Oilers fall in heartbreaker
By Tom Dodge
NEW IBERIA - The Heymann Chiefs exploded for five runs in the bottom of the ninth to grab a 8-7 win over the Eunice Oilers Thursday in the opening round of the American Legion Southwest Sub-Regionals.
Eunice (6-5) will now take on the loser of the New Iberia/Opelousas game at 9:30 a.m. on Friday in an elimination game.
After a scoreless first inning, Eunice grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Casey Charlie was hit by a pitch and scored when Heymann right fielder Matt LeBlanc mishandled a hit by Kendall Sam.
The Chiefs tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Zack LeBlanc reached on an Eunice error and scored on the second Oiler miscue of the frame.
Heymann attempted to extend its lead when the Chiefs loaded the bases, but a double play by the Oiler infield halted the threat.
Eunice retook the lead in the top of the second when Mitchell Fuselier singled and scored on a RBI by Jacque Fruge.
The Oilers extended its lead to 5-1 with a three-run rally in the top of the fifth inning.
Fuselier reached on an one-out error and scored on Stuart Turner’s double down the third base line.
Turner crossed home plate on Fruge’s blast off the left centerfield wall, while Fruge scored on a single up the middle by Brett Baldwin.
Heymann threatened in the bottom of the sixth when the Chiefs loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but the Oiler defense stiffened once again and snuffed out the scoring opportunity.
Eunice extended its lead to 7-1 in the top of the seventh, begun when Fuselier reached on a error and Turner doubled down the third base line for the second time in the game.
Fruge was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Baldwin responded with a sacrifice fly to score Fuselier.
Tyler Fontenot then drove in Turner with a single into left field and the Oilers seemed poised to advance in the winner’s bracket.
Heymann closed the gap to 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh to give the Chiefs new life.
Three Eunice errors in the inning allowed Robbie Romero and Zack LeBlanc to reach base and score on Matt LeBlanc’s single to centerfield.
The Chiefs then staged the stunning comeback in the bottom of the ninth as Heymann went through the batting order enroute to the five-run inning.
Brad Landry drew a walk off Eunice starter Austin Young, while Romero and Caten Hyde hit back-to-back singles to load the bases.
Zack LeBlanc drove in Landry, but Romero was then forced out at home plate on when Matt LeBlanc reached on a fielder’s choice.
Garrett Kreamer drove in Hyde to close the gap to two runs and the Chiefs pulled closer a sacrifice fly by Mitch Callahan.
Trailing by one run with two outs, Jacob Ballow was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the four time in the inning to set up Ridge Ridgewell’s winning hit.
Ridgewell dropped in a hit to left field that scored Matt LeBlanc. The ball was slightly bobbled which allowed Kreamer to cross home plate and the come-from-behind upset was complete.