Eunice Oilers drop 5-3 decision to Jennings

By John Burson

Sports Writer

JENNINGS - The Eunice Oilers out-hit Jennings here Thursday night by a 10-5 margin, but were unable to convert those hits into runs as they dropped a 5-3 decision.

The defeat caused the Oilers to fall to 2-2 in American Legion Baseball District 7-East play. The Eunice Oilers will host the Eunice Blue Jays in a 7 p.m. start on Tuesday to wrap up the first round of district play.

Against Jennings, the Oilers proved to be their own worst enemies, losing three runners on the bases by way of a caught-stealing, a pickoff at second base, and a decision to advance an extra base after a throw to home plate.

On at least one of those occasions, the poor base running decision directly cost the Oilers a run.

And despite their 10 hits, the Oilers were woeful in clutch offensive situations. They left eight base runners stranded, including six at either second or third.

The Oilers were also off of their game on the defensive end. Jennings took advantage of four errors by the Oilers to score all of their runs.

Oilers’ pitcher Jacque Fruge limited Jennings to just five hits, but was unable to overcome the poor play of his defense. Fruge did not issue a walk and recorded four strikeouts in going the distance on the mound for the Oilers.

The Oilers opened the game with a run, despite having a runner picked off at second base. With two out, Stuart Turner singled. Fruge followed with a double into right-center field, and courtesy runner Kendall Sam came all the way around from first base to score. A single by Brett Baldwin put runners at first and third, but the Oilers were unable to add to their lead.

Jennings tied the score in the second inning. Korey Kratzer singled, stole second, and advanced to third on an interference call. An error allowed Kratzer to score the tying run.

Eunice regained the lead in the third. Mitchell Fuselier opened the inning with a single, but was forced out at second base on Turner’s grounder. Sam, again running for Turner, moved to second when Fruge was hit by a pitch. An error moved Sam to third and he would score when Baldwin reached on an error.

Jennings captured the lead for good in their fourth. Damond Meche reached on an error and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Kolby Ringuet. Kolby Kratzer drove home the run with a triple, and he would later score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Justin Ringuet.

Jennings added two more runs in the fifth after the Oilers wasted a scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. Eunice’s Kaleb Deshotel opened that inning with a double, but was left stranded.

Jennings made the Oilers pay in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Zach Bertrand reached on an error. After Fruge fanned the next batter, Keagan Kratzer singled. Both runners would score on a double by Meche.

Eunice cut the lead to 5-3 with a run in the sixth. Casey Charlie singled and advanced to second when Jacob Fontenot was hit by a pitch. Fuselier singled to drive in Charlie, but Fontenot was nailed trying to advance to third on the throw home by Meche, the Jennings catcher.

Jennings used four pitchers in the contest. Korey Kratzer started and worked one inning. Justin Ringuet worked three innings, with Wes Broussard and Blaine Sonnier finishing up on the mound.

Fuselier and Baldiwn led Eunice on offense with two hits apiece. Deshotel and Fruge had doubles for the Oilers.