Posted below are stories prior to the 2012 Season.

2011

Fall Ball 2011 Scrapbook

Homeruns kept Green Wave alive in district

While the Green Wave didn’t quite manage to make the playoffs this year, homeruns were deciding factors in several district games.

Starting with Hayden Hutches’s home run in Slidell that scored three and resulted in Ponchy’s first district win in game three, the Green Wave fired .  Taylor Denham was responsible for another three-run home run at Northshore High that resulted in a 5-2 win and moved the team to 5-3 in district.

When Ryan Byers, Blake Falconello and Hutches nailed three home runs against Mandeville that resulted in a 10-8 win at home, the idea of playoffs brought a momentum to the team that lasted only through the next game in Slidell where Dylan Meyers and Byers both took the cover off the ball and propelled Ponchy to the 12-7 win.

With a 7-5 record going into the last four games of the season, the momentum ended with a 16-0 loss to St. Paul, followed by another loss to Fontainebleau and also a loss of hope to enter the playoffs.

The Green Wave, however, didn’t give up on the season.

Falconello proved he could do it again in the final game of the year when he crushed one out of the park at home against Hammond.  His two-run home run in the first inning was matched with two Hammond runs in the third.  Although both teams managed one run each in the fourth to keep the game tied, Hammond intentionally walked Brady Bass and Dylan Meyers in the ninth inning to load the bases and bring Falconello back to the plate.  Seemingly with ease, Falconello showed Hammond a base hit to win it for the home team.

Ponchatoula finished 8-6 for the 2011 season.

 

 

 

With three games in one week taking place at Hammond High School, the
Green Wave proved superior in defeating Hammond twice and Fountainebleau,
repeating the win against Fountainebleau at home as well.

The JV started its streak in defeating Fountainebleau at Hammond High on
April 2, beating the bulldogs 14-10. Highlights of the game included the
Green Wave posting seven runs in the fourth inning that were challenged by the
bulldogs’ six.  The Green Wave pulled it out with five runs in the sixth
that sealed their win.

Immediately following their win against Fountainebleau, the Green Wave
defeated Hammond in a knock-out fashion.  With a 10-run ruling in the
fifth inning, the junior varsity team went back to Athletic Park with winning
on their minds. 

The following Wednesday night’s action showed Fountainebleau no mercy once
again when the Green Wave opened the varsity’s win against Fountainebleau with a
win of their own.  The junior varsity beat Fountainebleau 11-2.  

The icing on the cake of the week-stretch of victories for the junior
varsity was Ponchatoula’s win against Hammond that set the stage for the
varsity’s 15-2 pelting of Hammond’s varsity squad.  With the junior
varsity win of , the varsity had no other choice but to show off their talent
at the plate.

 

 

The Ponchatoula Greenwave is now 2-3 in district after the first two weeks of play.

The team’s district opener was held at Athletic Field on March 22nd, giving Ponchy its first win against Northshore.  With Brett Vampran on the mound to start and Landyn Ragan relieving in the fourth inning, the Greenwave allowed Northshore five hits.

The Greenies were heavy on the bats with 10 hits for the night and Mark Traylor leading the team with three. Dylan Meyers had two hits and led the team with two RBIs.

Unfortunately, the Greenwave couldn’t follow up the first win and was 10-run-ruled in Covington on the 24th.  The Lions hit the ball well with 11 hits as compared to Ponchatoula’s two from Meyers and Blake Falconello.

Back at home on the 26th, Ponchatoula followed a loss with another against Mandeville 6-1.  Mandeville’s 11 hits proved superior to Ponchatoula’s three from Ryan Beyers, Meyers and Taylor Denham.  Meyer’s held the sole RBI for the Greenwave.

 

A rainout in Slidell paused the game in the second inning on March 29th.  When the game started again on the 31st, Ponchatoula was ahead 2-0, but Slidell was quick to score a run in the bottom of the second and inch closer to the Greewave.

This was as close as Slidell would get to Ponchatoula, however, as the Greenies scored three runs in the fourth.  In the seventh inning, Ponchatoula scored one run and was challenged with two runs in the bottom of the inning that still weren’t enough to capture the lead.The final score was 6-3.

 

The win against Slidell pelted Ponchatoula into Friday night’s match against St. Paul.  Darren Bach started on the mound, and Ragan relieved him. St. Paul scored five runs in the first inning of the game, one in the third, and didn’t score again until the sixth after Ponchatoula had used the first six innings to creap ahead 7-6.

Ponchatoula and St. Paul battled it out run-for-run int he last innings of the game, but the Greenies couldn’t quite hang on in the final inning when St. Paul scored the final run that put them ahead 9-8.

District games continue at Fountainebleau April 5.

With three losses of three at the St. Amant Tournament, the Green Wave hopes to rally as they enter their first district game on Tuesday against Northshore.

Parkview Baptist leaves Ponchy 2-2

Winning two games against Runnels, Ponchatoula’s Green Wave showed off at the plate and in the field. 

 

 

 

Green Wave falls twice in home double-header

Even with senior bats producing big hits for the Green Wave, Ponchatoula
marked losses for both games in Sunday’s double-header against Lafourche.

Rain canceled the Green Wave Tournament that was to take place on Friday and
Saturday at Athletic Park, but Lafourche made the trip on Sunday after the
field dried enough for play.  

 

 

Varsity beats Comeaux 7-3

Photos courtesy of Jeanne Vampran and Ashlynn Mullins.  Included also with game photos are photos of your seniors.

 

East Ascension Tournament

Even after three straight losses, the Green Wave found the determination to win the last game of the East Ascension Tournament.

Although it was a disappointing showing for the Green Wave at the East Ascension Tournament, Ponchatoula managed to pull out a win in the last game against New Iberia 6-2. 

The team changed uniforms and seemed to have a new energy in the final game of the tournament.  Although the win didn’t make up for three straight losses and only one run scored until then, it certainly did start to heal the bruises.

 

Check out the teams Game Changer site for a play-by-play of the game and the pictures for highlights.

 

JV loses to Loranger in final inning

With big hits and a fighting spirit, the junior varsity squad put on a
great show against Loranger.  After six strong innings, the Green Wave
fell in the final inning of the game.

Three double-plays wowed the crowd and kept the
team pumped for six straight.  While Loranger’s bats were also hot,
Ponchatoula managed to hold the team at bay.  Pitchers Allen Michael
Williams and Cole Galloway allowed three runs between them.

Shayne Narro was brought in for the final inning of the game but struggled
on the mound, walking the first two batters.  With an error behind him and
several wild pitches, Narro couldn’t hold on to the lead and allowed Loranger a
8-6 lead before heading to the dugout for the last at bat.

Although Narro scored in the last inning, it wasn’t enough to pull through
as Loranger defeated Ponchatoula 8-7.

Ponchy off to slow start

After a slow start to the season’s scrimmage and jamboree games, the Greenies hope to jump into the winner’s circle this weekend at the East Ascension Tournament.

Ponchatoula is scheduled to play Hahnville at 5 p.m. Friday and then Catholic on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Greenwave will close out the tournament Sunday with games against Zachary at 3 p.m. and New Iberia at 5:30.

 

Green Wave adds new faces for 2011 season

Fall Baseball

Ponchy ties one, wins two to end Fall Baseball season

A tie game on Saturday and two wins on Sunday pushed Ponchatoula’s Fall
Baseball team further into the winner’s circle to end the season. 

Even with an injured elbow, Brice Hubert serves as pinch runner during the Fall Ball season.

Ponchatoula had to borrow two members from Albany’s team on Saturday due to
being short staffed.  With three of their teammates out with injuries and
two taking the ACT, Ponchy was left with seven players.

Junior Tyler Corbin was injured in week three of the four-week season when
he twisted his ankle on first base. Junior Zach Rock had surgery on his
shoulder, which halted his fall season before it started, and sophomore Brice
Hubert has an elbow injury that will keep him from playing until spring.

Sophomore Tyler Robinson and junior Taylor Denham were taking the ACT at
Ponchatoula High School during the 9 a.m. game.

Senior Darren Bach shares a moment with his dad before he bats for the last time in Fall Baseball.

Highlights of the tie ball game included junior Blake Falconello’s hit to
left field in the second; senior Darren Bach’s double in the third inning that
scored Brett Vampran, who got on base with a walk; and Falconello’s RBI, also
in the third inning, that scored Bach.  In the last inning, Falconello had
a sacrifice fly deep in center field to score junior Trey Foster and tie the
game.  Senior pitcher Darren Bach
allowed Albany three runs in five innings. 

Ponchatoula finished with two wins on Sunday.  Sophomore Brennan Costello woke up early in the morning to
start pitching at 9 a.m.  Costello
held Loranger scoreless for in the first inning, and Foster started
Ponchatoula’s lead with a sacrifice fly to score senior Brett Vampran. 

Costello loaded the bases in the second and allowed a runner to score on a
wild pitch for Loranger’s only run of the inning.

Costello had a single to start the bottom of the second inning, followed by
a walk from Robinson.  An
overthrown ball scored Rock, who was running for Costello.  Brett Vampran’s high hit to center
field met the ground and scored Robinson.
Bach walked, and Falconello hit a double to score Vampran and Bach.  Ponchy finished the inning with a 6-1
lead and allowed only one other run to finish the game 6-2.

 

Senior Brett Vampran’s last at-bat for Fall Baseball.

In their final game, Vampran pitched and managed to hold Holden to one run,
scored in the last inning of the game.
Ponchatoula scored 10 runs, seven of which came in the third
inning. 

Walks contributed to this lead in the second inning when Holden’s pitcher
loaded the bases and walked Vampran to score Hubert, running for Costello.  Errors in the third extended this lead
when several of Ponchatoula’s batters took position on first base after
Holden’s infielders fumbled balls or overthrew would-be forced outs.  A double from Foster, which resulted in
three runs, and a triple from sophomore Landyn Ragan that scored Foster didn’t
help stop Holden’s bleeding.  The
final score was 10-1.

 

 

Maurepas defeats the undefeated Ponchatoula; Ponchy takes Albany once again

With 14 strikeouts for the team, Ponchatoula lost Saturday to Maurepas and gave up their opportunity for an undefeated fall baseball season.

Darren Bach’s pitching shines once again in Saturday’s game.

Senior Darren Bach held Maurepas scoreless in the first four innings before turning the ball over to Landyn Ragan in the fifth when Ponchatoula was ahead 2-0.

Ragan took over with a runner on first and second.  A hit to right field
loaded the bases, and Falconello stopped the score by scooping a ground
ball at first and zinging it to catcher Brennan Costello.  Maurepas scored one run in the fifth before a couple of walks and four hits in the sixth netted the team four runs and the lead of 5-2.

Tyler Robinson’s two hits keep Ponchatoula alive on Saturday, but are not enough for the win.

In the bottom of the sixth, with two outs and the end of the game in sight, Costello stepped into the batter’s box and popped up a ball that got lost in the sun and secured him a spot on first base.  Sophomore Tyler Robinson capitalized with a hit to right field, and Shayne Narro had a hit to left that advanced Robinson to second and Costello to third.

Ponchy was offered another break when the Maurepas center fielder let Tyler Corbin’s fly ball touch down and score Costello and Robinson.  They would be the last to score, however, as Brett Vampran was tossed out at first to end the game.

Another break in the game belonged to Taylor Denham, who got to first base on an error in the first inning to score Zach Rock running for Bach.  Bach earned an RBI with a single in the fifth to score Robinson.

On Sunday, Ponchatoula closed the third week of their play with a 4-3 win against Albany.  Vampran was the starting pitcher and held Albany scoreless for the first four innings.  Costello releived Vampran in the fifth, allowing three runs but not enough for Albany’s win.

Shayne Narro goes two for three at the plate on Saturday.

In the first inning, Corbin got to first base on an error, and Vampran’s fly ball to left field caused confusion and dropped between three Albany players.  This advanced Rock, who was running for Corbin, to third base and allowed Vampran to get to second.

Bach hit a fly ball caught in center field for the first out. Falconello was thrown out at first, but earned an RBI on his way off the field when Rock scored, allowing Ponchy to take the lead 1-0.

Junior Trey Foster stops Albany from scoring with bases loaded in the second inning.

