The Gerard Oubre Memorial Tournament: Propelled by a Two-Run Homer, Zachary Beats Jesuit, 6-3

Courtesy runner Jake Chanove dives back to first base to avoid a tag.

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You can say this about the Blue Jays when it comes to tournament baseball. They’ve been consistently inconsistent since the start of the season in February.

At the WGNO Classic, the Jays showed vim and vigor in winning all four of their games. A week later at their own tournament, the 5^th Annual Jesuit Invitational, the Jays picked up a single win while dropping their other three games, including a pair to St. Thomas Catholic of Houston.

Mason Mayfield had a solid five innings on the mound, giving up two runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked one batter.

Last weekend, the Jays endured a long bus ride to Lake Charles for the Barbe Tournament, which was plagued by inclement weather. But the Blue Jays showed they were real troopers, sweeping all four games against quality prep teams, including a 4-2 come-from-behind win over the defending state champion Barbe Buccaneers.

This week, the Jays were looking forward to their “home field advantage,” to playing at least four (now five) games at John Ryan Stadium. The Venice Indians came all the way from Venice, FL and they weren’t making a social call. They defeated the Jays, 4-1, on Tuesday, March 15. The following day, Jesuit played a tough Lutcher team. With the score tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Jays pulled off a 3-2 walkoff win.

The Gerard Oubre Memorial Tournament began Thursday and Jesuit was shut out, 3-0, by the Byrd Yellowjackets. In game two today, the Zachary Broncos kicked the Jays, 6-3, handing Jesuit its third defeat in four games at the Ryan. That could be a dubious first for Jesuit baseball since the Ryan opened in March 2012.

The Broncos held the Jays to a stingy three hits. A single by shortstop Nick Ray ended a three game drought for the Blue Jay infielder who has swatted four home runs this season. Jesuit’s second baseman, Brandon Briuglio, continues his hot hitting streak. He had a single and in the third inning, whacked a double to deep right field that scored two runs. Briuglio reached third base and then scored the Jays’ third and final run on a wild pitch.

Mason Mayfield pitched five solid innings with an occasional hiccup. He gave up two runs (one was unearned) on three hits. He walked a batter and struck out five Broncos. He came off the mound after the top of the fifth with the Jays leading, 3-2.

Brandon Briuglio doubles down the right field line to score a pair of runs.

Todd Crabtree, who pitched brilliantly as the closer in three of the four games at the Barbe Tournament, relieved Mayfield for the final two innings. It did not go well for the junior right hander. Crabtree gave up four earned runs on four hits, spread evenly over the last two frames. He walked three batters, hit two, and struck out one.

The Bronco’s fatal kick came in the seventh. With one runner on base, two outs, and the pitch count at 2-2, Zachary’s first baseman hit a bomb over the left field fence. No surprise if someone finds a baseball under the railroad trestle underpass near the entrance to Blue Jay Way. When that Bronco pinged the ball for a homer, it was like someone gagging the entire Blue Jay dugout. Crabtree took the loss, his first this season to go with three saves.

The weather forced tournament officials to shuffle some games. The Jays (11-4 for the season) return to the Ryan Saturday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m. to play West Ouachita. Then on Sunday, Jesuit plays Central Lafourche at Hahnville High School. Scheduled starting time for Sunday’s game is 1 p.m.