Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Oilers Dig Deep, Cap Off Season as State Runners-Up

Posted July 26, 2019 / Last updated August 9, 2019

Print Print Email Email Share Share

Depth is a commonly used term when discussing oil, and it is the perfect word to use when describing the Retif Oilers’ route to the American Legion Louisiana State Championship.

Both meanings of the word—the distance from the bottom to the top, and the quality of being intense or extreme—are true in Retif’s case. The Oilers, who were 9-6-2 at the end of the regular season, overwhelmed their First District opponents to win the City Series and advance to state as a top seed. Retif then won three straight, by comfortable margins, in the state tournament to advance to the final game. Falling to the Southland Hogs on Wednesday, though, meant that Retif would only need to be defeated once in Thursday’s championship.

Pedal Valves, whom the Oilers defeated 6-3 earlier in the tournament, earned their revenge game in the finals and took advantage of the opportunity. The Oilers fell, 9-0, in a game that saw 10 Retif runners left on base. The Cardinals, who have won three state titles in the last four years, advance to the Mid-South Regional on a 15-1 tear with its lone loss coming from Retif in Game 2 of the state tournament. That upset victory for the Oilers, and the more controlling wins this postseason, were due to Retif’s roster depth. New starters who were playing junior varsity last summer or did not start on varsity stepped up to the challenge, enhanced team development, and succeeded—as individuals, as Oilers, and as Blue Jays.

Through the Lens…

View the Photo Gallery from the American Legion State Tournament

Senior Joel Guerra goes back to the track to catch a deep fly ball in the driver’s seat game against the Crowley Millers, which ended in Retif’s favor, 11-8.

By the Numbers…

Game 5: Retif (0) vs. Pedal Valves (9)
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th R H E
RETIF OIL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
Pedal Valves 1 2 0 5 0 1 X 9 12 0
Game 4: Retif (2) vs. Southland (13)
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th R H E
Southland Hogs 0 8 1 1 0 0 – 13 4 0
RETIF OIL 1 0 0 0 0 1 – 2 7 2

See Related…

NOLA.com | Pedal Valves Cardinals, Southland Hogs join Retif Oil in final round of American Legion Baseball State Tournament

Game 3: Retif (11) vs. Crowley (8)
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th R H E
RETIF OIL 1 2 0 0 0 3 5 11 10 2
Crowley Millers 0 0 2 2 0 3 1 8 12 0

See Related…

NOLA.com | Retif Oil clinches spot in American Legion Baseball State Tournament title game with 11-8 victory against Crowley; rain suspends play till Wednesday

Game 2: Retif (6) vs. Pedal Valves (3)
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th R H E
RETIF OIL 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 6 6 1
Pedal Valves 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 5 1

See Related…

NOLA.com | Confident Retif stuns Pedal Valves, 6-3, in American Legion Baseball State Tournament winner’s bracket game

Game 1: Retif (10) vs. ES & H (0)
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th R H E
ES&H (Destrehan) 0 0 0 0 0 – – 0 2 0
RETIF OIL 3 0 1 5 1 0 0 10 13 0

Galleries

American Legion Baseball, State Championship, Kirsch-Rooney, July 19-25, 2019

  • Retif-State_20190721_04
    Chris Favalora sprints to first after laying down a bunt.
  • Retif-State_20190721_01
    Fr. Paul Shaughnessy, S.J. enjoys the action from the stands.
  • Retif-State_20190721_05
    Brian Valigosky
  • Retif-State_20190721_06
    First baseman John Carbo
  • Retif-State_20190721_08
    Second baseman Sean Cashman
  • Retif-State_20190721_12
    Head coach Kenny Goodlett walks to the outfield after the Oilers' big win, 6-3, over Pedal Valves on Sunday, July 21.
  • Retif-State_20190721_13
    Winning pitcher Will Hellmers
  • Retif-State_20190723_15
    On Tuesday, July 23, Joel Guerra slides into second in Retif's game against the Crowley Millers.
  • Retif-State_20190723_21
    Third baseman/catcher Parker Serio
  • Retif-State_20190723_25
    Sean Cashman turns through the ball.
  • Retif-State_20190723_28
    Pitcher Max Mancheski
  • Retif-State_20190723_29
    Will Hellmers
  • Retif-State_20190725_38
    As the rain pours down before the start of the state championship game, opposing head coaches Kenny Goodlett and Jesuit alumnus Danny Riehm '00 stand beside each other.
  • Retif-State_20190725_41
    The Oilers stand for the state championship opening ceremony on Thursday, July 25,.
  • Retif-State_20190725_42
    Catcher Parker Serio reaches to tag the runner.
  • Retif-State_20190725_45
    Joel Guerra sees the bat and hits the ball.
  • Retif-State_20190725_47
    Shortstop Collin Loupe leaps to field a grounder and turns toward first base.