Louisiana exits Dixie Youth World Series

The Louisiana Dixie Majors exited the World Series Tournament on Tuesday after a 12-7 loss to South Carolina. It was the second loss to South Carolina in the tournament for Louisiana after a 3-2 defeat on Saturday.
Louisiana battled back from the first loss to win two more ball games. On Sunday, Team Louisiana bombarded the host team, Gilbert, by an amazing score of 25-5. In the game Louisiana hit four home runs, including two grand slam home runs.
Monday, Louisiana took an 8-7 adrenaline rushed come-from-behind victory over Georgia. The win allowed Louisiana to advance to Tuesday’s rematch against South Carolina. Unfortunately, the boys in purple and gold ran out of steam and were eliminated from competition.
Louisiana
vs. Gilbert
After Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, Team Louisiana was not in a good mood and looking for someone to take it out on. Enter Gilbert, South Carolina, the host team. Aidan Lejeune took the mound to start the game for Louisiana. Lejeune got lead off hitter Preston Bryce to ground out to the shortstop for the first out. The next batter for Gilbert, Alex McClintay, then doubled. Lejeune promptly ended the threat, striking out the next two Gilbert batters.
The bottom half of the inning would be one for the record books. Louisiana scored 23 runs on 16 hits including three home runs. Two of those home runs were of the grand slam variety. Landon Deshotel and Daegan Mitchell each hit a grand slam and combined for eight RBIs. Noah Soileau added a solo home run for good measure. The two grand slams in one inning now stands as a World Series record.
The host team entered the top of the second inning down 23-0 and looked to at least put runs on the board. Some sluggish play and two walks by Daegan Mitchell, who replaced Lejeune, allowed Gilbert to plate three runs in the inning with its first four batters. Mitchell then dug deep and retired the next three batters in a row to end the inning for Gilbert.
Louisiana added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to raise the score to 25-3. The 25 runs tied a World Series record for most runs in a game. The big hit of the inning was a solo home run by Cade Foret.
Gilbert managed to tack on two more runs in the top of the third off of Lucas Vallet, who replaced Mitchell on the hill. However, Vallet finished the inning in strong fashion and closed out the game for Louisiana , as the mercy rule was called. Louisiana did not have to bat in the bottom of the inning.
In the game, every player from Louisiana got a hit, every player scored and all but one player recorded an RBI. Several players ended the game with multiple hits including Conner Bordelon who was 2 for 2. Jacques Leger went 3 for 3 and Dru Scully was 2 for 2.
Lejeune, Mitchell and Vallet combined to allow five runs on five hits. The trio struck out five and only allowed four bases on balls.
Lousiana
vs. Georgia
Monday’s game three saw Louisiana take on a very good Georgia team. After the demolition of Gilbert, there was one question to be answered: Could Louisiana continue the momentum? Louisiana answered that question with an 8-7 victory. It took all 12 players to overcome a six run deficit and put another win in Team Louisiana’s column. The game was played on sloppy field conditions as rain pounded the ballpark and delayed the start.
Louisiana, the visiting team, started slow at the plate as starting Georgia pitcher Wesley Monkman retired the first three batters in order.
Georgia took advantage of the wet conditions in the bottom of the first inning as they scored two runs on no hits. Three errors by Louisiana’s defense and a base on balls allowed by Landon Deshotel aided in Georgia’s scoring. However, Deshotel struck out three Georgia batters, including the last two to end the threat.
Louisiana was once again shut down in the top of the second inning. Deshotel popped out to right field for the first out. After Noah Soileau singled to left field, Monkman enticed a 4-6-3 double play with Aidan Lejeune at the plate.
Once again taking advantage of the field conditions, Georgia plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning. With the wet conditions making the ball hard to control, Louisiana pitchers Lejeune and Christian Duplechin combined to hit six batters. This, along with timely hitting gave Georgia a 6-0 lead heading into the third inning.
Louisiana managed to push two runs across in the top of the third. Cade Foret and Jacques Leger led off the inning with base hits. Errors by Georgia and a wild pitch by Monkman pulled Louisiana to within four runs at the end of the at bat.
After Duplechin hit the lead off batter for Georgia in the bottom of the third, Louisiana’s defense showed its muscle. Two ground balls to shortstop and an unassisted play at third by Mitchell shut the door on Georgia.
Louisiana tied the ballgame in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits. The big hit, a grand slam home run, came off of the bat of Noah Soileau. Mitchell, Deshotel, Foret and Leger all added hits in the inning.
