For “Senior Appreciation Day,” members of the 2014 varsity baseball team gather around Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 following their 9-2 win over South Terrebonne on Saturday, April 26 at John Ryan Stadium. It was the team’s final game of the regular season before the playoffs begin on Tuesday, April 29. The Blue Jays asked that Fr. Fitzgerald be included in the photo as he will be relinquishing his post as president of Jesuit High School.

Bi-District Playoff: Jesuit vs. Central High (B.R.), Tuesday, April 29, 7 PM, John Ryan Stadium

“Senior Appreciation Day” Recognizes Parents and Their Baseball Sons on the Verge of Becoming Jesuit Alumni

View the Jesuit – South Terrebonne Photo Gallery

Utilizing the Jesuit bullpen to full advantage in the final game of the regular season, the Blue Jays muscled their way to a 9-2 win over South Terrebonne on Saturday, April 26 at John Ryan Stadium.

The Jays bring a 27-5 record and a #3 seeding into the LHSAA state playoffs, which begin this week. In the opening bi-district round on Tuesday, April 29, the Jays will host Central High School of Baton Rouge (#30 seed). First pitch is at 7 p.m.

Looking beyond the bi-district game, the regional (May 2-3) and quarterfinal (May 9-10) rounds of the playoffs will require the winning teams to take the “best of three” games. For those teams making it to the final eight, the state tournament will be held at McMurry Park in Sulphur. The semifinals are played on May 16 and the championship game on May 17. No more best of three; one loss and that team is going home.

Playing the Gators of South Terrebonne on a hot and windy Saturday, the Jays sent four senior pitchers to the mound:

• Will Tebbe pitched the first two innings and had one strikeout.

• James Licciardi struck out two Gators in the next two innings while picking up his second win (no losses) of the season.

• Zack Jones also had two strikeouts in innings five and six.

• Christian Latino, throwing in the top of the seventh, sent South Terrebonne packing when he fanned three Gators in a row.

After two innings, the Jays led 2-1 only to have the Gators tie it up, 2-2, in the top of the third inning. But the Jays answered with two runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, 4-2. Two scoreless innings followed and in the bottom of the sixth, the Jays broke the game wide open with a flurry of five runs. Each team had seven hits, but the Jays were obviously more successful in pushing their players across home plate.

In recognition of the 2014 baseball seniors, as well as their parents, the occasion was digitally captured for posterity, including this photo of Coach Joey Latino, his wife Lisa, and their senior son Christian.

Trent Forshag, who normally can be found behind the plate but was the team’s designated hitter for the game, went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Stephen Sigle (1B) also went 2-for-4, which included a double and an RBI. Nathan Zimmer (CF) was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and junior Scott Crabtree (LF) hit a double.

Following the game, seniors and their parents had the moments captured digitally by Zach Jones, father of senior hurler Zach Jones. When the brief photo session ended, everyone — players and their parents — enjoyed a delicious and sumptious buffet in the shade of the Wally Pontiff Pavilion.

View the 2014 LHSAA Playoff Brackets

Read More…

N.O. Advocate: Jesuit knocks off South Terrebonne, 9-2

N.O. Advocate: Walker: Change to best-of-three series good for Class 5A