Retif Overwhelms Opposition to Win City, Advance to State

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

Retif Oil baseball team after winning the 2019 City Series Championship

Outscoring opponents by 23 runs in three hard-earned victories, the Retif Oilers made a statement on Fourth of July weekend. Jesuit’s Legion baseball team captured its second consecutive First District City Series championship on Monday, July 8, at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

View the Photo Gallery from the 2019 City Series

Winning 6-1 in the tournament opener over Lakeshore-based Bill Hood set the tone for the Oilers, who followed with a 10-1 victory over Holy Cross-based Ponstein’s on Saturday, July 6. At that point Retif had already clinched a berth in the upcoming American Legion State Tournament that begins Friday at Kirsch-Rooney. Bill Hood came back strong on Sunday, though, defeating Ponstein’s, 8-3, and slipping past Retif by one run to force the if-necessary game. Scoreless through four innings, the Oilers took over the final game in the top of the 5th with six runs, succeeded by two runs in the 6th and one in the 7th. Winning pitcher Connor Sarrat (2-0) threw six scoreless innings and allowed just five base runners before freeing up Holden Hess to complete the 9-0 shutout in the 7th.

First District City Series Recap

Friday, July 5

Game 1: Retif Oil (Jesuit) 6, Bill Hood Titans (Lakeshore) 1
Game 2: Ponstein’s (Holy Cross) 3, Malcolm Dienes (Rummel) 2

Saturday, July 6

Game 3: Bill Hood Titans (Lakeshore) 3, Malcolm Dienes (Rummel) 2. Dienes eliminated.
Game 4: Retif Oil (Jesuit) 10, Ponstein’s (Holy Cross) 1

Sunday, July 7

Game 5: Bill Hood Titans 8 vs. Ponstein’s 3. Ponstein’s eliminated.
Game 6: Retif Oil 3 vs. Game 5 winner, Bill Hood Titans 4

Monday, July 8

Game 7, Final*: Retif Oil 9 vs. Bill Hood Titans 0

* If necessary

Galleries

American Legion Baseball, First District City Series, Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, July 5-8, 2019

Fans watch as shortstop Gannon Hyer takes the plate. Moments after, Hyer would lay down a sacrifice bunt to score the first run of Friday's tournament opener.
Left-handed pitcher Brian Valigosky earned the win on Friday.
As head coach Kenny Goodlett looks on, Collin Loupe makes the last out of the inning.
Tripp Haddad sprints to first for an RBI single.
Zack Casebonne removes his gloves after hitting a single.
Hyer completes a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
John Carbo is all smiles after his RBI double.
With 14 strikeouts, starting pitcher Will Hellmers earned Saturday's win over Ponstein's (Holy Cross).
Hyer makes a great throw to first as Loupe watches.
Casebonne slides safely into third base.
Catcher Parker Serio jumps out of position to make an accurate throw to first.
Captains shake hands with leaders of the First District before starting Monday's if-necessary championship game.
Connor Sarrat, winning pitcher of Monday's championship game
Third baseman Will Hellmers gets the out at first.
Reliever Holden Hess pitches a perfect 7th inning to complete the shutout.
First baseman Brian Valigosky fields the grounder.
Second baseman Collin Loupe makes the final catch and last out of the game to seal a 9-0 City Series victory.
Retif Oil, the 2019 City Series Champions

Jesuit High School of New Orleans