Eight Is Enough: Power Hitting, Smart Pitching Propel Jays Over Wildcats, 7-4, in Extra Inning

Posted March 21, 2014 / Last updated March 25, 2014

Against Jesuit Tampa on Tuesday (March 18), Ben Hess returned to the lineup after an injury temporarily shelved him in the dugout for two weeks. Hess had one of Jesuit’s four hits in the team’s 4-0 shutout loss to the Tigers of Jesuit Tampa. Against Destrehan on Thursday, March 20, Hess pounded a solo home run out of the Wildcats’ ball park. He followed up in the extra inning with a two-run bases-loaded single to help put the Jays in the catbird seat.

Ben Hess Hits Solo Home Run

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Junior outfielder Ben Hess, nursing a foot injury that temporarily kept him on the bench, announced loudly, albeit up the river in Destrehan, that he is back in the Blue Jay lineup.

Hess slugged two huge hits that produced three RBIs — a solo home run in the seventh and an even more timely bases-loaded single in the top of the eighth — to help power Jesuit past the Destrehan Wildcats, 7-4, in Thursday afternoon’s opening game of the annual Gerard Oubre Memorial Tournament. It was Hess’s first home run of the 2014 season.

Senior Brandon Sequeira, who pitched seven complete innings and survived to push his record to 4-0, showed why he is in the lineup regardless if he’s on the mound or not. Sequeira, who follows Hess in the batting order, smacked a couple of his own hits, including an RBI double in the seventh and a single in the extra inning that produced the Jays’ final (insurance) run of the game. All told, the Jays tagged the Wildcats for eight hits.

Jesuit (12-2) plays Game 2 of the tournament Friday evening (March 21) at John Ryan Stadium, where the Jays have an opportunity to even it up against the Chiefs of West Ouachita. Senior right-hander C.J. Avrard is expected to start for the Jays with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Earlier this month, the Chiefs shutout the Jays, 1-0, in the WGNO Classic.

The visiting Jays and the hometown ‘Cats put on a wild show Thursday for baseball fans at Destrehan Stadium. The game was tied 2-2 after six innings. In the top of the seventh, Hess uncorked his home run to put the Jays ahead, 3-2. Two consecutive doubles by Sequeira and junior shortstop Alex Galy (his second hit of the game) resulted in a 4-2 lead for Jesuit heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Wildcats, however, were not done just yet and scored two runs to make it a 4-4 game that was headed for extra innings. One extra inning to be exact.

In the top of the eighth, senior Spencer Miller doubled and junior catcher Trent Forshag drew a walk. Freshman Nick Ray was sent in to pinch run for Forshag. Junior Harrison Daste, in his only plate appearance, pulled off a timely sacrifice bunt that advanced Miller to third base and Ray to second. With one out, senior Stephen Sigle walked to load the bases. An infield pop-up made it two outs for the Jays.

And then Hess stepped up to the plate, connecting again with a solid single that drove in Miller and Ray and advanced Sigle to third base. Sequeira followed Hess with a single that scored Sigle, giving the Jays a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

While Sequeira iced his right shoulder in the dugout, Coach Joey Latino looked to the Blue Jay bullpen and summoned sophomore hurler Mason Mayfield to the mound. After burning Mayfield for a one-out double, the next two Destrehan batters went nowhere, and the Wildcats were finally tamed and caged.

Following the Jesuit – West Ouachita game Friday night at the Ryan, the Jays will return to Destrehan’s field on Saturday (March 22) to play Central Lafourche in Game 3 of the tournament. That game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The fourth and final game for Jesuit in the tournament is Sunday (March 23). The Jays will travel to Hahnville for a 3 p.m. game against a strong Tigers’ team.

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Baseball vs. Jesuit Tampa, Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Junior Myles Blunt threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
Shortstop Alex Galy and third baseman/ outfielder Spencer Miller
This was the first game at John Ryan Stadium that featured two Jesuit teams playing each other.
Both teams were treated to gumbo and other delicious Lousiana delicacies under the Wally Pontiff, Jr. Pavilion. While the teams started out sitting at separate tables, the ice thawed eventually and the players mingled easily with each other.
The Jays and the Jesuit Tampa Tigers meet on the field after the game.
Myles Blunt has his shoulder wrapped in ice, courtesy of team physician Dr. Joe Licciardi '53.
Coach Joey Latino assembles the team before the bottom of the seventh inning. The Jays were two runs in the hole, and Coach Latino told his players to dig deep.
Blake Baker gets under an infield pop fly as right fielder Harrison Daste backs him up.
Sophomore Mason Mayfield pitched the final inning.
Alex Galy slides safely into second base.
Glynn Hyer (1) returns to the dugout and the Jays show their support.
Coach Joey Latino calls the infield to the mound for a conference.
Alex Galy waits for the ball at second base but the runner is safe.
Junior left fielder Scott Crabtree chases a ball hit in the corner and throws to shortstop Alex Galy as the Jesuit Tampa batter stands up on second base.
Junior first baseman Dan Edmund, along with the Jesuit Tampa runner and his coach, look toward the umpire for the call: Safe (but close).
Ben Hess is safe at first as the Tigers' first baseman juggles the ball.
Senior Glynn Hyer (1-2) took the loss, pitching 2 2/3 innings and striking out three batters. However, he showed tremendous resolve in the face of difficult personal circumstances.
Senior second baseman Blake Baker fields this grounder for an easy out.