Vampran allowed two hits in the second inning.  The first was a single from Albany’s first batter of the inning.  The hit was followed by Vampran catching a fly ball from the second and striking out the third.  He walked the next batter, and a hit to right field loaded the bases.

Trey Foster stopped a ground ball at second base and tossed it to first to get the third out of the inning and leave Albany scoreless.

Ragan had a double in the second inning, stole third and then scored when Costello hit a single over second base.

Two more runs advanced Ponchatoula to a 4-0 lead.  Albany scored its only three runs in the fifth inning.

 

 

First weekend of Fall Baseball nets three wins for Ponchatoula

During the first weekend of Fall Baseball at Ponchatoula’s Alumni Field, Ponchatoula showed no mercy.  Beating Albany 9-2, Loranger 10-0 and Holden 4-3, Ponchy became the team to watch.

 

In the Fall Baseball opener against Holden, Ponchatoula trailed for the first four innings with Tyler Corbin’s first inning run counting as the team’s only score.  Holden scored two runs in the first inning against pitcher Darren Bach and one in the fourth against Landyn Ragan, leaving the score at 3-1 going into the last inning of the game.

When time was running short, and the home team knew the one hour, 45-minute time limit was nearing, Ponchatoula allowed bats to come alive during the fifth. Darren Bach hit a game-winning triple to score Shayne Narro, Tyler Corbin and Brett Vampran.

Later in the day, Ponchy held Loranger to two runs, which were scored in the last inning of the game.  With 10 runs, Ponchatoula easily won their second game of the day with pitchers Brett Vampran and Tyler Robinson.  Vampran and Blake Falconello scored in the first inning, , Bach scored in the third, Corbin scored in the fourth and Bach, Falconello, Trey Foster, Brennan Costello, Landyn Ragan and Tyler Robinson scored in the fifth inning.

In Sunday’s game against Albany, Ponchatoula dominated once again, winning 9-2 with Costello on the mound for the first three innings and Narro closing.  After Corbin and Vampran scored two runs in the first inning to tie the game, Ponchatoula did not allow any further runs for Albany.  Bach, Falconello, Foster and Taylor Denham scored in the third.  And in the fourth inning, Bach, Falconello and Denham scored once again.

For the second weekend of Fall Baseball, Ponchatoula will play Hammond On Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and Albany on Sunday at 9 a.m.

Ponchatoula remains undefeated in week two of Fall Baseball

Blake Falconello’s two RBIs on Saturday help Ponchatoula win over Albany.

Ponchatoula remains undefeated after beating Albany 4-0 and Maurepaus 9-1 in week two of Fall Baseball.

 

Highlights of the six-inning game against Albany included Blake Falconello’s sacrifice fly in the first inning to score Tyler Corbin and Falconello’s double in the fourth to score Brett Vampran.  Darren Bach pitched the first four innings of the game, walking only two batters. Landyn Ragan pitched the remaining two innings,closing out the game and also allowing no runs.

 

Senior Brett Vampran’s pitching aids Ponchy for the second week in Fall Baseball.

In Sunday’s action, the Ponchatoula team scored early and stayed on top throughout most of the game. It was 1-1 to start the bottom of the second inning, and middleclassmen shined as sophomore Tyler Robinson started a two-out rally with a single to right field, which advanced junior Zach Rock, pinch running for sophomore Brennan Costello, to second base.  Sophomore Shayne Narro’s single to left field scored Rock, and junior Tyler Corbin’s single to left field scored Robinson.

 

Senior Brett Vampran singled to left field also, and earned an RBI when Narro crossed the plate.  Darren Bach walked, and Falconello got to first on an error, once again loading the bases.  Taylor Denham walked as well, and Corbin crossed home plate to extend the lead to 5-1.  Ponchatoula earned two more runs in the second with Trey Foster’s and Costello’s trips to the plate and no runs in the third.

 

Pitchers for Sunday included Vampran, who only allowed one run in four innings, and Costello, who pitched for the last inning of the game.   The game was called due to time expiration in the fifth when Ponchatoula was batting. the final score was 9-1.

 

2010

Monday, June 7
Metro team finishes 2-1 in Denham Springs Tourney

Coming off a tough 3-1 loss to Denham Springs Thursday night, the Metro team rallied to win both their games on Sunday.  Beating Tioga 10-9 in comeback fashion and then holding a gamelong lead over Albany, the team won the battle against the wooden bats and the Louisiana heat.

Sophomore Brandon Lingerfelt pitched the six-inning game Thursday night, allowing three runs.  His team wasn’t able to answer with their bats as Cole Galloway scored the only run.

Rain plagued Friday and Saturday games, canceling both days of play.  It was a much-needed time of reflection for the Metro squad.

Sunday’s game started with an energetic punch from Ponchatoula.  Ponchatoula led the game 5-1, but Tioga rallied in the fourth and fifth innings to score eight unanswered runs.

Sophomore Shayne Narro started the sixth inning with a base hit, and  Tyler Robinson bunted to reach first on error and advance Narro.  Landyn Ragan’s double scored Narro and Robinson, who had each stolen one base to advance to second and third.

Incoming freshman Brett Hutson was the highlight of the game with a homerun that tied the game and paved the way for Hunter Landaiche to single to left field. With another single, Gallaway advanced Landaiche to second.

Corey Raiford, another incoming freshman, hit a ground ball that once again advanced Landaiche, and Lingerfelt hit a ground ball to third base that was bobbled and dropped to allow the game winning run to score.

There was no rest for the Metro team as they kept a lead throughout the second game to win 5-2 against Albany.  Ragan started pitching and struggled, loading the bases and walking a run in during the second inning.  He was then relieved by Hutson who would finish the game, allowing only one run.

Bats were alive once again for the Metro team throughout the second game.

“It wasn’t us,” said Coach J.T. Robinson in response to congratulations on the win.  “It was the team.  They won these games today.  They earned them.”

Monday, June 7
Legion starts the season in Loranger; heads to Walker

Saturday, June 12
Week two Legion action

Saturday, June 12
Week two Legion action

Saturday, June 12
Week two, Metro climbs to three game winning streak

Saturday, June 12
Metro climbs to three game winning streak

Coming off a double-header double-win on Sunday, the Pevey Realtors Metro team showed St. Thomas no mercy, winning 14-4 in Thursday night’s match-up.

Friday, June 25
Green Wave works to ready field

It takes a lot of work to get the fields ready for play, and these guys really work!

Friday, August 6
Scrapbooks for 2010 Summer Teams

Pevey Realtors Legion Team

Pevey Realtors Metro Team

Elisha Settoon was a top hitter for the Louisiana Knights with a .329 average

Tuesday, August 10
GREEN WAVE PLAYERS SHINE FOR LOUISIANA KNIGHTS

Trey Marino finished with the Knights’ top ERA

Three Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball players stood out this summer playing for the Louisiana Knights 18′s, the premiere showcase travel team in the Louisiana-Mississippi region.

Third baseman Elisha Settoon, pitcher Trey Marino and catcher Dylan Meyers all had an outstanding summer playing for the Knights, made up of the top players from the North Shore, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi.

The Knights 18′s finished 28-11, including four championships playing in two months of tournaments ranging from national tourneys in Atlanta and Dallas to regional tourneys at the University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane, UL-Monroe, LSU-Eunice and the University of West Florida at Pensacola.   The Knights played their midweek games at Southeastern.

Settoon, the three-hole hitter for the Knights the entire season, batted around the .400 mark for much of the summer before finishing with a .329 mark in 101 plate appearances, good enough for fourth among full-time players on the squad.

A full-time starter at 3B when he wasn’t pitching, Settoon finished second in RBI’s (16), third in doubles (7), fourth in total hits (26), second in runs scored (19), third in on-base percentage (.426), and fourth in base-on-balls (15).  He tied four others for the team lead in home runs with one.

Settoon also saw spot relief duty on the mound, posting a 1-1 record with 2 saves and a 4.36 ERA.  In 18 innings on the hill, he struck out seven batters and walked just four.   Settoon was voted by his Knights teammates as winner of one of five individual awards, the “Hustle Award”, at the season-ending banquet.

Marino was a member of the Knights’ starting rotation on the mound.  He posted a 3-1 record on the hill with one save to his credit.

In 26 innings pitched, Marino finished with a team-leading 0.27 ERA, allowing just one earned run during the summer.  He gave up 16 hits while striking out 16 batters and walking five.  In limited plate appearances, he finished with a .320 batting average (8 for 25).

Although one of only two rising juniors on a club made up almost entirely of recent high school graduates, Meyers was one of two regular starters behind the plate, logging 159 innings.

Facing often junior college and collegiate pitchers, Meyers hit .216 (11 for 51) with 5 RBI and drew 18 walks, good enough for third on the team.   He had the fourth best on-base percentage (.403) and also had a home run to tie for the team lead.

In the final game against the Louisiana Legends, Meyers gunned down three runners attempting to steal and whacked a double off the wall.  No season catching stats were tallied by the team.

A total of 18 players from the Knights 18′s roster have signed on to play college baseball.  Other top players from the North Shore on the squad included Northshore High’s Taylor Eads, Trey Rickrode, and Chris Miller, Fontainebleau’s Logan Peterson and Anthony LaGuardia, Covington’s Randy LeBlanc and Dexter Thompson, and Northlake Christian’s Zac Hawkins.

Dylan Meyers, only a soph, started at catcher for the Knights

Monday, January 18
WEBSITES OF DISTRICT 7-5A OPPONENTS ADDED AS LINKS
You can now view the latest news about Ponchatoula’s District 7-5A baseball opponents by visiting their websites from the links provided in the “District 7-5A Scores and Standings” entry at the column to the left.  Clicking on this link will bring you straight to the latest scores and schedules of each team in the Green Wave’s district, including Northshore, Fontainebleau, Slidell, St. Paul, Mandeville, Covington and Hammond.

Tuesday, January 26
GREEN WAVE MAKES SCHEDULE CHANGES

The Ponchatoula Green Wave has announced several changes to its 2010 spring schedule, including moving the April 29th district finale with arch-rival Hammond from the Tornados’ home field to Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

Hammond will remain the home team for the contest slated to begin at 6:30pm.  The junior varsity game previously scheduled for 4 pm. to precede the varsity fray that day at Hammond has been cancelled.

In another schedule change, the game time for the Ponchatoula varsity’s March 27th road trip to Mandeville has been changed to 12 noon.  The junior varsity starting time has been moved up to 10 am. that day.

Wednesday, February 10
WAVE JUNIOR VARSITY POPS AMITE, 18-0

Although it was a preseason scrimmage, the Ponchatoula Green Wave junior varsity got off to a strong start Wednesday, blitzing Amite, 18-0, at Loranger.

The Wave JV will make up Monday’s rained out contest with Covington at 4 pm. Friday at Loranger.

Friday, February 12
LBCA PRESEASON TOP 10 POLLS RELEASED

The Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its preseason poll for 2010, and defending state champion Northshore is ranked on top:  

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class 5A Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Northshore
2. Barbe
3. Dutchtown
4. Destrehan
5. Jesuit
6. Catholic, BR
7. Airline
8. Zachary
9. West Monroe
10. C. E. Byrd
Others receiving votes: Brother Martin, Rummel, Denham Springs, St. Amant, Lafayette, Central, St. Paul, South Terrebone, Acadiana, Fontainebleau, East Ascension, and Sulphur.

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class 4A Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Sam Houston
2. Belle Chasse
3. Teurlings Catholic
4. Lutcher
5. West Ouachita
6. Vandebilt Catholic
7. Neville
8. St. Louis
9. St. Michael
10. Breaux Bridge
Others receiving votes: Salmen, Benton, Haughton, DeRidder, Cecilia, Tioga, Ruston, Franklinton, Woodlawn-BR, Parkway, Minden, and ASH.

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class 3A Pre-Season Top 10 Poll

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class 2A Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Evangel
2. St. Charles Catholic
3. Sterlington
4. University
5. Northlake Christian
6. Calvary Baptist
7. St. Thomas Aquinas
8. Episcopal
9. DeQuincy
10. John Curtis and Mangham
Others receiving votes: Kinder, Riverside, Newman, Menard, Dunham, and Farmerville.

