The Jesuit baseball team finished 2-2 this past weekend at the Barbe Tournament in Lake Charles, La. The Blue Jays won their first two games against Evangel and Peabody, but they were narrowly defeated by Hahnville in Game 3. Their final game against Barbe ended in favor of the host team.

Jesuit (7-5) looks to bounce back at the Gerard Oubre Memorial tournament, which leads off on Thursday, March 15 (click for details).

Pitcher Chris Favalora

Game 1: Jesuit 4, Evangel 3

Thursday, March 8

The bottom of the 5th in the win against Evangel was certainly the climax of Jesuit’s tournament opener. The Jays look to replicate their strong finish in Game 1 and use it as a springboard into their upcoming Oubre Memorial tournament opener.

Trailing 0-2 to Evangel, Jesuit picked up four runs on two hits from Will Hellmers and Brian Valigosky. Batting in the 3rd hole, Hellmers knocked in a run on an RBI single. With the bases loaded, cleanup hitter Valigosky hit a 2-RBI single down the line to advance two runners home. Hellmers, the final runner, then advanced on an error.

The Jays allowed a run in the top of the sixth, but that would become the last score of the 4-3 finish.

Matt Alexander turns on this Peabody pitch.

Game 2: Jesuit 14, Peabody 0

Friday, March 9

On Friday, it was the bottom of the 4th when the Jays exploded with multiple runs. With the game scoreless to that point, Jesuit chalked up nine runs. The big inning opened when Brenden Berggren scored via a bases-loaded walk. Will Hellmers then guided in a pair of runners with 2-RBI double, and Parker Serio followed suit with 2-RBI single. Later in the inning, Sean Seghers hit an RBI single and reached home off a wild pitch.

In a game that ended in five innings, starting pitcher Lee Blosser held the mound throughout. Blosser picked up the win with eight strikeouts and no runs allowed.

Matt Alexander and Tripp Haddad added one hit each in the 14-0 Blue Jay victory.

Catcher Alex Watermeier

Game 3: Jesuit 3, Hahnville 4

Saturday, March 10

Aiming for three straight wins, the Jesuit team found itself in a nail-biter that ended 3-4 in Hahnville’s favor.

In the top of the 6th, Jesuit trailed Hahnville, 0-2. With a man on base, 5th-hole Alex Watermeier stepped up to the plate and smashed an RBI double. Zach Casebonne, batting 6th in the lineup, turned on a 2-RBI single to bring the Jays up, 3-2.

After keeping the Tigers scoreless in the 6th, Jesuit had taken the driver’s seat with just an inning to play. Unfortunately, the team could not add on to their lead in the top of the 7th. The Jays gave up two runs in the last frame, and Hahnville stole the game with a 4-3 victory.

Players congratulate Matt Alexander on his home run.

Game 4: Jesuit 6, Barbe 10

Friday, March 10

In a game well-controlled by the host team, Matt Alexander saw 0-9 on the scoreboard as he took the batter’s box in the top of the 5th. Holding nothing back, Alexander hit a solo home run to put Jesuit on the board. Zach Casebonne added a 5th-inning run with an RBI single.

The Jays scored four runs in the top of the 7th, but their efforts were not enough as they fell to the Barbe Bucs by a score of 6-10.

Jesuit had 12 hits, another positive statistic to boost the team’s spirits moving forward.

Details for every game in the upcoming Oubre Tournament can be found on the Blue Jay Baseball Schedule on Jesuit’s website.

Also, catch live game updates for the upcoming action by following JesuitNOLA Baseball (@JHSNolaBaseball) on Twitter!