Blue Jays Strike Out Against Rummel , 2-1, Dropping Their Fourth District Game This Season by One Lone Run

In the sixth inning, catcher Josh Schmidt made a nifty tag of this Raider at the plate.

View the Jesuit – Rummel Photo Gallery (Round 2)

The Blue Jays dropped another district game by a single run Friday night as Archbishop Rummel took full advantage of Jesuit’s errors and strikeouts to escape Kirsch-Rooney Stadium with a 2-1 win.

Austin North hits a two-out double in the first inning. He was one of nine runners the Blue Jays left stranded on base. He doubled again in the fifth to score Marc Theberge from third base.

Jesuit (16-7) is now 3-4 in District 9-5A competition with all four losses by one run. As round two of district play gets underway, the Jays have to take a deep breath and dig deep for resolve because they turn around and host Brother Martin on Saturday, April 9, at John Ryan Stadium. First pitch is 7 p.m.

Set your DVRs to record Friday night’s Jesuit – Rummel game, which will be televised by WHNO-TV (Cox Cable, Channel 20) on Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m.

For Blue Jay fans who were in the bleachers and grandstand at Kirsch-Rooney, it was perplexing to watch their team scatter 10 hits, among them five doubles and a triple — the Raiders had a paltry four hits — and cross the plate only one time.

That’s what happens when 12 Jays strike out and nine teammates are left stranded on bases. The Jays really paid a price for two errors which led to Rummel’s pair of unearned runs scored in the third inning.

“We kept striking out with men in scoring position,” said Coach Joey Latino. “We couldn’t get the big hit. Our at bats have to be better with men in scoring position. We don’t point fingers, we don’t transfer blame, it’s things that we have to do better.”

The Jays’ starting pitcher, Davis Martin, took the loss, his first decision that gives him a 0-1 record. The left hander pitched three innings, allowed one hit, two runs (both unearned), and three walks. Davis had one strikeout. He was relieved by Richard Oubre, a right hander who completed the last three innings. Oubre allowed the Raiders three hits but otherwise shut them down. He issued one walk and had three strikeouts.

Chance Melancon strikes out but the catcher has trouble fielding the ball. The play resulted in a controversial play at first base in which the umpire called Melancon out on some sort of interference.

The Jays sprayed 10 hits around the ball park. Austin North collected three hits, including a single and two doubles (in the first and fifth innings). Stephen Sepcich hit a triple in the fourth and was followed by Chance Melancon, who struck out and ran to first base because the catcher couldn’t field the ball. But Melancon was called out for interfering and Sepcich, who crossed home when Melancon appeared to be safe at first on a throwing error, was sent back to third base. Melancon, who was behind the plate catching for Martin the first three innings, also smacked a double in the second inning but was left on base. In the fifth inning, Marc Theberge had a single and advanced to second base on a great bunt single by Nick Ray. Brandon Briuglio hit into a double play but Theberge advanced to third base and then scored the Jays’ sole run on North’s second double of the game. With one out in the seventh inning, Ray doubled to keep the Jays alive. Briuglio then singled, diving for first place and beating the throw, as Ray advanced to third base. Neither runner went any further as the final two Blue Jays struck out swinging.

When a reporter suggested that the district games were intense and pressure-packed, Coach Latino readily agreed.

“They all are. Every game in this district is like this. Every game is intense. Everybody is out here playing their tails off. I don’t question my kids’ efforts. We’re playing as hard as we can possibly play. We have to talk about the things we need to do better. We have to do a better job when those moments present themselves.”

Read More:

The New Orleans Advocate: Rummel pitcher Connor Cosse strikes out final two batters to preserve 2-1 victory over Jesuit

Nola.com: Rummel’s Connor Cossé strikes out 13 in 2-1 win over Jesuit