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class 1A Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Ouachita Christian
2. St. John
3. St. Frederick
4. Cedar Creek
5. St. Edmund
6. Ascension Catholic
7. Hanson Memorial
8. St. Martin’s
9. Country Day
10. Central Catholic
Others receiving votes: Delhi Charter, LaSalle, Merryville, and Archbishop Hannon.

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class B Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Oak Hill
2. Forest
3. Maurepas
4. Choudrant
5. Florien
6. Zwolle
7. Downsville
8. Pitkin
9. Bethany Christian
10. Grand Lake
Others receiving votes: Converse, Stanley, Houma Christian, and Holden.

Thursday, February 11
2010 Class C Pre-Season Top 10 Poll
1. Claiborne Christian
2. Grace Christian
3. Family Christian
4. Elizabeth
5. Reeves
6. Hicks
7. Kilbourne
8. Northside Christian
9. Calvin
10. Hackberry
Others receiving votes: Plainview, Assembly Christian, Cotton Valley, and Dubach.

Dylan Hills led off the scrimmage vs. Franklinton with a triple

Wednesday, February 17
WAVE STRANGLES DEMONS IN SCRIMMAGE, 11-2

Dylan Hills and Elisha Settoon combined to pitch eight innings, limiting Franklinton to just two runs, while the Ponchatoula Green Wave scored all of the runs they needed in the top of the first to whip the Demons, 11-2, Wednesday in a season-opening scrimmage in Franklinton.

Hills started and pitched four innings of shutout ball, holding Franklinton to just two hits while striking out five, walking one and hitting a batter.

Settoon came on in relief in the fifth with a 4-0 Greenie lead, and he struck out six while allowing two runs on six hits with no walks over the next four innings.

Branden Lessard pitched the final inning, allowing no runs on no hits with one strikeout and one walk.

The Green Wave jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back.  Hills led off the game with a triple to right before Settoon drove him home with a single.  Trey Marino walked, and with two out Justin Crowell doubled home Settoon.  Marino then scored on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead.

Franklinton mounted a threat in the bottom of the second with men on first and second and one out.  But an attempted bunt was popped up, and Hills made a running catch before firing to first to double off the runner and end the inning.

Ponchy stretched its lead in the top of the third.  Dylan Meyers walked, and pinch runner Jake Lipps made it to third on Crowell’s double.  Joe Green then brought Lipps home on a ground ball that was muffed by the shortstop for a 4-0 lead.

The Wave stretched its lead to 7-0 in the top of the sixth.  Green singled to center and stole second, advancing to third on a wild throw by the catcher.  Randall Meyers then walked and stole second as Green scored on a wild throw home by the second baseman.

After Ryan Byers walked, Hills singled Meyers home before Settoon’s sacrifice fly to right scored Byers for a 7-0 lead.

Franklinton struck for its only runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-run homer off Settoon.  The rally could have been worse, but Haydn Hutches made a diving catch on a liner to right.

Meanwhile, Ponchy scored three more in the seventh.  Brady Bass was hit by a pitch before Tyler Corbin and Brett Vampran walked to load the bases.  Haydn Hutches was then hit by a pitch to bring home Bass while walks to Taylor Denham and Chris Foster brought home two more for a commanding 10-2 lead.

The Wave scored its final run in the top of the ninth when Hutches walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on another wild pitch.

Top hitters for Ponchatoula were Hills, Crowell and Green with two hits each while Settoon, Darrin Bach and Tyler Corbin had one hit apiece.  Settoon led Ponchy with two RBI.

Ponchatoula returns home Thursday for its final preseason scrimmage with Brother Martin at 3:30 pm.

 

Trey Marino readies for the pitch in the scrimmage vs. Franklinton

Friday, February 19
PONCHY AND BROTHER MARTIN MANAGE SCRIMMAGE SPLIT

Ponchatoula and Brother Martin staged a 13-inning scrimmage Thursday at Athletic Park with the Wave starters winning, 7-6, in the first seven innings while the backups fell to the Crusaders, 8-1, in the last six frames.

The Green Wave pulled out the battle of starting lineups, overcoming a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the seventh when Elisha Settoon smashed a two-run double to deep left center to score Ryan Byers and Dylan Hills with the tying and winning runs.  Both Byers and Hills had walked to lead off the frame.

Ponchy led 1-0 through the first three innings with Wave starter Trey Marino blanking the Crusaders on one hit with five strikeouts and a walk.  The Wave scored its run in the top of the first on a leadoff double by Hills and a run-scoring double by Dylan Meyers.

Brother Martin tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth off of Ponchy reliever Darrin Bach on an infield error and a run-scoring single.

But the Wave regained the lead in the bottom half on consecutive walks to Kaleb Kraft, Joe Green and Randall Meyers, a fielder’s choice ground out by Bach, and a sacrifice fly to left by Byers.

Brother Martin, which entered the scrimmage ranked 11th in the state coaches preseason 5A rankings, cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth on a solo homer.

Ponchatoula answered with two more runs in its half of the fifth.  Settoon walked and scored on a double to left center by Dylan Meyers.  A sacrifice fly to left by Justin Crowell made it 5-2, Ponchy.

The Crusaders busted open for four more runs on four hits and two walks in the top of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead.

Reliever Haydn Hutches held Brother Martin scoreless in the seventh, and Ponchatoula rallied for the winning runs in the bottom half on Settoon’s two-run double.

Dylan Meyers had two doubles to lead the Wave starters at the plate while Hills, Settoon and Byers each had a double.

In the second game, the Wave backups could manage only one hit, a single to center by Hutches, in six innings of play.

The Crusaders got all of the runs they needed with a four-run rally in the first off of Hutches.  They added one more off of Byers in the second, one off of Branden Lessard in the fourth, and two more off Lessard in the fifth.

Byers gave up only one run on two hits in a little over two innings on the hill.  He struck out two and walked one.

Leadoff hitter Dylan Hills unloaded two tape-measure home runs in the jamboree

Saturday, February 20
PONCHY SLAPS AMITE IN JAMBOREE

	Randall Meyers smashed a second-inning grand slam vs. Amite

Dylan Hills blasted two home runs, and Randall Meyers clouted a grand slam as Ponchatoula took advantage of ten walks issued by Amite pitchers to slap the Warriors, 10-4, in the Tangipahoa Parish jamboree Saturday at Independence.

Ponchatoula managed only four hits in the six-inning game with three of them being home runs. The other Wave safety was a double by Kaleb Kraft.

Meanwhile, Ponchy starting pitcher Ryan Byers picked up the win on the mound, shutting out the Warriors on no hits in three innings of work while striking out two and walking two.

Hills got Ponchatoula off to a booming start in the bottom of the first, launching a prodigious shot over the centerfield fence for a 1-0 lead. Amite starter Kyle Bracy issued walks to Elisha Settoon and Dylan Meyers before Justin Crowell’s ground out scored Settoon for a 2-0 lead. Kraft then doubled home pinch-runner Jake Lipps for a 3-0 first-inning cushion.

The Green Wave then blew it open in the bottom of the second. Byers walked before Hills sent a towering shot over the left field fence for a 5-0 lead. Dylan Meyers walked, and with two out pinch-runner Brett Vampran scored on Justin Crowell’s fly ball that was dropped by the left fielder. Kraft and Joseph Green then walked before Randall Meyers lined a grand slam over the left field fence for a 10-0, second-inning lead.

Amite scored three runs off of reliever Branden Lessard in the top of the fourth. A pair of hit batters and consecutive wild pitches brought home one run before Aaron Roper slammed a two-run homer.

The Warriors added one more in the fifth when Terry Bridges walked, moved to second on a single by Don Bazely, and scored on an outfield error.

In Lessard’s three innings of relief, he allowed four runs on two hits with three strikeouts, three hit batters, and one walk.

Ponchatoula will officially open the 2010 spring season at 4 pm. Monday against 5A Comeaux of Lafayette at Athletic Park.

Sophomore Ryan Byers shut out Amite on no hits through 3 innings

Sunday, February 21
PONCHY ANNOUNCES 2010 WAVE TV SPONSORS

The 2010 Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball team has announced its sponsors for televised Green Wave baseball games this spring.

Hancock Bank, Jani-King, Raising Cane’s, Smoothie King, Subway, S&S Sports, Bonjour Boutiques, the Car Wash Depot and Tangipahoa Clerk of Court Julien Dufreche are this year’s sponsors.

The Wave games will be televised on Charter Cable’s FPTV-Channel 17 beginning March 13.  A “Game of the Week” will air each week at 2:30 pm. Saturdays, 2:30 pm. Sundays, and 11 pm. Wednesdays on Channel 17.

The games will be produced again this year by WaveSportsVideo with individual game DVD’s, team highlight DVD’s and individual player highlight DVD’s available at the season’s end.  Orders for individual player highlight DVD’s must be made by March 12th by contacting Allen Waddell (allenwaddell@wavesportsvideo.com).

Justin Crowell (14), who had 3 hits, breaks up a double play against Comeaux

Tuesday, February 23
GREEN WAVE DOWNS COMEAUX, 6-3, IN OPENER

Dylan Hills and Elisha Settoon limited Comeaux to just four hits while Ponchatoula pounded out 10 safeties for a pair of three-run rallies and a 6-3 season-opening win over the Spartans from Lafayette Tuesday night at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave (1-0) scored three runs in both the first and fifth innings for the victory over the Spartans (0-1) from District 3-5A.

“We’re really excited to get a win tonight in our first game of the season,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Comeaux has an outstanding team, and they’re going to win a lot of games this year.  This was a real good test for us early in the season.”

Hills started on the mound and picked up the win, chunking four innings of scoreless ball before giving up two runs in the fifth.  Hills allowed three hits while striking out four, walking three and hitting a batter.

Settoon relieved in the sixth and gave up one run on one hit while striking out three, walking two and hitting a batter in two innings of work.  He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to pick up the save.

“Dylan was outstanding for five innings, and Elisha did his normal great job of shutting them down in the sixth and seventh innings,” Gosnell added.

The Green Wave started their scoring with a three-run surge in the bottom of the first.

Hills drew a leadoff walk from starter Haydn Saucier before singles by Settoon and Trey Marino loaded the bases.  Justin Crowell’s single plated Hills, and Kaleb Kraft’s grounder to short scored Settoon with Marino scoring on a wild throw to first.

With Hills holding Comeaux’s bats at bay, the score stood 3-0 until the Spartans made a game of it with two runs in the top of the fifth.

With one out, Mason Broussard and Brad Landry worked Hills for walks before Saucier singled home Broussard with Comeaux’s first run.  Mike Strentz then drove a sacrifice fly to deep left center to plate Landry, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

But Ponchy responded with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth.  Settoon led off with a single, and pinch-runner Jake Lipps moved to third when Dylan Meyers’ sacrifice bunt was thrown wildly to first.

Marino then singled home Lipps before Crowell’s bloop single loaded the bases.  Joe Green then singled home Dylan Meyers, and Randall Meyers’ fielder’s choice ground ball scored Marino for a 6-2 lead.

Settoon then relieved Hills on the mound and held Comeaux scoreless in the sixth before facing a bit of drama in the top of the seventh.

Settoon hit Broussard and walked both Landry and Saucier to load the bases with nobody out.  Strentz, the three-hole hitter who slammed 15 home runs for Comeaux last year, worked the count to 3-2 before Settoon blew a fastball by him for the first out.

Settoon then got cleanup batter Robbie Romeo to ground into a force out, scoring Broussard on the play to chop the lead to 6-3.

With two out and the tying run at the plate, Settoon then struck out Shawn Hebert on three pitches to preserve the victory.

Settoon and Crowell led the 10-hit Ponchy assault with three hits apiece while Marino had two hits. Hills and Green had one hit apiece for the Wave.

“Comeaux’s pitcher was very good, so we’re really happy with the way we swung the bats tonight,” Gosnell said.  “We put pressure on them every inning up and down the lineup, and if we continue to concentrate like that at the plate we can go a long way this season.”

Gosnell said he was pleased with the way his players have overcome the lack of outdoor practice time due to bad weather conditions.

“I was very proud of the way our kids stayed focused,” he said.  “We have a mature team, and hopefully we can keep that going that day-in and day-out, especially when we get to the thick part of the schedule.”

