Mamou 8s capture Machine Pitch Regional III World Series

The Mamou eight year-old all-stars captured the Regional World Series on July 28 with a thrilling 15-14 victory over Minden, LA. It was the sixth game for Mamou in three days. They began play on Saturday with a hard fought 8-3 win over Longview, TX. Mamou exploded for five runs in the top of the first inning. After a single by Gavin Lafleur, and a fielder’s choice by Peyton Berzas and an infield single by Briggs Ardoin loaded the bases, Cailou Thibodeaux ripped a hard ground ball single to left field that went under the glove of the left fielder. The error allowed three runs to score. The throw in got away from the third baseman allowing Thibodeaux to score as well. A.J. Arvie followed with a triple down the right field line. Alex Dick followed with a single to left field scoring Arvie giving Mamou a 5-0 lead. Dick was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. Mamou then held on to an 8-3 win.
Game two was not as good to Mamou. They came out flat and were blasted 12-0 by Minden in four innings. The Mamou boys regrouped Saturday night and came back firing Sunday Morning with a convincing 12-2 victory over East Ouachita South after pouring on seven runs in the first inning. Mamou scored in the first on an RBI single by Briggs Ardoin, and RBI single by Cailou Thibodeaux, an RBI single by Tavon Deville, a two-run double by A.J. Arvie, a groundout by Ethan Soileau and an RBI single by Gavin Jack. Arvie racked up four RBIs on two hits for Mamou. Mamou added three runs in the second on an inside the park homerun by Arvie. Mamou tacked on another two runs in the fourth sparked by a single by M.J. Kilbarger.
Later Sunday afternoon, Mamou jumped out to an early lead on Kilgore, TX and captured a 13-1 victory. The game was decided quickly as Mamou exerted its will early with six runs in the first three innings. A two-run double by Briggs Ardoin in the first inning and an RBI single by Dez Skinner during the second inning fueled Mamou’s offense early. Ardoin went a perfect 3-3 at the dish for Mamou In the third. Mamou scored on a two-run single by Cailou Thibodeaux, bringing home Gavin Lafleur and Peyton Berzas. Mamou matched its three-run third inning with three more in the fourth. Gavin Jack kicked things off with a single, plating Alex Dick. Mamou piled on four more runs in the top of the fifth. The inning looked promising, as Ardoin singled to kick things off. That was followed up by Thibodeaux’s single, bringing home Ardoin. The 13-1 win sent Mamou to the semifinal round Monday morning.
Mamou had to face East Ouachita South the second time in the semifinals. This game was entirely different from the Sunday morning meeting. Mamou had to come from behind for a 13-12 victory in a thriller. The top of the first saw East Ouachita South take an early lead, 6-0. Mamou scored one run in the second inning, and then followed it up with one more in the fourth. In the second, Mamou scored on an RBI double by A.J. Arvie, plating Tavon Deville. Mamou scored five runs in the fifth cutting the lead to 12-8. Mamou scored on a two-run single by Dez Skinner, an RBI triple by M.J. Kilbarger, an RBI single by Lafleur, and an RBI single by Briggs Ardoin. The sixth spelled defeat for East Ouachita South, as Mamou scored five runs. Runners rounded the bases on two doubles, a fielder’s choice, and two singles. With the score tied at 12, Gavin Lafleur came to the plate and singled, scoring Brady Fontenot with the winning run sending Mamou to the championship game. Lafleur racked up two RBIs on three hits for Mamou.
The bats were busy in the championship game, and when the dust cleared Mamou had a 15-14 win over Minden in five innings. The teams combined for 30 hits, including nine extra base hits. The game was back-and-forth heading into the fourth, with eight lead changes. Mamou took the lead in the fourth inning and held on for the victory. Minden jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Mamou scored five runs of its own in the first. Mamou scored on an RBI double by Gavin Lafleur, a fielder’s choice, an RBI single by Deville, and a two-run single by Arvie. Minden added two runs in the top of the second. Mamou answered Minden’s inning with eight runs of its own in the second. Mamou scored on an RBI single by Lafleur, an RBI single by Peyton Berzas, a two-run double by Briggs Ardoin, an error, a fielder’s choice, and a two-run error. Minden exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead 14-13. In the bottom of the fourth, Mamou went up for good on a two-run double by A.J. Arvie scoring Cailou Thibodeaux and Tavon Deville. Mamou held Minden scoreless in the top of the fifth on outstanding defensive plays by Briggs Ardoin, Gavin Lafleur, and Peyton Berzas. With only three minutes left on the game clock, Mamou came to bat and the fans counted down the final second of the hour and thirty minute time limit for the championship.
Congratulations to Manager Jacob Berzas and Assistants, John Lafleur, Allen Dick and Erin Fontenot on a job well done.