Oilers Dig Deep, Cap Off Season as State Runners-Up
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ShareDepth 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…
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…
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…
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
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Chris Favalora sprints to first after laying down a bunt. -
Fr. Paul Shaughnessy, S.J. enjoys the action from the stands. -
Brian Valigosky -
First baseman John Carbo -
Second baseman Sean Cashman -
Head coach Kenny Goodlett walks to the outfield after the Oilers' big win, 6-3, over Pedal Valves on Sunday, July 21. -
Winning pitcher Will Hellmers -
On Tuesday, July 23, Joel Guerra slides into second in Retif's game against the Crowley Millers. -
Third baseman/catcher Parker Serio -
Sean Cashman turns through the ball. -
Pitcher Max Mancheski -
Will Hellmers -
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. -
The Oilers stand for the state championship opening ceremony on Thursday, July 25,. -
Catcher Parker Serio reaches to tag the runner. -
Joel Guerra sees the bat and hits the ball. -
Shortstop Collin Loupe leaps to field a grounder and turns toward first base.