After both squads went scoreless in the fifth inning, Louisiana took the lead for good in the sixth. Louisiana scored two runs on three hits, including a two-run home run by Aidan Lejeune.
Georgia managed to plate a run in the bottom of the sixth on a home run by Cade Garner but it was too little too late. Duplechin showed his grit as he struck out two of Georgia’s last four batters to end the game.
After the game, Head Coach Thomas Scully commented on the turnaround for Louisiana after the South Carolina loss. “We knew we had to make adjustments to be successful in this tournament. Our coaching staff does a tremendous job of making those adjustments in game. We have become more comfortable at the plate the last two games and it has shown in our offensive production. We knew Georgia was a good team, we just didn’t know how good. It was going to be a battle and we had to be on the right side of the battle. I think everyone is focused now and the players know it takes all 12 to win. The field conditions were definitely a factor, but we tried not to let that be our focus.”
Leading the way at the plate for Louisiana were Noah Soileau and Jacques Leger. They were both 3 for 3. Cade Foret went 2 for 3.
On the mound, Christian Duplechin allowed only two runs on one hit in five innings of work. Duplechin struck out nine while allowing two base on balls.
Louisiana
vs. S. Carolina
The rematch with South Carolina on Tuesday was a must win for both teams. Louisiana came into the game for revenge after having lost to South Carolina on opening day. It would take a total team effort for Louisiana to defeat the scrappy club from South Carolina and advance in the tournament.
From the first pitch in the top of the first inning, South Carolina put tremendous pressure on Louisiana. Noah Carter, the lead off batter for South Carolina drew a walk from Landon Deshotel. Bobo McKinnon and Tristan Brignac, the next two hitters in the line-up singled. With bases loaded, Jared Ivy doubled to score Carter and McKinnon. Deshotel struck out Nick Evans and enticed Cooper Lane to pop out to left field. With two out, John Rourke delivered a two run home run. South Carolina added two more runs to take a 6-0 lead.
Louisiana battled back in the bottom half of the first inning, cutting South Carolina’s lead in half. Dru Scully struck out to lead off the inning. Christian Duplechin singled and Daegan Mitchell was issued a walk by Brignac. A wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out. Deshotel then hit a monstrous three run home run. Brignac then retired two of the next three Louisiana batters to end the inning.
A scoreless second inning by both squads kept the score 6-3. Deshotel retired South Carolina in order to start the second inning. Louisiana threatened in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Jaden Prudhomme singled and Wesley Marcantel was issued a base on balls. However, Brignac shut down the momentum as Conner Bordelon and Lucas Vallet grounded out to end the inning.
Deshotel was once again stellar on the mound to open the third inning. South Carolina was held scoreless as Deshotels retired the side in order.
Louisiana answered with three more runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game. A double by Duplechin and base hits by Noah Soileau and Aidan Lejeune contributed to the offensive output.
After a scoreless fourth by both teams, South Carolina added six more runs in the final two innings to close out the game. The big blow was a three run home run by Brignac. Louisiana could only muster one run in the final two innings. The final score: South Carolina 12, Louisiana 7. Thus ending Louisiana’s World Series experience.
Christian Duplechin was 2 for 4 at the plate with a double. Jaden Prudhomme went 2 for 3 on the day. Deshotel’s grand slam gave him 4 RBI.
Head Coach Thomas Scully took the exit in stride. “We are very proud of our team. Our goal was to make it back to the World Series. Everyone on this team contributed in some way to get us to this point. I have really enjoyed the last four years with these young men. They have won multiple State Championships and will carry this experience with them for the rest of their lives. On behalf myself, Coach Brent Duplechin and Coach Timmy Soileau, I would like to thank the parents, the city of Ville Platte and all of our supporters for what they have done for us this season. The players knew the whole town had our back and that was important for us.”
Coach Brent Duplechin totally agreed with Scully. “It was a tremendous honor to represent Ville Platte and Louisiana. We went down fighting to the end. There was no give up in these guys. Sure you are disappointed in not advancing on, but we glad to have the opportunity to come here and experience the World Series. Its a grind on your body mentally and physically. Everyone wants to win the big trophy, but it will be nice to be home and get back into a routine.”
The Louisiana Majors went 2-2 in the World Series and ended the season with a record of 18-3. Congratulations Team Louisiana on a tremendous season!