the LHSAA Class 1A State Semifinals. CCA will continue its quest for the State Championship on Friday afternoon when they take on No. 1 Ouachita Christian in Sulphur. Bates will be on the mound for the Lions in that game.
