Oilers' season ends with loss to Abbeville

By John Burson

Sports Writer

NEW IBERIA - The Eunice Oilers’ season ended here Saturday with a 13-1 loss to Abbeville in the American Legion Baseball Southwest Sub-Regional at Acadian Ballpark.

After two close, dramatic finishes in their two previous contests, the Oilers fell behind early and were never able to rally against Abbeville in a losers’ bracket contest.

“We didn’t play our best,” commented Eunice head coach Danny Soileau. “We couldn’t make routine defensive plays, and we couldn’t get anything going on offense.”

Soileau did praise his team’s effort for the season, however. “The kids played hard and I saw several players improve over the season.”

“We were also the last team from our district still playing in the tournament,” he added.

The Oilers eliminated the Opelousas Indians from the double-elimination tournament on Friday with a 9-8 victory. Crowley suffered losses in their first two games of the tournament.

In Saturday’s contest, Abbeville opened the scoring with a run in the first inning off Eunice starting pitcher Brett Baldwin. Trey Broussard singled, stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tony Frederick.

It took little time for the Oilers to respond. With one out in the bottom of the first, Kaleb Deshotel lined a home run over the fence to make it a 1-1 tie.

In the top of the second, a lapse on defense would prove costly to the Oilers’ hopes. After a walk to Will Armstrong, and a fly out, Trey Derouen hit a ground ball that could have ended the inning with a double play. Instead, an errant throw allowed both runners to reach base.

After a second out was recorded, Baldwin hit Jacob Duhon with a pitch to load the bases. Broussard made him pay by hitting a grand slam home run to give Abbeville a 5-1 advantage.

Meanwhile, Abbeville hurler Ethan Hebert was shutting down the Oilers’ offensive attack. He would work five innings, scattering three hits, walking one and striking out three to earn the mound win.

The Oilers tried to fight back. Casey Charlie had a two-out double in the second, but was left stranded. Kendall Sam singled to lead off the fifth, but was erased in a double play.

Abbeville would chase Baldwin in the fourth, with Tony Frederick slamming a two-run home run to highlight the inning. Seven runs would cross the plate, many as a result of four Oiler errors.

Baldwin pitched three and one-third innings, giving up five hits and six earned runs. He walked two and struck out one.

Zac Person pitched two and two-thirds innings for Eunice. He allowed three hits and one earned run, with two strike outs. Casey Charlie finished the game with a scoreless inning of relief.

In the seventh inning, the Oilers got singles from Person and Charlie. But reliever Anthony Frederick retired the side to end the game by virtue of the mercy rule.