Ponchatoula will next face 4A Tioga, ranked 16th in the LBCA preseason poll, in the first round of the East Ascension tournament at 4 pm. Thursday at Catholic High in Baton Rouge.

Thursday, February 25
TIOGA TOPS GREEN WAVE, 7-2

Lefthander Brandon LaCoy shut down Ponchatoula on four hits, and his Tioga teammates scored all of the runs he needed in the first two innings to down the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 7-2, in the opening round of the East Ascension Tournament Thursday in Baton Rouge.

LaCoy pitched all seven innings, striking out seven, walking four and hitting two batters to pick up the win.

“We got beat by a good baseball team,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We could only manage four hits and struggled at the plate.  But that’s a credit to their pitcher- he mixed it up well.  Our hats are off to Tioga.”

The Green Wave (1-1) could manage only a double by Dylan Meyers and singles by Trey Marino, Kaleb Kraft and Justin Crowell in their first loss of the season.

Meanwhile, the Indians (1-1) greeted Marino, the Wave starter, with five runs on six hits in the first two innings.

Two singles, a double and an RBI ground out led to a 2-0 first-inning lead for Tioga.  A solo homer, two singles and two errors put three more runs on the board in the second for a 5-0 Indian cushion.

Marino allowed only one run over the next four innings while the Green Wave looked to make a game of it in the third with a two-run rally.

Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch before Elisha Settoon reached on an infield error.  Marino singled Hills home, and Settoon later scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Joe Green to cut the deficit to 5-2.

But that was all of the offense that Ponchy could muster as the Wave produced only five baserunners over the last four innings.

In taking the loss Marino pitched six innings, allowing six runs, four of them earned, on eight hits while striking out six and walking none.

“Trey got the ball up a little bit early, but he settled down after the second inning, and I was proud of the way he came back,” Gosnell said.

Darrin Bach pitched the final inning for Ponchatoula, allowing one run on one hit while walking one.

Ponchatoula will play two games in the East Ascension Tournament Saturday, both at Parkview Baptist in Baton Rouge.  The Wave faces 5A New Iberia at 10 am. and 4A Holy Cross at 3 pm.

Sunday, February 28
WAVE BLITZES WALKER, 11-4

Dylan Hills had two triples and a double to lead Ponchy

Ponchatoula staged a six-run rally with two out in the fourth inning to bust open a tight game and drown the Walker Wildcats, 11-4, Saturday morning in the second round of the East Ascension Tournament at Walker.

The Green Wave (2-1) led 3-2 with two out in the top of the fourth, but a triple to deep right-center by Dylan Hills and a run-scoring double to deep left by Elisha Settoon keyed a decisive, six-run rally.

After consecutive walks to Dylan Meyers and Trey Marino loaded the bases, Justin Crowell produced a  single scoring Settoon with pinch-runner Jake Lipps scoring on an error by the catcher.

Joseph Green then walked to load the bases again before a base-clearing double by Kaleb Kraft to deep right made the score 9-2.

The Wave added two more runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Trey Marino which plated Zack Traylor and Hills.

Ponchatoula drew first blood off of Walker starter Kaleb Ward in the top of the first on a leadoff triple by Hills and Settoon’s RBI single.

Walker took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first off Ponchy starter Ryan Byers.  Seth Gaudet singled, Trenton Strange was hit by a pitch, and Taylor Wade delivered a two-run double.

The Wave responded with two runs in the top of the third to take a two-run lead.  Hills doubled, Dylan Meyers walked, and Crowell lined a two-out, two-run single to score both Hills and pinch-runner Lipps.

Ponchatoula banged out 10 hits in the victory.  Hills led the way with three hits while Settoon and Crowell had two apiece.  Marino, Green and Kraft had one each.

Byers was the winning pitcher for the Wave, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four, walking one, and hitting three batters.

Darrin Bach relieved in the fifth and picked up the save, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one and walking one.

The Green Wave was scheduled to face 5A Rummel in the third round of the tourney at Dutchtown Saturday evening.

Elisha Settoon pitched 5 innings and had 3 hits vs. Rummel

Sunday, February 28
12TH-RANKED RUMMEL RALLIES PAST WAVE, 7-3

12th-ranked Rummel erased a 3-1 deficit, erupting for five runs in the fifth inning to overcome the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 7-3, Saturday night in the third round of the East Ascension Tournament at Dutchtown.

The Green Wave (2-2) held a 3-1 lead through four innings as starter Elisha Settoon limited the Raiders to just one hit.

But Rummel got to Settoon in the fifth, scoring five runs on six hits for a 6-3 lead.  The Raiders notched another run in the sixth off of Ponchy reliever Branden Lessard.

The Green Wave took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Dylan Hills and Settoon slapped back-to-back singles off of Rummel starter Ross Mutter.  Kaleb Kraft and Justin Crowell followed with RBI singles for the two-run margin.

Rummel scored an unearned run off Settoon in the first before the Wave responded with another run in the third off of Raider reliever Taylor Migliore.

Hills blooped a double over the first baseman’s head before Settoon crashed a line drive double to deep center for a 3-1 Ponchatoula lead.

The Raiders then got to a tiring Settoon in the fifth with an RBI single by Ray Veit, RBI doubles by Kyle Blakesly and Albert Hotfelter, and a two-run triple by Cameron Hoffman.

Hotfelter relieved Migliore in the seventh to squelch a bases-loaded rally with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

Migliore picked up the win in relief, going 5 and 1/3 innings in relief, giving up one run on 7 hits while striking out 11 and walking four.

Settoon and Hills had three hits each to lead Ponchy at the plate while Crowell had two hits.  Kraft, Joe Green and Dylan Meyers had one hit each.

Ponchatoula actually outhit Rummel, 11-8, but the Green Wave left 12 men on base, including two bases-loaded situations.

Settoon was tagged with the loss as he gave up six runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two.

Lessard pitched one inning in relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit with one strikeout.

The Wave was scheduled to play its final game of the East Ascension Tournament Sunday against 14th-ranked St. Amant at St. Amant.

Sunday, February 28
14TH-RANKED ST. AMANT HOLDS OFF GREEN WAVE, 4-2

1B Kaleb Kraft had 2 hits against St. Amant

Kahn Petite belted a two-run, first-inning homer, and the 14th-ranked St. Amant Gators never looked back to defeat Ponchatoula, 4-2, Sunday in the East Ascension Tournament finale at St. Amant.

Ponchatoula finished 1-3 in the tournament with their regular season record falling to 2-3.  For the second straight game, the Green Wave outhit their opponent- this time 7 to 4- but left 12 men on base in the loss.

After Lee Elisar was hit by a pitch, Petite unloaded his right-field blast off of Ponchatoula starter Dylan Hills for a 2-0 St. Amant lead in the bottom of the first.

The Gators scored two more in the fourth.  Task Plauche singled, David St. Pierre sacrificed him to second and Chris Boyter walked before both runners advanced on a wild pitch.  On a subsequent wild pitch, a wild throw at the plate allowed two runners to score, making it 4-0, St. Amant.

Ponchatoula got on the board in the fifth when Blake Falconello and Dylan Meyers walked before Trey Marino singled home pinch-runner Brett Vampran, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

The Wave scored again in the top of the seventh when Justin Crowell walked, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on a single to right by Kaleb Kraft.

But it was too late as the Green Wave left 12 runners stranded for the game, including three times with the bases-loaded.

Marino and Kraft both had two hits to lead Ponchatoula at the plate while Settoon, Crowell and Joseph Green had the other safeties.

In suffering the loss, Hills went five innings on the bump for Ponchy, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on four hits.  He struck out five, walked one and hit three batters.

He was relieved in the sixth by Darrin Bach, who retired the St. Amant side in order.

Wednesday, March 3
16TH-RANKED WILDCATS CLAW PONCHY, 10-3

Starter Trey Marino smacked a 1st-inning homer

Lefty Kelly Blalock limited Ponchatoula to six hits while his Central teammates banged out 12 en route to a 10-3 pasting of the Green Wave Wednesday at Central.

The Green Wave (2-4) opened the scoring in the top of the first when Trey Marino blasted a solo homer over the right centerfield fence.

But Central countered off of Wave starter Marino with a solo homer of its own by Landon Thibodaux.

Central struck again in the bottom of the second for two runs with two out on a single by Jacob LeSage, a double by MJ Leduff, and a two-run single by Chet Myer.

The Wildcats increased their lead to 5-1 in the fourth on two singles, a double, a sacrificy fly, a walk and a hit batter.

Ponchy then replaced Marino with reliever Darrin Bach, and the Wildcats broke the game open in the fifth. Three walks, a single and a double did all of the damage for an 8-1 lead.

Ponchatoula scored a pair of runs in the sixth. With one out Dylan Hills singled before Marino doubled him to third. Elisha Settoon then brought both runners home with a two-run single to make the score 8-3.

In a little over five innings on the hill, Blalock gave up only one run on six hits, fanning four and walking one. He benefitted from two rally-killing double plays.

Marino pitched four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out three, walking two and hitting one batter.

Bach pitched one inning in relief, allowing three runs on two hits while walking three.

Brandon Lessard relieved for Ponchy in the final inning. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out one.

Marino led Ponchy at the plate with two hits while Settoon, Hills, Crowell and Ryan Byers had one hit apiece.

The Green Wave next hosts South Lafourche at 6:30 pm. Friday in the opening round of Ponchy’s Gateway Ford Classic.

Thursday, March 4
GREEN WAVE TO HOST GATEWAY FORD CLASSIC

State playoff contenders from 5A, 4A and 2A classifications will highlight the schedule of the 2010 Gateway Ford Classic to be held at Ponchatoula’s Athletic Park Friday and Saturday, March 5-6.

South Lafourche (5A), Franklinton (4A) and Newman (2A) will dot the schedule beginning at 4 pm. Friday.

The Gateway Ford Classic schedule is as follows:

 

Fri., Mar. 5        4:00  Newman vs. Franklinton

6:30  S. Lafourche vs. PHS

 

Sat., Mar. 6       10:00   PHS vs. Franklinton

12:30  Franklinton vs. S. Lafourche

3:00  S. Lafourche vs. Newman

5:30  Newman vs. PHS

Dylan Hills pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout and banged a 2-run homer

Friday, March 5
HILLS ONE-HITS TARPONS AS PONCHY ROLLS

Dylan Hills fired a complete-game, one-hit shutout and helped his own cause with a two-run homer as Ponchatoula blanked South Lafourche, 8-0, Friday night in the opening round of the Gateway Ford Classic at Athletic Park.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Wave (3-4), who had played four of their last six games against ranked opponents.

“We’re thrilled to get a victory at home tonight,” said Ponchy head coach Mark Gosnell.  “It seems like we’ve been on the bus for the past two weeks.  We had to find a way to stop the bleeding, and it starts on the mound.”

Hills (1-1) gave up a leadoff double to Tyler Danos in the top of the first, but he dominated the Tarpons the rest of the way.  He allowed only three more baserunners, two on infield errors, while striking out eight and walking just one in seven innings of work.

“Dylan was outstanding tonight, and he put up some zeros on the board early which allowed us to get going offensively,” Gosnell said.  “We finally got some two-out hits from some of the guys who’ve been struggling, and that gave us a lead, allowing us to relax a little bit at the plate.”

Hills capped a four-run, third-inning rally with a two-run homer while also doubling off the wall in the sixth.

He got Ponchy going in the top of the first with a walk before stealing second and moving to third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Trey Marino.  Hills then scored the game’s first run on a ground ball to third by Elisha Settoon when he beat the throw home.

Settoon moved to second on Justin Crowell’s single and later scored on a wild pitch.  Dylan Meyers’ sacrifice fly plated Crowell for a 3-0 Ponchy lead.

The Greenies scored four runs with two out in the third to up the lead to 7-0.  Kaleb Kraft walked, Dylan Meyers singled, and with two out Randall Meyers slapped an RBI double to left, scoring Kraft. Ryan Byers followed with a single to score Meyers, and Hills belted a towering shot over the left centerfield fence to climax the scoring.

