Bobcats cruise to 24-run shutout on Senior Day
By Tom Dodge
Eunice exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the third inning as the Bobcats cruised to a 24-0 District 4-4A win over Washington-Marion Thursday on Senior Night.
Miles Fontenot, Jacque Fruge and statistician Meagan Brasseaux were recognized before the game.
“They meant a lot to the program,” Phillips said of his seniors. “They come to play every game and they take the game seriously. They are dedicated kids to whatever they take part in.
“They were the glue that held our younger guys together and I was really glad to have them.”
Phillips was also honored before the contest as he was given a plaque for his 300th win as a Bobcat coach.
“This is a tribute to how great a program we have here,” he said of the recognition. “Without the great players and coaches we have, this would not have happened.”
Not to be overshadowed by the Bobcat offense was the performance of freshman pitcher Zac Person, who struck out nine and allowed only two Indians on base when Cantrell Manuel singled in the third and Keenan Fontenot was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.
“We wanted to give a different guy some confidence,” Eunice head coach Scott Phillips said of Person’s first start of the season. “I think he is one of those guys who are going to be real special down the road.”
The Bobcats (18-11, 8-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Austin Young reached on an error and senior Jacque Fruge blasted his sixth home run of the season.
“Knowing it was my last game here I wanted to come out and play good,” Fruge said. “We are playing our best baseball right now.”
Eunice scored eight runs in the bottom of the second inning for a 10-0 advantage against the Charging Indians (1-14, 0-11).
“It was great to see the guys hit the ball well because the last couple of games we didn’t hit the ball real well,” Phillips said.
Brett Baldwin was hit by starter Eric Braxton and Kendall Sam walked to open the rally. Both Bobcats then scored on a mishandled grounder off the bat of Jacob Fontenot.
Mitchell Fuselier reached on the second W-M error and Young connected for a 2-RBI single to plate Fontenot and Fuselier for a 6-0 margin.
Stuart Turner ripped a double and Tyler Fontenot singled as the Bobcats continued to pound the Indian pitchers.
Senior designated hitter Miles Fontenot drove in Young and pinch runner Ethan Moser. Tyler Fontenot scored on a passed ball as Eunice forged ahead 9-0.
Sam and Jacob Fontenot reached on back-to-back hitbatsmen by Indian hurler Kevin Bartie to load the bases.
Fuselier drove in Miles Fontenot as one-sided advantage increased, but Sam was tagged out at home to end the inning.
The Bobcats closed out the romp with 12 more runs in the bottom of the third as the Indians used its fourth and fifth pitchers of the game.
Young, Turner and Fruge opened the inning with consecutive walks to load the bases. Tyler Fontenot drew the fourth straight walk to score Young and Ethan Hatler was hit by a pitch to push across Turner.
Chris McCoy hit a bases-loaded single to score Fruge and Jacob Fontenot reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Tyler Fontenot.
Fuselier doubled to score Hatler and McCoy, while Young reached on an Indian error to reload the bases.
Jacob Fontenot and Fuselier and scored when Turner hit a ball that was mishandled in the W-M outfield.
Fruge singled in Young and Turner to tie the Bobcat career record with 40 RBI.
Seth Marcantel doubled and Miles Fontenot ripped a RBI to score Fruge.
Hatler reached on an error to score Marcantel to complete the 12-run barrage.
The Bobcats added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Brodie Oliver and Beau Leger both singled and scored on a hit up the middle by Marcantel.
Fruge finished with a 2-for-3, 4-RBI performance, while Turner was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Fuselier was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, while Miles Fontenot finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.