Millers slip past Jennings
JENNINGS – The Crowley Post 15 Millers got it done at the plate early and then let their defense take over Thursday in a 5-3 road victory over the Jennings Jeff Davis Bankers.
The win sent the Millers to 2-0 on the season heading into yesterday’s non-district contest against New Iberia. Results of that contest were not available at press time.
“We really came out and attacked the ball early on and we hit the ball really hard,” said Millers’ coach Tim Robichaux, whose team banged out five runs on six hits in the first two innings. “The only thing that I’m a little disappointed in is that after we scored those runs, we kind of sat back and just coasted the rest of the game.”
The Millers chased Jennings’ Kory Kratzer from the mound after just one and two-third innings, scoring all five of their runs off the crafty southpaw.
Jennings went to anotther lefty - Weston Broussard - and the Welsh High School standout was effective. After getting Kyron Benoit to ground out to short to end the second inning, Broussard gave the Millers fits over the final five innings, allowing just two hits and no runs.
“Weston came on and did a good job the rest of the way for them (Jennings),” said Robichaux.
Crowley mixed things up on the mound again, using four pitchers in the contest.
Coy Guidry started the game on the mound, allowing just one hit while striking out three in the first two innings. Ryan Leonards followed, setting the Bankers down in order in the third inning before running into trouble in the fourth. The Notre Dame product gave up just two hits in the inning ,but he issued three free passes, including a bases-loaded walk.
Crowley High’s Jake Trahan took over in the fifth and worked two scoreless innings, giving up one hit while also striking out three.
Notre Dame’s Bryant Gilbert picked up his first save of the summer by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
The Millers, which have a total of ten pitchers on the team, used a similar four-man rotation in their 8-3 victory over the Eunice Oilers last Tuesday.
“So far, it’s been really nice just being able to call pitches with the guys that we have here because pretty much every one of them that we run up there on the mound can locate the ball and they’ve been doing a good job,” said Robichaux. “It’s going to be hard to pick one guy to try to go more than two innings a little way down the road. Right now we’re just trying to kind of protect their arms and get everybody back into a rhythm again.”
Not to be overshadowed, Crowley’s bats have been hot as well. The Millers banged out eight hits in the victory, four in their four-run second inning.
Guidry led off the frame with a double to right center field and Blaine Richard singled before being forced out at second on a fielder’s choice by Brett Broussard. Leonards then came through with a two-run triple to the wall in center and he eventually scored on a throwing error from the outfield. Gilbert plated a run on a sacrifice fly and Mike Doughty doubled, but was left stranded on Benoit’s ground out to end the inning.
Doughty also had a RBI single in the first inning.
“We are playing a lot of people and everyone is contributing,” said Robichaux. “Everybody, when they get their chance, they are coming in and doing well for us. I just think we have to get everyone playing time before we try and lock down on nine positions.”
Leonards and Doughty each finished with two hits while Guidry, Richard, Nick Pryor and Justin Desselle each had one hit.
Kratzer led Jennings with two hits while Broussard and Kolby Ringuet each had one hit. Luke Ortego Broussaard also each had one RBI.