Ponchy added a final run in the sixth when Hills doubled off the wall and courtesy runner Jake Lipps advanced to third on Trey Marino’s sacrifice fly.  Justin Crowell’s RBI single scored Lipps for the final 8-0 margin.

Hills and Crowell both had two hits to lead Ponchy at the plate while Kraft, Dylan Meyers, Randall Meyers and Byers had one hit each.

Ponchatoula will face Franklinton, a 4-0 winner over Newman, at 10 am. Saturday and will wrap up the tourney with a 5:30 pm. matchup Saturday with Newman.

Saturday, March 6
GREEN WAVE DUMPS NEWMAN, 8-4

Ponchatoula rallied for four runs in the fifth inning, capped by Darrin Bach’s two-run single, to drop Newman, 8-4, in the Gateway Ford Classic finale Saturday night at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave (4-5) rebounded from a close 2-1 loss to Franklinton Saturday morning.  Ponchatoula finished 2-1 in the tourney as did South Lafourche and Franklinton.  Newman finished 0-3.

“I was very proud of the way we bounced back after a tough loss in the morning,” said head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We tacked on some runs by doing a lot of the little things right that we didn’t do in the morning, like getting the sacrifice hits and moving runners around.  It’s the type of thing that we have to be able to do in tight games.”

Ponchy drew first blood in the bottom of the first.  Hills led off with a single and stole second before Trey Marino walked.  Justin Crowell then brought both runners home with a two-run single.

Newman tied the score in the top of the third off of Greenie starter Ryan Byers.  A hit batsman and a walk set the stage for a two-run double by Joe Wolf.

The Wave regained the lead in the fourth when Kaleb Kraft reached on an infield error and moved to second on a single by Joe Green.  With two out Hills singled home pinch runner Mark Traylor for a 3-2 lead.

Ponchy then put the game away in the fifth.  Crowell walked, and Elisha Settoon reached on an infield error.  Dylan Meyers laid down a bunt single, and Kraft plated Crowell with a sacrifice fly to center.

Green then drove home Settoon with a sacrifice fly to right before Randall Meyers walked and Bach dropped a single into left, scoring both Randall Meyers and courtesy runner Jake Lipps.

Bach, who relieved Byers in the fifth, was charged with giving up a pair of runs in the sixth when he walked three straight batters with two men out.

Morgan Hall then greeted reliever Trey Marino with a ground ball that was booted for an infield error, allowing two runs to score.

But Marino shut the door on Newman after that, facing only four more batters to pick up the save.

“Marino did a great job of closing the game out,” Gosnell said.

Byers notched the win with four innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits.  He struck out five, walked four, and hit one batter.

Hills led the 10-hit Ponchy attack with three hits.  Marino, Crowell, Settoon, Dylan Meyers, Kraft, Green and Bach all had one hit.

The Green Wave will host Walker Tuesday in a 6 pm. game at Athletic Park.

Saturday, March 6
FRANKLINTON NIPS PONCHY, 2-1
Terrence Magee scattered seven hits and singled home Josh Robinson with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to lead Franklinton over Ponchatoula, 2-1, Saturday morning in the Green Wave’s second game of the Gateway Ford Classic at Athletic Park.

Ponchatoula (3-5) shut out South Lafourche, 8-0, Friday night in the tourney opener and was scheduled to host Newman in the tourney finale Saturday night.

Magee’s RBI single broke a 1-1 deadlock after 5 innings of a pitcher’s duel between Magee and Ponchy’s Elisha Settoon, who lost despite giving up only three hits in a complete-game effort.

The Green Wave took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch, advanced all of the way to third on a pair of wild pitches, and scored on Justin Crowell’s RBI single.

Franklinton tied it in the bottom of the third.  Caleb Kimble singled, and pinch-runner Jordan Burris moved to second on a fielder’s choice.  Burris advanced to third on a passed ball before Josh Robinson singled him home.

The score stood deadlocked 1-1 until the last of the sixth as Ponchatoula left 10 runners on base, seven in scoring position.

With one out in the last of the sixth, Settoon hit Robinson with a pitch before throwing wildly to first on an attempted pickoff play.  Robinson advanced all
the way to third on the play before Magee singled him home with what proved to be the winning run.

Settoon went all six innings in the loss, allowing only one earned run on just three hits.  He fanned four and walked one while hitting a batter.

Magee allowed seven hits, striking out seven while walking four and hitting one batter.

Justin Crowell and Ryan Byers led Ponchy with two hits each.  Trey Marino, Kaleb Kraft and Dylan Meyers each had one hit.

Elisha Settoon fired a complete game 6-hitter vs. 5th-ranked Central

Friday, March 12
GREEN WAVE RATTLES 5TH-RANKED CENTRAL, 10-4

Elisha Settoon scattered six hits in a complete-game effort, and Joe Green went 4-for-4, including a solo homer to give the Green Wave the lead, as
Ponchatoula whipped fifth-ranked Central, 10-4, Thursday night in the opener of the Parkview Baptist Tournament in Baton Rouge.

Ponchatoula (6-5) will play Mandeville at 3:30 pm. Friday in the second round.

Central entered the game with a 9-1 record and a lofty number five ranking among the state’s 5A teams in this week’s latest Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association poll.

“I’m just extremely pleased with our performance against one of the best teams in the state on the road tonight,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.

Settoon allowed only two earned runs in going the full seven innings on the hill, striking out four and walking four.  He shut out the Wildcats in five of the seven innings he pitched.

“Elisha did an outstanding job against one of the best 5A teams in the state,” Gosnell said.  “He just shut them down and gave us a chance to get our bats
going.  One of the biggest things was that he stayed away from giving them a big inning.”

Ponchatoula hammered out nine hits in the victory, fueling big rallies in the third and fourth innings.

“We swung the bats excellent tonight, and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come”, Gosnell said.  “What can you say about Joe?  Just a great night, and you
really can’t swing the bat any better than that.”

Green, playing his first year of baseball for Ponchy after a stalwart career on the gridiron, staked the Wave to a 1-0 lead with two out in the top of the
second with a line shot over the left field wall.

He also stoked the Wave’s three-run rally in the fourth for a 4-0 Ponchy lead.  After Trey Marino’s double, Settoon’s sacrifice and a muffed grounder off the bat of Justin Crowell made it 2-0, Green tripled down the right field line and scored when the throw to third went wild.

Green later singled in the fifth and seventh innings, the latter one off the wall in left.

Courtesy of three Ponchy errors and a single, Central cut the lead to 4-2 in the fourth.

But Settoon got out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out when second baseman Ryan Byers caught a popup in shallow centerfield and gunned down the runner attempting to tag and score from third with catcher Dylan Meyers applying the tag.  Settoon got the next batter to ground out to end the Central threat.

The Wave then responded with a decisive fifth inning, scoring five runs for a commanding 9-2 lead.

Byers led off the big inning with a triple off the wall in center and came home on a wild throw.  Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch before Marino singled and
Settoon walked, loading the bases.  Crowell then drew an RBI walk before Kaleb Kraft delivered a two-run single.  After Green walked, Dylan Meyers brought home another run on a walk to complete the
scoring.

Ponchy added another run in the sixth when Hills was again hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on Settoon’s fielder’s choice, and scored on Crowell’s
double.

Green had four hits to lead the Greenies while Marino had two and Crowell, Kraft and Byers had one each.

“We did a lot of little things well, like putting down the sacrifice bunts and moving runners on the bases,” Gosnell said.  “In the last week we’ve learned how to be an unselfish team, and that’s what we need to do.”

Friday, March 12
PONCHY MAULS WALKER, 12-2

Trey Marino pitched a one-hitter and blasted a 2-run homer

Trey Marino fired a complete-game one-hitter and broke the game open with a two-run homer in the fourth inning to propel Ponchatoula to a 12-2 blasting of Walker Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave evened its record on the season at 5-5.

Marino pitched all five innings in the game shortened by the ten-run rule. He allowed no earned runs and only an infield single by Walker’s Connor Lee in the second inning. Marino struck out two batters and walked one. The only other two baserunners for Walker came on a pair of infield errors.

“Trey Marino was outstanding tonight on the mound,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell. “He had great stuff and was very economical with his pitches. He had several quick innings.”

Ponchatoula took a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Dylan Hills led off with a walk before Marino singled him to third. Hills scored on a wild throw to third on the play before Elisha Settoon’s triple to deep center brought Marino home.

Justin Crowell then singled Settoon home for the third run of the inning. Walker cut the lead to 3-2 in the second on two infield errors, a pair of sacrifice bunts, and a passed ball.

But Marino allowed no runs after that. After Hills reached on an error in the top of the second, Marino doubled, and Hills scored on Settoon’s sacrifice fly to centerfield for a 4-2 lead.

The Greenies increased their cushion to 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Randall Meyers led off with a walk, and Ryan Byers bunted him to second. Hills then drove home Byers with a single before Marino crashed a two-run homer over the left centerfield wall.

Ponchatoula then finished the game off with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Joe Green doubled before Dylan Meyers was hit by a pitch. Randall Meyers then sacrificed the runners to second and third before Darrin Bach launched a two-run double to deep center.

Hills slapped another double to plate Bach before Settoon and Crowell were walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Hayden Hutches then grounded to the third baseman, who threw wildly to first to score both Hills and Settoon to end the game.

Ponchatoula banged out 10 hits on the evening.

“We’ve really been on the verge of breaking out offensively over the past few games, and we finally did that tonight,” Gosnell said. “We hit some balls hard and in the gaps, and we drove some runs in. Hopefully, this will jumpstart us for the rest of the season.”

Marino led the Ponchy bats with three hits while Settoon and Hills had two hits apiece. Byers, Green and Crowell each had one hit.

Joe Green opened the Parkview tourney going 7-for-8 with two home runs

Friday, March 12
WAVE OUTLASTS MANDEVILLE, 7-6

Joe Green’s ground ball to third in the bottom of the seventh was thrown wildly to first, scoring Elisha Settoon with the winning run from second as Ponchatoula overcame Mandeville, 7-6, Friday in the second round of the Parkview Baptist Tournament in Baton Rouge.

The Green Wave (7-5), who’ve won three in a row and four of their last five, will face host Parkview Baptist, the defending 3A champs, at 10 am. Saturday.  The two teams could possibly meet again in a rematch in the tournament finale at 5 pm.

“We’re excited about our start to the tournament,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We hope it continues on Saturday against Parkview.”

The second-round matchup between the Wave and Skippers, a pair of District 7-5A rivals, looked like it would go entirely Ponchatoula’s way as the Wave held a 5-2 lead through three innings.

But the Skippers rallied for a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, forcing the game into the bottom of the seventh with a 6-6 tie.

Settoon opened the final frame with an infield single hard off the third baseman to put the winning run on base. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Green’s grounder to third was thrown into the first base dugout, allowing Settoon to score the winning run from second.

It was the only at-bat during the day- and in the entire tournament so far- in which Green didn’t register a base hit.  He went three-for-three in his first three at bats, including a scorching three-run homer to left in the third inning, his second bomb in two days.  Through the first two games this weekend, Green has blistered tournament pitching with a 7-for-8 performance and two home runs.

Dylan Hills started on the mound for Ponchy and held Mandeville scoreless through the first two innings.

Meanwhile, the Wave got on the board in the last of the first when Hills walked, moved to second on a ground out by Trey Marino, and scored on Justin Crowell’s RBI grounder.

The Skippers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on a walk, two throwing errors and a pair of doubles.

But the Green Wave answered with four runs in the bottom half.  With one out Hills blasted a home run into the wind over the centerfield wall.  After a walk to Marino and a single by Crowell, Green crushed a two-strike pitch over the wall in left for a 5-2 lead.

Mandeville responded with two runs in the fifth to make it a one-run game.  Two errors, a walk, and a pair of singles made the score 5-4, Ponchy.

Ponchy added another run in the bottom half when Settoon and Green rapped back-to-back singles, and with two out Kaleb Kraft smacked a run-scoring double to deep right, plating Settoon.

However, Mandeville greeted Ponchy reliever Trey Marino with two runs in the top of the sixth.  With two out, a walk, a single and a two-run double made the score 6-6 going into the bottom of the sixth.

