Jays Look Sharp, Especially Wielding Bats, at Their 3rd Annual Invitational Tourney

Posted March 8, 2014 / Last updated March 10, 2014

Jesuit vs Mandeville on Saturday, March 8 at 5:30 p.m. at John Ryan Stadium

Christian Latino fires a rocket from the mound on Friday afternoon, March 7 at John Ryan Stadium.

Christian Latino fires a rocket from the mound in Friday afternoon’s game against West Feliciana at John Ryan Stadium.

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The Jays, playing with unbridled enthusiasm, defeated two good teams at their own Jesuit Invitational Tournament on Friday at John Ryan Stadium.

The Jays had a devilish good time defeating the West Feliciana Saints in the afternoon game, 8-3. In the twilight game, the Jays stung the Yellowjackets of Byrd High, 9-3.

The Blue Jays return to John Ryan Stadium on Saturday, March 8 to play a third and final game in the 3rd Annual Jesuit Invitational Tournament. The game against the Mandeville Skippers is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Student IDs are not accepted for the tournament.

The night game Jesuit played against Byrd had senior Brandon Sequeira pitching a full game (seven innings). He gave up seven hits and struck out eight Yellowjackets enroute to his second win of the season.

Brandon Sequeira pitched seven innings against Byrd, striking out eight Yellowjackets.

Junior Scott Crabtree and seniors Spencer Miller and Stephen Sigle each had two hits and accounted for six of Jesuit’s 11 hits. Crabtree smacked his second triple of the season and drove in two runs. One of Miller’s hits was a stand-up double. Sigle had two singles. The Jays’ bats were still hot from the West Feliciana game and Jesuit jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. The Jays added four runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. The Yellowjackets notched one run in the second, third, and seventh innings.

“The enthusiasm and constant support of our players in the dugout played a major role in the Byrd game,” said coach Joey Latino. “It’s great when our guys in the dugout get pumped up because this can strike fear in our opponents. Believe me, our opponents can get rattled when our dugout comes alive.”

In the afternoon game, the Jays beat West Feliciana, 8-3, behind consistent spot-on pitching from senior Christian Latino and two relievers. Latino had some help from the hot bats of juniors Andy Galy and Trent Forshag, and senior Spencer Miller. Latino chalked up his first win of the season by tossing four innings, giving up two hits and striking out four batters. He was relieved by senior Glynn Hyer for two innings and junior Myles Blunt pitched to the final four Saints batters. Galy and Forshag each had one hit, but more importantly, they each had two sacrifice flies that scored a total of five runs. Miller had two singles.

Jesuit dominated the Saints after the first inning. West Feliciana jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Jays answered with two runs in the bottom. The Saints added a run in the second inning, but the Jays once again responded with two runs in the bottom to take a 4-3 lead. Jesuit scored three runs in the fourth inning and added a single run in the fifth inning to make it an 8-3 ball game.

In addition to Jesuit, Byrd, West Feliciana, and Mandeville, other teams playing in the Jesuit Invitational are St. Augustine, Rummel, Shaw, Brother Martin, Hahnville, and McMain.

Galleries

Baseball vs. West Feliciana (Jesuit Invitational Tournament), March 7, 2014

Senior Glynn Hyer relieved Christian Latino and pitched the fifth and sixth innings.
The Jays and the Saints meet on Alumni Field after the game.
Nick Ray takes in the throw from catcher Trent Forshag but this Saint runner is easily able toi steal second.
Junior reliever Myles Blunt was sent to the mound in the top of the seventh inning to end the game. He struck out two Saints, walked one, and caused the fourth Saints' batter to ground out to end the game.
Junior designated hitter Harrison Daste draws a walk.
Brandon Sequeira catches a grounder at third base and uncorks his feet to make the throw to first for the out.
Coach Joey Latino sprints to his third base position whenever the Jays are batting.
... and tosses to Daniel Edmund at first base for the out.
Shortstop Nick Ray scoops up this grounder...
Junior outfielder Scott Crabtree tries to steal second early in the game but is tagged by the Saints' shortstop.
Pinch runner Clayton Deron easily steals second base.
Junior catcher Trent Forshag had one hit, but more importantly, he socked two sacrifice flies that scored a couple of runs for the Jays.
Senior Spencer Miller steals second base, although he doesn't look too happy about it..
Brandon Sequeira continues sliding all over the bases in this inning. On this play, he beats the throw to home, which eludes the Saints' catcher, who seems to be anticipating a collision with a Blue Jay.
Brandon Sequeira slides headfirst into thiird base and beats the attempted tag.
Double play! A grounder to third baseman Brandon Sequeira (crouching) was tossed to junior first baseman Daniel Edmund for the first out. Meanwhile, the Saints runner on second base checked up and then made a beeline for third where freshman shortstop Nick Ray was covering for Sequeira. Edmunds' throw to Ray was caught and the Saints runner was tagged out.
Senior Christian Latino started on the mound for the Jays against West Feliciana. He pitched four innings, allowed two hits, and struck out four Saints to earn his first win of the season.