Jays Pile Up Impressive Stats in Winning All Three Games at Their Own Tournament

Andy Galy slides head-first into home as Mandeville’s catcher juggles the throw from right field. Galy, on second base after a single and a steal, scored Jesuit’s first run when catcher Trent Forshag knocked a single into right field in the bottom of the fourth inning of Saturday night’s game against the Skippers. The game, which Jesuit won, 3-0, closed out the 3rd Annual Jesuit Invitational Tournament at John Ryan Stadium.
Jesuit vs. Mandeville Photo Gallery (Game 3, Jesuit Invitational Tournament)
Jesuit vs. Byrd High Photo Gallery (Game 2, Jesuit Invitational Tournament)
Jesuit vs. West Feliciana Photo Gallery (Game 1, Jesuit Invitational Tournament)
In sweeping all three of their games this past weekend against worthy opponents at the 3rd Annual Jesuit Invitational Tournament, the Blue Jays displayed some awesome pitching, great defense, and clutch hitting.
And the Jays also posted some impressive statistics from their trio of games: 24 hits and 20 runs scored by Jesuit’s offense and at least 27 strikeouts by the pitching corps. The Jays’ opponents — West Feliciana Saints, Byrd High Yellowjackets, and Mandeville Skippers — had a total of 15 hits and six runs. The Skippers were shutout in the final game of the tournament on Saturday evening, March 8, at John Ryan Stadium.
After Jesuit won its two opening games on Friday, March 7 (defeating West Feliciana, 8-3, in the afternoon and Byrd High, 9-3, in the evening), Coach Joey Latino cautioned his troops about their game on Saturday against Mandeville, a team the Jays sacked, 9-1, on the Monday before Mardi Gras. “Mandeville will be a different team on Saturday than the team you played last Monday,” said Latino. And he was right.
The Jesuit – Mandeville game — delayed two hours because the opening game of the tournament on Saturday stretched to 13 innings — was scoreless until the Jays’ turn to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Up until then, Jesuit had not even registered a hit. Coach Latino called the entire team out of the dugout for a brief talk, and 30 seconds later, the Jays rekindled the fire in the belly.
Shortstop Andy Galy singled, then stole second base. Catcher Trent Forshag singled and Galy was waved home by Coach Latino. The throw to the Skippers’ catcher was juggled and Galy, sliding head-first, was safe. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Jays scored two more runs. Galy drew a walk and catcher Trent Forshag belted a triple that scored Galy standing up. Up comes junior designated hitter Harrison Daste, who bangs a double that scores Forshag’s pinch runner, junior Matt Cedro.
All senior pitcher C.J. Avrard had to do was deliver three outs in the top of the seventh. The first Skipper singled and stole second. The second Skipper grounded out and the final two batters went down on strikes. Game over. Avrard (2-0) pitched a complete game, giving up five hits, and whiffing an even dozen Skippers.
The Jays (8-1) expect to have good practices this week in preparing for a four-game tournament, the Jay Patterson Shootout, that starts Thursday and ends Saturday up the river in Gonzales and St. Amant.
Galleries
Baseball vs. Mandeville (Jesuit Invitational Tournament), March 8, 2014
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Mandeville's catcher juggles the throw from right field as Alex Galy slides head-first to score Jesuit's first run and break open the game.
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The Jays and the Skippers meet on the field after the game.
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C.J. Avrard waits for the sign from catcher Trent Forshag as to which pitch Coach Latino wants him to throw. After giving up a hit to the Skippers' lead off batter in the top of the seventh inning, Avrard got the next batter to ground out. He then struck out the final two Mandeville batters to notch his second win of the young season.
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... Matthew Cedro adds the third and final run for the Jays in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cedro was pinch running for Trent Forshag, whose big triple in the inning sent Alex Galy home standing up to give the Jays a 2-0 lead. Cedro made it 3-0 when Harrison Daste blasted a double.
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Junior Harrison Daste wraps this pitch in aluminum foil for a stand-up double and an RBI...
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With Jesuit clinging to a 1-0 lead and in need of some insurance, Alex Galy draws a walk that gets the Jays going again in the bottom of the sixth inning.
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... The pitch comes within a whisker of hitting Stephen Sigle, who responds with a mambo move that keeps him upright and on his feet.
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Senior Stephen Sigle closes his eyes but doesn't concede a millimeter of space to this high inside pitch....
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Harrison Daste slides safely into third after the Skippers' catcher has trouble stopping a low ball.
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Trent Forshag (left) comes off second base to don his catcher's gear for the next inning and Harrison Daste is sent in as pinch runner.
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As assistant coach Nick Nolfe acknowledges Trent Forshag, on second base with a stand-up double, Blue Jays high-five Alex Galy, whose single and stolen base ignited the tream in the bottom of the fourth.
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The Jays face the flag in center field duri ng the National Anthem.
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After Alex Galy steals second base, junior catcher Trent Forshag smacks a double into right field.
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Shortstop Alex Galy delivers after Coach Latino's fiery speech and knocks a base hit to right field.
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At the start of the bottom of the fourth inning, the team gathers around Coach Latino who challenges the Blue Jays, at this point hitless in the scoreless game, to stop fooling around and break it open.
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Freshman Nick Ray tries to lay down a bunt inside the third base line, but it goes foul.
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Senior right fielder Spencer Miller makes a leaping dive to snag this foul ball, only for it to tip his glove and end up near the bullpen mound.
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While they may not look it, longtime fans Jim Tebbe '76 and Buddy Lazare '43 (the dean of Blue Jay baseball supporters) are on the cusp of displaying enthusiasm and excitement. Really!
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A Skipper attempting to steal second base leaps in an effort to avoid the tag by shortstop Alex Galy. The throw by catcher Trent Forshag is on the money and Galy tags the runner while second baseman Blake Baker stands ready to back up his teammate.
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Junior catcher Trent Forshag shows a big cut on a ball that's foul.
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Junior left fielder Scott Crabtree has his glove ready for a high fly ball.
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Senior C. J. Avrard pitched a full game and a shutout. He allowed five hits and struck out an even dozen Skippers.