Jays Want More and They Get More, Sweeping All Four Games in Their Own Tournament

Posted March 8, 2015 / Last updated March 20, 2015

Jesuit Pitching Shines with Two Shutouts

Second baseman Brandon Briuglio (left) and shortstop Alex Galy hustle to the Jays’ dugout after turning a double play in their March 7 game against St. Thomas More in the Jesuit Invitational Tournament at John Ryan Stadium.

View the JIT Game 4 Photo Gallery: Jesuit vs. St. Thomas More

View the JIT Game 3 Photo Gallery: Jesuit vs. Hahnville

View the JIT Game 2 Photo Gallery: Jesuit vs. Byrd High

View the JIT Game 1 Photo Gallery: Jesuit vs. Mandeville

Jesuit defeated four excellent teams over three days in their own Invitational Tournament at John Ryan Stadium.

In the final game Saturday evening, the Blue Jays shut out the nationally ranked Cougars of St. Thomas More (Lafayette), 3-0.

The Blue Jays won all four games in their tournament, giving senior catcher Trent Forshag something to cheer about.

Senior Jack Burk (2-0) was king of the mound for seven innings, giving up three hits and striking out 10 Cougars. The Jays picked up one run in the bottom of the fourth inning and added two more in the bottom of the sixth. It was Jesuit’s ninth win this season against one loss.

“Jack’s a senior, one of our leaders obviously, and this is the kind of game that will bring out his best,” said Coach Joey Latino. “St. Thomas More has an outstanding club, a great reputation, and I know that Jack took it as a personal challenge to go out there and give his team his best effort, and that’s exactly what he did. He was getting strike one early, which is big, and using his curve ball effectively, getting them to swing out of the zone a little bit.”

Earlier Saturday, Jesuit defeated Hahnville, 8-4 and on Friday night, it was the Byrd Yellowjackets that succumbed to the Jays, 5-2, behind a gritty performance on the mound by junior Sean Bretz, who went the distance of seven innings. The Jays opened the tournament by shutting out Mandeville, 8-0, on Thursday evening, one of the coldest days on record at this time of year for New Orleans.

“Anytime you can beat a quality team like St. Thomas More and close out your own tournament 4-0, it’s a great weekend,” said Coach Latino. “We beat some quality teams and ended the tournament on a very good note.”