Ponchatoula failed to score in the sixth, and Marino got out of a jam in the top of the seventh with a pair of defensive gems.  With the go-ahead run on second base, third baseman Settoon made a diving grab of a line drive in the hole, and one out later Marino made a backhand stab of a hard grounder up the middle to end the inning.

That set the stage for Ponchy’s final game-winning rally in the last of the seventh.

Green’s three hits and 3 RBI led the Wave at the plate while Hills and Settoon had two hits apiece.  Crowell and Kraft each had one hit in the victory.

“I thought offensively we swung the bats well again today,” said Gosnell.  “We hit some balls hard, and they (Mandeville) made some good plays on several of them.”

Hills worked five innings on the bump, surrendering four unearned runs on six hits.  He struck out seven and walked three.

Marino picked up the win in his two innings of relief. He gave up three hits and walked two.

“Dylan didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled to get us to the sixth inning,” Gosnell said.  “And Trey came on after having pitched Tuesday night and didn’t have his best stuff, but he also found a way to get the job done.”

“Then in the last inning Elisha started us off, and Joe, who’s had a great weekend, brought him around for us to win,” Gosnell added.

Saturday, March 13
PARKVIEW EDGES WAVE, 6-5

James Coats lined a walkoff single to right field, scoring Landon Brown with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth, as Parkview Baptist nipped Ponchatoula, 6-5, Saturday morning in Parkview’s annual tournament in Baton Rouge.

The Green Wave (7-6), which qualified for Saturday’s 5:30 pm. championship game with earlier tourney wins over Central and Mandeville, will face Parkview in a rematch for the tourney title.

In winning the extra-inning thriller, Parkview had to overcome a staunch Ponchatoula comeback from a 5-0 deficit with a five-run rally in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the final frame the Eagles loaded the bases against Ponchy reliever Branden Lessard on a walk and a pair of singles.  With two out Coates lined his shot toward the rightfielder, but it sliced away on the windy day for the game-winner.

Parkview, the defending 3A state champs, jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Wave starter Darrin Bach on an outfield error, three walks, a single and a double.

But Bach settled down after that, allowing only a single run in the fifth on two singles, a fielder’s choice and a pair of walks.

Meanwhile, Eagle starter Will Bacon shut out Wave hitters through the first six innings, surrendering only singles to Dylan Meyers and Ryan Byers and a pair of singles to Joe Green, who continued his torrid tourney hitting streak with a 3-for-4 performance.

But Ponchy staged a huge rally in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.  Green led off with a single before consecutive walks to Elisha Settoon, Dylan Meyers, and Kaleb Kraft brought Green home the Wave’s first run.

The Eagles then brought reliever Garrett Deschamp to the mound, who walked pinch-hitter Blake Falconello to plate Settoon and cut the deficit to 5-2.

Two outs later, Trey Marino’s grounder to short was thrown wildly into the dugout, scoring both Dylan Meyers and pinch-runner Jake Lipps to make it 5-4.

Justin Crowell followed with an RBI single to right to plate pinch-runner Hayden Hutches with the tying run, but Marino was gunned down at the plate by rightfielder Jake Clouatre to preserve the tie.

Lessard escaped a Parkview threat in the last of the seventh, inducing a ground out with two men out and the winning run on second.

But Parkview reliever Jake Godbery retired the Greenies in order in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Coats’ game-winner in the bottom half.

Bach pitched five innings for Ponchy, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking five.

Lessard threw three and a third innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out two.

Green again led Ponchatoula at the plate with three hits, and through three tourney games had gone 10-for-12 for an .833 average, two home runs and five RBI.

Crowell, Byers and Dylan Meyers had one hit each for the Green Wave.

Saturday, March 13
PARKVIEW BLANKS PONCHY FOR TITLE

Starter Brooks Godbery shut out Ponchatoula for four innings on one hit and combined with two other Parkview Baptist pitchers for a two-hit whitewashing of the Green Wave, 7-0, to win the championship of the annual Parkview Baptist tourney Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

The Wave (7-7) finished 2-2 in the tournament for a second-place finish.  Having used up its veteran pitching in the tournament prior to Saturday, the Wave was forced to go with a young pitching staff in the finale.

“I was proud of the way we competed this weekend,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We kind of ran out of gas at the end, and it was tough having to play both early and late on the last day.  But our guys battled, and overall it was a good tournament for us.”

A first-inning leadoff single by Dylan Hills was all the Green Wave could muster off of Godbery, who closed the first game Saturday and picked up the win.

The Parkview ace allowed only two baserunners with the other being Dylan Meyers, who drew a second-inning walk.  Godbery struck out five in four innings of work.

The only other hit registered by Ponchy was a sixth-inning single by Trey Marino.  The only other Wave players to reach base were Meyers with a second walk, Darrin Bach with a walk, and Elisha Settoon on an infield error.

Ponchy sophomore starter Ryan Byers held Parkview scoreless until the third inning when three singles resulted in a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles scored two more in the fourth on three singles, a walk, and a balk.

Reliever Branden Lessard got out of the fourth-inning jam, but ran into trouble in the fifth when two errors and a two-run single upped the Parkview lead to 6-0.

Zack Rock relieved Lessard and got out of the fifth inning.  He surrendered one run in the sixth on a single, a wild pitch, a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly.

Byers gave up four runs on six hits in four innings of work to absorb the loss.  He also struck out three batters and walked only two.

Ponchatoula hosts Acadiana Monday in a 6 pm. game at Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

Ryan Byers beats the throw to first vs. Acadiana (Wendy LeSaicherre photo)

Monday, March 15
ACADIANA RIPS WAVE, 8-0

Zack Rock threw 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings with 3 K’s

Tenth-ranked Acadiana belted out 14 hits and took advantage of ten Ponchatoula errors en route to an 8-0 whitewashing of the Green Wave Monday night at Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

The Wave (7-8) could manage only four hits off of Acadiana starter Brian Bergeron, who pitched five innings of shutout ball, walking six and striking out one.

The Rams jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon.  Two singles and a double plated one run before a throwing error allowed two more Rams to score.

With Bergeron silencing the Green Wave bats, his Acadiana teammates added three more in the fourth.  Once again, Ponchy errors played a key role as with one out, a would-be inning-ending double play ball was thrown wildly to first, prolonging the inning.

Two consecutive singles and a dropped throw at home made the score 4-0 before a wild pickoff throw and a two-run single upped the Ram lead to 6-0 through four.

Acadiana scored two more with two out in the fifth.  A double and a single produced one run while a single and an outfield error allowed another run to score for the finally 8-0 tally.

In five innings of work, Settoon allowed only two earned runs while giving up 12 hits, striking out four and walking one.

Ponchy reliever Zack Rock threw two and one-third innings, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out three and walking one.

Ryan Byers led the Green Wave at the plate with two hits while Dylan Hills, Trey Marino and Blake Falconello had one apiece.

The Green Wave returns to action at 5 pm. Thursday against 18th-ranked St. Amant in the first round of the St. Amant Tournament.

Wednesday, March 17
GREEN WAVE RANKED 33RD IN FIRST POWER RANKINGS

With the opening of the district schedule just around the corner, the Louisiana prep baseball power rankings have been released, and through 14 games the Ponchatoula Green Wave stood at No. 33 in the state 5A rankings.

The Wave trails #32 Natchitoches Central by .03 of a point.  By the season’s end, those qualifying for the state 5A playoffs must have finished first or second in their district or among the top 32 teams in the state power rankings for 5A.

The Wave (7-8 overall) has already played Acadiana (No. 6), Brother Martin (#9), Rummel (#10), Central (#16), South LaFourche (#39), and Comeaux (#42) among top 5A teams this season.

The Green Wave will play East Ascension (#23) and St. Amant (#25) this weekend.  Once district begins, the Wave will face Northshore (#4), St. Paul (#7),  Slidell (#17), Fontainebleau (#21),  Covington (#31), and Hammond (#40) twice.

Ponchatoula has already played a pair of 4A powers- Franklinton (#1) and Tioga (#7)- along with a pair of games vs. 3A power Parkview Baptist (#1) and one game against 2A Newman (#22).

The Wave will face Parkview one more time later this season along with a date with the #8 3A school, Holy Cross.

For updated state power rankings, visit http://www.louisianasportsline.com/.

Thursday, March 18
GREEN WAVE CRASHES 25TH-RANKED GATORS, 8-3

Trey Marino had 3 hits and 3 RBI vs. St. Amant

Dylan Hills fired a complete-game three-hitter, striking out 12 St. Amant batters, and his Ponchatoula teammates belted 10 hits to swamp the 25th-ranked Gators, 8-3, Thursday in the first round of the St. Amant Tournament at St. Amant.

Ponchatoula, which entered the game ranked #33 in state power rankings, evened its record at 8-8 and avenged an earlier 4-1 loss to St. Amant with the victory.

“I thought we played well at one of the toughest parks in the state to play in with all of their championship banners hanging out there in left field,” said Ponchatoula skipper Mark Gosnell.

“I’m just proud of the way our guys responded,” Gosnell said.  “They’ve had kind of a rough go of it here early in the season.  We’re 8-8, but we’ve played a very tough schedule almost entirely on the road.  It will be nice when we can finally play some home games once district begins.”

After Gator leadoff batter Dylan Morin punched a triple down the right field line and scored on a fielder’s choice in the top of the first, Hills put a choke hold on St. Amant batters, allowing only four more baserunners the entire game.

Other than Morin, Hills allowed only a single to Daniel St. Pierre and a double to Task Plauche while striking out 12 and walking none.  The other two runners reached by way of errors.

“Dylan Hills was outstanding today on the mound,” said Gosnell.  “We didn’t have to make a lot of plays defensively when you strike out 12 batters.  We gave him support in the field and at the plate with some big two-out hits, so  Dylan could kind of relax and throw his game.”

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, Ponchy rallied in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead.  With one out Kaleb Kraft and Randall Meyers rapped back-to-back singles.

Ryan Byers walked to load the bases, and after an infield popup Trey Marino delivered an RBI single to plate pinch-runner Zach Traylor.  Justin Crowell then singled home Meyers and Byers to cap the three-run rally.

Ponchatoula scored two more in the third.  Dylan Meyers led off with a home run over the centerfield wall before Elisha Settoon’s double to deep left center. Two outs later Hills drove Settoon home with a single to left for a 5-1 lead.

Ponchatoula then put the game away with three runs in the fifth.  Settoon led off the inning with a single to left, and with one out Randall Meyers and Byers walked to load the bases.

Hills was then hit by a pitch to score Settoon from third, and Marino followed with a two-run single to left, scoring both Randall Meyers and Byers for a commanding 8-1 lead.

“We’ve been telling the team it’s about pitching, defense and getting the two-out hits, and we did all three of those things today,” Gosnell said.  “We hadn’t been getting the two-out hits lately, but we did today, and that was huge.”

St. Amant scored two runs in the last of the fifth on an infield error, a single, a double, and an outfield error, but that was all they could muster off of Hills.

Marino led the Wave with three hits and three RBI’s while Settoon had two hits and Hills, Crowell, Dylan Meyers, Randall Meyers and Kraft had one apiece.

Ponchatoula plays again Friday in the second round of the St. Amant Tournament against 23rd-ranked East Ascension at 5 pm. at East Ascension in Gonzales.

Saturday, March 20
PONCHY FALLS TO EAST ASCENSION, 8-7

	Justin Crowell had 2 RBI singles vs. East Ascension

Jared Kleinpeter scored on a wild throw from centerfield after Leon Fairchild’s fly out in the bottom of the seventh to lift East Ascension over Ponchatoula, 8-7, Friday night in the St. Amant Tournament at East Ascension.

The Green Wave (8-9) blew a two-run lead by committing three big errors in the final two innings.

With Elisha Settoon relieving Trey Marino on the mound with a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth, leadoff batter Miles Holley singled, moved to second on a passed ball and then to third on a fielder’s choice.

Settoon then induced Chase Rivette to ground to third, but the third baseman tried to get Holley at the plate and threw wildly over the catcher’s head, allowing Holley to score and Rivette to advance to second.

Courtland Giardina then grounded to the shortstop, who threw it in the dugout to allow Rivette to score and tie the game at 7-all.

