Abby Lazard picks KSU
May 9, 2012
Vandebilt’s Philp chooses Belmont Abbey
May 9, 2012
The E.D. White baseball team is red-hot and has outscored opponents 22-1 in the opening two rounds of the Class 3A state playoffs.
Very few 3A teams have experienced a similar level of dominance this postseason, which has some hinting that a possible state title may be in the team’s future.
Some like to credit the team’s success to pitching – the Cardinals boast one of the top staffs in the entire Tri-parish area.
Others like to pin it to defense – with nifty infielders and athletic outfielders, it’s very rare to see E.D. White boot a routine play.
And there are others who tout offense – the Cardinals have been racking up timely hits by the dozen in recent weeks.
But when asked, E.D. White’s players give an entirely different factor for their winning ways.
The Cardinals instead tout good luck in the form of their rally monkey, who “watches” every game from the corner of the team’s dugout.
“We kind of picked him up before district,” E.D. White senior first baseman Alex Becnel said. “He stuck with us throughout the whole season and it looks like he’s bringing us some luck right now.”
Sure, the team is taking a bit of a tongue-in-cheek approach when they credit the approximately 8-inch, rusted orange-brown, whom they named “Fred,” for their success.
But there’s no doubt the furry critter, who dons a red E.D. White cap (backwards for rallies) is becoming one of the storylines defining the Cardinals’ season.
Start with the obvious – how did the team get the idea to carry Fred with them in the dugout?
One would think that’d be a long story, right?
Not really.
In mid-March, the Cardinals were marred in a bit of a slump and had lost four out of six games.
Knowing the team needed a bit of a spark, E.D. White shortstop Brett Duet introduced the critter to the club prior to district play.
The Cardinals immediately won five-straight games.
“We were losing – we were in a pretty bad losing streak,” E.D. White pitcher Scott Szush said. “And then we got the rally monkey and we started putting it on the dugout and I don’t think we’ve lost since we got him.”
Szush’s math isn’t fully accurate –E.D. White has lost a couple ballgames since the rally monkey has been on the squad.
Just not very many.
The Cardinals are 13-4 since the rally monkey made his debut with the Cardinals, including their two playoff wins.
“He’s a big help,” Becnel said with a laugh. “He’s coming with us wherever we go.”
The next place on Fred’s travel planner is the state quarterfinals.
Thanks to Szush’s dominant pitching and timely, two-out hitting, the Cardinals pounced Eunice last Tuesday 15-0 to continue their winning ways and move to the Class 3A Elite 8.
Sparking the win was a five-win third inning and a dominant, game-clinching 10-run fourth inning, which was made possible by countless walks and base hits with two outs in the inning.
“Our hitting was contagious today,” E.D. White coach Shane Trosclair said. “Five runs and then 10 runs … that speaks for itself. We hit when we needed to hit. We bunted when we needed to bunt and we took advantage of errors, all while playing flawless defense. It was an outstanding effort.”
Becnel led the assault, smacking a base hit with the bases loaded in the third inning. He also added a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
He said the team getting a second at-bat against Eunice starter Brett Darbonne was the cog behind the team’s 15-run output in the third and fourth innings.
“I think we had just gotten some confidence at the plate because we had seen him before,” Becnel said. “Everybody just kind of knew what was coming and locked in at the plate.”
With the win, the Cardinals moved to the quarterfinals where they took on No. 2 St. Charles.
That game was played Monday evening with a score not available at press time.
Like in last Tuesday’s game, Szush was expected to take the ball for the Cardinals.
Trosclair said he’s been the team’s ace all year.
“He’s our guy,” the coach said. “He’s been our guy all year. But we’re deep on the mound. Anyone we throw, we have confidence.”
If the Cardinals get the timely hits to add to the dominant pitching, who knows how deep E.D. White can go?
One thing’s for sure – Fred will be there to see it all unfold.
“He’s helped a lot in the playoffs,” Szush said. “We’ve had a lot of big innings and we’ve done well to get rallies going. Fred brings a lot to our team.”
Elsewhere in the Tri-parishes
E.D. White isn’t the only local team that will experience this year’s Elite 8.
In Class 1A, No. 10 Central Catholic punched its ticket to the quarterfinals with a 7-0 road shellacking of No. 7 St. John.
With the win, the Eagles hosted No. 2 Vermilion Catholic with a score not available at press time.
While the Cardinals and Eagles rejoiced, heartache struck the remainder of our local teams.
In Class 5A, Central Lafourche lost a gut-wrenching 3-2 decision in extra innings to Rummel.
Just across the road from Rummel, South Terrebonne experienced similar misfortune and dropped a 1-0 nail biter at the hands of No. 5 Holy Cross in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
In 3A, No. 9 Berwick also bowed out in the second round and dropped a 8-2 game to No. 8 Loranger.
E.D. White’s rally monkey “Fred” hangs out in the upper left-hand corner of the team’s dugout.
