Blue Jays pound Seminoles to even Legion record
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
The Eunice Blue Jays are well on their way to recovering from a slow season start with Tuesday night’s 11-2 battering of the Opelousas Seminoles.
With the win, the Jays are now 3-3 in American Legion District 7-East play.
Last time the Seminoles faced the Jays, the Opelousas team walked away with a 4-3 win; this week, the Blue Jays got their revenge.
The Seminoles drew first blood in the top of the first inning, when Joby Thomassee tripled and then scored on James Fontenot’s sacrifice fly.
But the Jays tied the score in the second half, when Wesley Richard opened up batting with a base hit, and his courtesy runner, Jarrod Fontenot, scored on Quinn Arnaud’s double.
The Jays then took the lead in the bottom of the second with a five-run breakout.
Mac Manuel drew a walk and later scored on Wesley Chachere’s base hit.
Richard doubled to drive in one run before Arnaud was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Tyler McGee hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Chachere before Tyler Rodriguez’s 2-RBI base hit gave the Jays a 6-1 lead.
The Seminoles narrowed Eunice’s lead slightly in the top of the third, when James Fontenot doubled to score Neal Hebert.
The Jays added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, beginning when McGee drew a walk, stole second, and then scored on Rodriguez’s double.
Logan Stelly stepped down from the mound, having pitched four and one-third innings, relieved by Rob Fontenot.
But Fontenot wasn’t able to stop the bleeding, as Mac Manuel tripled to score another run before his courtesy runner, Taylor Wallett, scored on Edward Turk’s sacrifice.
Designated hitter Ryan Johnson wrapped up scoring for the inning with a solo home run, giving the Jays a 10-2 advantage.
The Jays added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when McGee doubled and then scored on Trevor Hargroder’s double to make the score 11-2.
After opening with a fly ball to center field, the Seminoles rallied to threaten the Jays nine-point lead with a walk and two base hits, but Ian Fontenot was caught on his way to second for the second out, leaving runners at the corners.
But Thomassee hit the ball straight towards Richard, who was able to make the throw to Hargroder at first in time for the third out.
Richard pitched the full seven innings, giving up two runs off of six hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters.
Tonight, the Jays continue District 7-East action, hosting the Opelousas Indians at 7 p.m.