The Green Wave threatened in the top of the seventh.  Dylan Meyers led off with a double off the centerfield wall.  Settoon then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but  Jake Lipps, who was running for Meyers, decided late to try for third and was gunned down by first baseman John DeArmond for a double play.  The next batter struck out to end the threat.

Kleinpeter led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to centerfield.  Settoon then struck out the next batter before intentionally walking the next two hitters to load the bases and create a force-play situation.

With two strikes Fairchild sent a line drive to shallow centerfield that was caught but overthrown badly to home plate, allowing Kleinpeter to score the winning run.  All three runs scored off Settoon in relief were unearned.

The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off of starter Marino when Rivette singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice before scoring on a single by Austin Todd.

The Wave rallied for four runs in the top of the third for a 4-1 lead.  Randall Meyers walked and scored on Ryan Byers double off the centerfield wall.  Dylan Hills then doubled home Byers, and with two out Justin Crowell singled home Hills.  Joe Green’s RBI single plated Crowell to round out the inning.

The Spartans responded with four runs in their half of the third.  An error by the shortstop, a triple, three singles, and an error by the second basemen gave East Ascension a 5-4 lead.

Ponchy tied the score 5-all in the top of the fourth when Settoon walked and with two out scored on Byers’ second triple of the game deep to centerfield.

The Wave then took a 7-5 lead in the top of the fifth.  Hills doubled, and Crowell singled him home.  Green then walked, and both runners moved up on a wild pitch.  With two out, Settoon singled Crowell home  to give Ponchy a two-run lead.

Marino worked five innings on the mound for the Wave, giving up five runs, three of them earned, on nine hits while striking out one and walking two.

In two innings of relief, Settoon gave up three runs, all of them unearned, on two hits while striking out one.

Hills had three hits to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Crowell, Green and Byers had two hits each while Settoon and Dylan Meyers had one apiece.

Ponchatoula faces Riverside Academy Saturday at 2:30 pm. at Lutcher in the final round of the St. Amant tournament.

Dylan Hills fired a 3-hitter with 12 K’s vs. St. Amant and had 3 hits vs. EA

Ryan Byers pitched 5 innings and had the game-winning hit vs. Riverside

Saturday, March 20
GREEN WAVE SHAVES RIVERSIDE, 8-7

Joe Green had a single, triple and homer vs. Riverside

Ryan Byers ripped a walkoff single to left field to score Joe Green in the last of the seventh as Ponchatoula trimmed Riverside, 8-7, Saturday in the final round of the St. Amant Tournament at Lutcher.

The Green Wave finished its non-district slate at 9-9.  Ponchatoula opens District 7-5A play at 3:30 pm. Tuesday on the road against defending 5A state champion Northshore.

For the second game in a row, Ponchatoula squandered a comfortable lead with errors in the final innings to send the game into the bottom of the seventh tied.

“Once again, it was, ‘Don’t leave the ballpark early if you’re watching Ponchatoula play- we’ll make it exciting,” quipped Ponchy head coach Mark Gosnell.

Heading into the top of the seventh, the Green Wave led 7-3 with three runs coming on home runs by Dylan Hills, Joe Green and Darrin Bach.

But Ponchy hurler Zack Rock, who’d relieved starter Byers in the sixth, ran into trouble almost immediately in the seventh.  He hit the leadoff batter, surrendered a double, and hit another batter to load the bases.

Rock’s wild pitch allowed Bryant Tussin to score before Ponchy coach Mark Gosnell brought in Elisha Settoon to relieve.  Settoon struck out the first two batters and got the third batter to hit a routine grounder to short, but the shortstop made a wild throw to first, allowing two runs to score to cut the deficit to 7-6.

Austin Vicknair then looped a two-strike pitch for a double to right, scoring Rickie Johnson with the tying run. But Johnson tried to stretch the single to a double, and Bach gunned down Johnson at second to get Ponchy out of the inning.

With one out in the last of the seventh, Green walked, and one out later, pinch-hitter Blake Falconello walked.  This set the stage for Byers’ game-winning line drive over the shortstop’s outstretched glove.

“Joe and Blake had great at-bats to get on base, and then Ryan found a pitch he liked for a base hit to win it,” Gosnell said.

Riverside jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a leadoff triple by Austin Vicknair, who scored on the play when the second baseman’s throw to third sailed wide. A  walk to pitcher Bryant Tussin and an RBI single by Chase Bazille accounted for the second run.

Ponchy answered with one run in its half of the first when Trey Marino doubled and scored on Green’s RBI single to left.

With Byers, the Ponchy starter, holding Riverside scoreless through the fourth, the Green Wave rallied for a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings.

Hills led off the last of the third with a solo homer to left.  Marino then singled, and Settoon bunted him to second.  With two out, Green laced a triple to right-center, scoring Marino for a 3-2 Wave lead.

Kaleb Kraft led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Byers reached on an error by the third baseman.  Randall Meyers advanced pinch-runner Taylor Denham to third with a fielder’s choice before Hills’ fielder’s choice grounder brought Denham home for a 5-2 lead.

After Riverside cut the lead to 5-3 on a solo homer by Tussin, Ponchatoula scored a single run in the fifth on a solo homer by Green and again in the sixth on a solo roundtripper by Darrin Bach for a seemingly comfortable 7-3 lead before the final-inning dramatics.

“We did a great job again with the bats, and our pitching was good enough,” Gosnell said.  “But our defensive woes continued as we again gave up a lead in the seventh.”

Settoon picked up the win with one inning of relief work, allowing one unearned run and two hits, striking out two and walking none.

Byers, the starter, worked five innings and left the mound with a 4-3 lead.  He allowed two earned runs on six hits, striking out one and walking one while hitting a batter.

Rock pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs with one of them earned.  He gave up two hits, walked one, and hit three batters.

Green and Marino led a 10-hit Green Wave assault with three hits apiece.  Hills, Byers, Kraft and Bach had one hit each.

Ponchatoula has played only five of its first 18 games at home.

“We’re glad to get a win and finish 2-1 in the tournament over here,” Gosnell said.  “We’re now 9-9 headed into district, and soon it will feel good to finally get off of the bus and play some home games.”

Darrin Bach clouted a solo homer vs. Riverside

Wendy LeSaicherre has great shots like Brady Bass stretching for the ball

Sunday, March 21
WENDY LESAICHERRE PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE
Again this season great individual and game action photos for Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball are available by contacting Wendy LeSaicherre Photography.  Also, senior photographs and albums among other packages.  Call Wendy at 985-386-3077 or email lesaicherre@charter.net.  You can view game action galleries and order directly from the website at www.wendylesaicherrephotography.com.  Sample photos can be seen by clicking on the link to your left entitled “Wendy LeSaicherre Photography”.

Tuesday, March 23
WAVE RANKED #32, OPENS DISTRICT WITH DEFENDING CHAMP NORTHSHORE

The Ponchatoula Green Wave opens its District 7-5A season today on the road with a 4 pm. matchup with Northshore at Slidell.

The Panthers, 11-5, are the defending state 5A champions and have won the 7-5A district two years in a row.  They are currently ranked #4 in the latest state 5A power rankings.  After an unbeaten start, the Panthers have lost five of their last six games.

Ponchatoula, 9-9, is currently ranked #32 in the power rankings, meaning that if the state 5A playoffs began today, Ponchatoula would be included.

Ponchatoula opponents in this week’s poll include #6 Rummel, #8 Acadiana, #10 St. Paul, #15 Central, #18 Slidell, #19 Fontainebleau, #26 East Ascension, #27 Covington, #29 St. Amant, and #33 Carencro.

Tuesday, March 23
NORTHSHORE HAMMERS PONCHY, 9-5

Breck Kline blasted three home runs, and his Northshore teammates walloped two more as the defending 5A state champions outslugged  Ponchatoula, 9-5, Tuesday in the District 7-5A opener for both teams at Slidell.

Despite trailing 3-0 early in the game, the Green Wave (9-10, 0-1) cranked two homers of their own to battle throughout against the two-time defending 7-5A champs, chopping the lead to 7-5 in the sixth inning.

But in the end it was Northshore’s power with five of their 10 hits being homers off of Ponchatoula starter Elisha Settoon.

“They’re not the defending 5A state champions for nothing,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “In this small park, if they get a ball up in the air it’s out of the park.  Elisha did a nice job of limiting their baserunners, and although they had five home runs, they were solo home runs instead of three-run shots, so we were still in the ballgame at the end.”

The Panthers began their home run barrage in the bottom of the first.  With one out Kline ripped a solo shot to left-centerfield, and after Taylor Eads walked, Chris Eades belted a two-run shot to left for a 3-0 lead.

Ponchatoula responded in the top of the third, cutting the lead to 3-2.  Dylan Hills singled, advanced to second on a wild pickoff attempt, and scored on Joe Green’s RBI single.  With two out, Dylan Meyers singled home Green for the second run of the inning.

Kline’s second solo shot, this one to centerfield, made it 4-2 in the last of the third.

But the Wave chopped the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fourth on Ryan Byers’ solo homer to centerfield.  One out later, Hills appeared to have tied the game on a line shot deep to left, but leftfielder Chris Miller robbed Hills with a leaping catch over the fence.

“There were a couple of times where if we get a hit here or there, we have the lead,” Gosnell said.  “I’m very proud of the effort our team gave- our guys made some great plays.  We played well, and they played well.  We just got beat.”

Northshore scored the decisive runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Back-to-back solo homers by Kline and Taylor Eads, a double by Chris Eades, and a sacrifice fly by Jacob Corbin made it 7-3.

Ponchy cut the lead to 7-5 in the sixth when Byers reached on an error and Hills clouted a two-run homer to left-center.

But the Panthers answered with two more in the last of the sixth on a walk to Miller, a dropped fly ball, a walk, and Chris Eades’ two-run single.

Northshore upped its record to 12-5 overall and 1-0 in district.  The Panthers entered the game ranked fourth in the state 5A power rankings.

“We know we can play with them (Northshore),” Gosnell said.  “We just have to let this one go and get ready for Covington Thursday night.  Our goal was to go 2-1 this week, and we can still accomplish that.  Every coach in this district would be happy with 2-1 at the end of the first week in this league.”

Settoon pitched five innings for the Wave, surrendering seven runs on eight hits, five of them home runs.  He struck out one and walked three.

Trey Marino relieved Settoon and hurled one inning, allowing two runs on one hit.  He struck out two and walked two batters.

Hills and Green paced Ponchy with two hits apiece while Settoon, Byers, Justin Crowell and Dylan Meyers had one hit each.

Ponchatoula returns home at 6:30 pm. Thursday for their second district matchup against Covington.

Thursday, March 25
GREEN WAVE TO HOST COVINGTON TONIGHT

The Ponchatoula Green Wave, looking for its first district win of the season, hosts the Covington Lions in a key District 7-5A matchup at 6:30 pm. tonight at Athletic Park.

The Wave (9-10, 0-1) fell to defending 5A state champ Northshore, 9-5, in the league opener Tuesday while the Lions (12-9, 1-0) thumped Slidell, 8-2.

There will be a junior varsity game beginning at 4 pm. and immediately preceding the varsity fray.

Dylan Hills shut out Covington on one hit and struck out nine in a complete game

Thursday, March 25
PONCHATOULA SHUTS DOWN COVINGTON, 6-0

	Dylan Meyers had two hits to lead the Wave vs. Covington

Dylan Hills shut out Covington with a complete game one-hitter, and Ponchatoula scored all of the runs it needed with a second-inning rally to blank the Lions, 6-0, Thursday in the season’s second game of District 7-5A play at Athletic Park.

The Wave (10-10 overall, 1-1 in district) had six hits and took advantage of four errors by the Lions (12-10, 1-1).

Hills allowed only a second-inning single to John Schaffer while striking out nine and walking four.  It was his second one-hit shutout of the season, having duplicated the feat against South LaFourche earlier this season.

After a scoreless first inning, Ponchy struck first in the last of the second.  Joe Green grounded to third,  reached second on an errant throw to first, and moved to third on a wild pitch.

With one out Elisha Settoon walked, and Ryan Byers doubled home Green for a 1-0 lead.  Settoon scored on Kaleb Kraft’s fly ball that was dropped by the left fielder, and Byers scored when Randall Meyers grounded into a wild throw to first base for a 3-0 lead.

