Eagles edge Ascension Catholic in 8-1A

DONALDSONVILLE – St. John the Evangelist High School avenged its lone District 8-1A loss to Ascension Catholic with a 10-9 victory on Tuesday evening at the South Louisiana State Fairgrounds’ Regira Field.

The Eagles, (22-5, 9-1), under coach Heath Whittington, wrap up the regular season hosting False River Tuesday and Catholic - Pointe Coupee Monday.

“We have a senior-laden group and they showed some character,” Whittington said. “We made some mistakes early and they made some mistakes late but we didn’t get down and kept playing. We are at least co-champions.”

Brandon Noel earned the win in relief of starter Hunter Schnebelen. Noel was also 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs and one RBI.

Hayden Hemenway also was 2-for-2 with three runs and Jacob Maranto was 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Falcon Mire took the loss for Ascension Catholic. Grant Montero was 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs and two RBIs, while D.J. Latino was 2-for-4 with one RBI.

St. John plated three runs in the sixth to go ahead 9-7. Noel reached on an error and Gavin Landry was hit by a pitch before Maranto’s double plated a run and an error added two more.

Latino’s two-out liner plated a run in the bottom half but centerfielder Schnebelen gunned down Ross Barbier to catcher Maranto on the throw home to preserve the lead.

Hemenway beat out a grounder to lead off the top of the seventh and Christopher Patin’s double to the left gap put runners in scoring position. Noel’s hopper over third added an insurance run.

Montero beat out a grounder to drive in a run in the bottom half following Joe Mabile’s double but Noel induced a ground ball to end the game.

Trailing 7-3 in the fourth inning, St. John cut the deficit to one run. Mason LeBlanc hit a one-out single before Hemenway drew a walk and Patin was hit by a pitch.  Noel’s single drove in a run and Landry followed with two more.