With Hills holding Covington without a run, the Greenies struck for two more in the fifth.  Justin Crowell led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Dylan Meyers.

Settoon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and with two out Brady Bass drew a bases-loaded walk for a 4-0 lead.  Darrin Bach was then hit by a pitch for a 5-0 lead.

In the sixth, the Green Wave posted an insurance run when Crowell reached third on an outfield error and Green brought him home with a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 cushion.

Dylan Meyers led Ponchy at the plate with two hits while Green, Hills, Crowell and Byers had one hit each.

Ponchatoula travels to Mandeville Saturday for a 12 noon clash with the Skippers in 7-5A play.

Saturday, March 27
WAVE TRAVELS TO MANDEVILLE SATURDAY
Ponchatoula will go on the road Saturday for a 12 noon contest with the Mandeville Skippers at Mandeville.  The Green Wave, 10-10 overall, will try to up its record to 2-1 in District 7-5A.  Mandeville enters the game 5-13 overall and 1-1 in district.

Saturday, March 27
PONCHY RANKED #25 IN LATEST STATE 5A POWER RANKINGS

The Ponchatoula Green Wave has moved up to No. 25 in the latest state 5A power rankings released by www.kenramsey.com based on the official LHSAA formula.  The Ramsey website rankings are updated daily.  Teams ranked in the Top 32 (5A) at season’s end qualify for the state playoffs.

Green Wave opponents that are ranked are Northshore (4), Rummel (8), Acadiana (10), St. Paul (12), Fontainebleu (13), Central (17), St. Amant (20), Comeaux (28), Slidell (29), Covington (30), and East Ascension (32).

The Wave has also played top 4A teams Tioga (2) and Franklinton (3).  Parkview Baptist is the top-ranked 3A team.  Newman (16) and Riverside (17) are 2A opponents that are ranked.

Saturday, March 27
LATEST DISTRICT 7-5A SCORES AND RANKINGS

District 7-5A Thursday’s Results (3/25): Ponchatoula 6 – Covington 0 Mandeville 5 – Slidell 0 Fontainebleau 11 – Northshore 5 St. Paul’s 9 – Hammond 3 St. Paul  10  – 5        2 – 0 Fontainebleau  14 – 7         2 – 0 Northshore  12 - 7         1 – 1 Covington  12 - 10       1 – 1 Ponchatoula  10  – 10      1 – 1 Mandeville   5  – 13       1 – 1 Slidell   9  - 8         0 – 2 Hammond   7 – 11        0 – 2

Dylan Meyers had 3 hits & a 2-run HR to jump start the Wave vs. Mandeville

Saturday, March 27
PONCHATOULA SMASHES MANDEVILLE, 11-1

Trey Marino pitched a complete game 6-hitter vs. Mandeville

Ponchatoula blasted three home runs, one a grand slam by Ryan Byers, and pitcher Trey Marino scattered six hits over six innings as the Green Wave smashed Mandeville, 11-1, in a District 7-5A matchup Saturday in Mandeville.

Ponchy (11-10, 2-1) won its second district game in a row while Mandeville (5-14) fell to 1-2 in district.

“In our first three district games, our guys have really come out to play, and they came to play today,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Our district is so competitive- it seems like every game is decided by one or two runs.  So it was nice to get a big lead early and a district win on the road.  I can’t remember us ever coming away from Mandeville with more than a one or two-run win.”

The Green Wave ripped 13 hits, including homers by Dylan Meyers, Randall Meyers and Byers, and ended the game by the mercy rule in the sixth inning.

“Our hitters had a great day,” Gosnell said.  “We got a bunch of runs early and were able to relax a little bit. Ryan Byers really jumped us ahead with his big grand slam.”

Meanwhile, Marino handcuffed the Skippers on six hits, just missing a shutout in the fourth when a dropped infield popup prolonged the inning and set up an RBI sacrifice fly.  He struck out four, walked none and hit one batter to pick up the complete-game victory.

“Trey did a great job of getting ahead of the hitters,” Gosnell said.  “He got his curveball in for a strike and moved the ball around well.  He deserved the win and should’ve had a shutout.”

Ponchy jumped on the board first with a three-run rally.  Dylan Hills doubled to lead off the game, and one out later Justin Crowell singled him home.  With two outs Dylan Meyers then socked a two-run homer well over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead.

The Green Wave upped its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second when Randall Meyers smoked a line drive over the left field fence.

With Marino holding Mandeville scoreless, the Greenies busted the game open in the third with a five-run rally.  Joe Green reached second on an infield throwing error before Dylan Meyers walked and Elisha Settoon singled to load the bases.

Byers then unloaded a grand slam high over the left field fence for a commanding 8-0 lead.  The Wave put a cap on its big rally when Kaleb Kraft walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single by Marino.

Mandeville scored its only run in the fourth when Josh D’ Archangelo singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and after a dropped infield popup by the second baseman, scored on a sacrifice fly by Drew Francis.

But Ponchatoula countered with two runs in the top of the sixth.  Crowell doubled, and Green singled him to third before Dylan Meyers’ single to right drove home Crowell and Settoon’s single to center scored Green to make it 11-1.

Marino then retired Mandeville without a run in the last of the sixth, the final out coming on a shoetop stab of a line drive by rightfielder Darrin Bach, to end the game by the mercy rule.

Dylan Meyers and Settoon both had three hits to lead the Wave at the plate.  Crowell had two hits, and Hills, Marino, Green, Byers and Randall Meyers had one hit apiece.

Ponchatoula is at home Tuesday for a 6:30 pm. District 7-5A clash with Slidell.

Randall Meyers blasted a 2nd-inning solo homer vs. Mandeville

Saturday, March 27
WAVE-COVINGTON GAME AIRING ON CH. 17
The Ponchatoula-Covington game won earlier this week by the Green Wave, 6-0, will air today (Sunday) at 2:30 pm. on Charter Cable FPTV CH. 17 and will repeat on CH. 17 at 11 pm. Wednesday night.

Wednesday, March 31
SLIDELL THUMPS WAVE, 9-5

Trey Marino had 2 hits and 3 RBI to lead the Wave attack

Slidell jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, and the Tigers never looked back to outdistance Ponchatoula, 9-5, Tuesday night in a 7-5A matchup at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave (11-11, 2-2) had runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t drive them home to overtake the Tigers (10-9, 1-3).

Randall Meyer held Ponchatoula’s bats in check, scattering six hits in a full seven-inning effort, while Slidell hammered out 11 hits in the victory.

The Tigers lit up the scoreboard in the top of the first off of Ponchy starter Dylan Hills.  Dixon Faciane singled to lead off the game, stole second, and scored on Adam LaGarde’s single.

Tre Wiebelt then smashed a three-run homer to left for a lightning-quick 4-0 lead.

“We really haven’t done that all year,” Wave coach Mark Gosnell said of falling into the early hole.  “We just didn’t get the job done on defense tonight.  That was the bottom line.  Dylan (Hills) didn’t have his best stuff tonight, but he battled and kept us in and gave us a chance.”

“We got too many runs down early, and in the end we were fighting and fighting to try to get back into it and we just kind of ran out of gas.”

The Tigers upped the lead to 5-0 in the second.  With two out Faciane doubled and LaGarde again singled him home.

Ponchatoula got on the board in the last of the second.  With two out Elisha Settoon singled to left and scored on a triple to right by Ryan Byers.

But Slidell rallied for three runs in the top of the third for a commanding 8-1 lead.  Cameron Charbonnet was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Dylan Aymond reached on the pitcher’s error.

Jason Decker then doubled down the right field line, plating Charbonnet, before Hills retrieved the ball from the outfield, throwing into the third base dugout to allow two more runs to score.

Ponchy added a run in the last of the third when Hills was hit by a pitch, reached second on an error and third on a wild pitch before Trey Marino singled him home.

The Wave staged a three-run rally of its own in the fourth to get back into the game.  With one out Settoon reached on an infield error before Byers and Kaleb Kraft loaded the bases with back-to-back walks.

Hills’ infield single plated Settoon before Marino’s two-run single scored both Byers and pinch-runner Taylor Denham.

Trailing 8-5, Settoon replaced Hills on the mound in the seventh.  With one out, a pair of singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases before an infield single by Larry Sigur made it 9-5 for the Tigers.

Meyer retired the Greenies in order in the last of the seventh.  The Slidell hurler finished with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Hills pitched six innings, allowing eight runs, six of them earned, on eight hits.  He struck out five, walked three and hit one batter.

Marino led the Wave with two hits while Settoon, Hills, Green and Byers had one apiece.

Ponchatoula will be at home again Thursday night when they host St. Paul at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Wednesday, March 31
FONTAINEBLEAU LEADS DISTRICT AFTER 4 GAMES

District 7-5A

Thursday, April 1
PONCHATOULA TOPS ST. PAUL, 5-4

Trey Marino tossed a complete game, and Ponchatoula took advantage of a three-run error in the fifth inning to topple 16th-ranked St. Paul, 5-4, Thursday night in a big District 7-5A clash at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave (12-11, 3-2) and Wolves (11-7, 3-2) are now tied for second with Northshore (14-7, 3-2), an 8-4 loser to Covington Thursday night.  All three teams are one game back of first-place Fontainebleau (16-8, 4-1), which lost its first district game Thursday to Slidell, 5-3.

Ponchatoula got all of its runs in the second and fifth innings off of Wolves hurler Dylan Hamel, who pitched six innings and gave up only one earned run on three hits, but was victimized by poor defensive play which resulted in six errors.

“That doesn’t happen very often,” Wave coach Mark Gosnell said of the Wolves’  defensive collapse.  “But you know, it seems like it’s happened to us, so it’s about time it happened for us, every now and then.  We took advantage of some of that tonight.”

“We’ve got nine games left in the league, and every game’s going to be like this,” Gosnell predicted.

After Marino dodged a St. Paul scoring threat in the top of the second, one of four he would escape on the evening, the Green Wave broke a scoreless deadlock with two runs in the second.

Dylan Meyers reached first when the first baseman dropped a throw on his grounder to short, and Elisha Settoon laid a bunt single down the third base side.

Ryan Byers then doubled to deep left, scoring pinch-runner Randall Meyers, and Settoon later scored on a ground out by Brady Bass.

The score stood 2-0 through four innings, but the Wolves scratched out a run in the fifth when Alex Kunce laid down a bunt single and later scored on single by Shawn Lacrouts.

But Ponchatoula seemingly put the game out of reach in the fifth on a succession of St. Paul miscues.

Dylan Hills led off with a single, and Marino walked with no outs.  When Justin Crowell bunted back to the pitcher, Hamel through the ball wild to second base, allowing Hills to score.  But the ball got by the centerfielder on the play, allowing pinch-runner Zach Traylor and Crowell to circle the bases for a 5-1 lead.

St. Paul cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth when Tanner Rainey singled, Aaron Allain was hit by a pitch, and John Gremillion singled to load the bases.  Shane Lacrouts then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Rainey.

In the top of the seventh, the Wolves quickly tightened the game when Dane Stubbs reached on an infield error and with two out scored on a two-run homer by Rainey.

Allain then singled to put the tying run on base.  But Marino got the final batter to fly out to right for the victory.

Marino pitched all seven innings to pick up the win, allowing eight hits while striking out one, walking two and hitting one batter.

“He didn’t get rattled, and that’s a mature senior for you– ‘hey, give me the ball; I’ll get the next guy,” Gosnell said.  “I felt comfortable leaving him in the ballgame.”

Hamel only allowed three hits, and only one run was earned.  He struck out three and walked three.

Settoon, Byers and Hills had the only hits for Ponchy.

The Green Wave will host Holy Cross at 1 pm. Saturday in a non-district fray at Athletic Park.

Friday, April 2
WAVE TO HOST HOLY CROSS ON SATURDAY

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will step away from District 7-5A action Saturday for a 1 pm. contest with Holy Cross at Athletic Park.

Ponchatoula (12-11, 3-2) will hook up with Holy Cross (10-11) of District 10-3A.  The Tigers have yet to play a district game but are ranked No. 3 in the state in 3A power rankings.

Friday, April 2
WAVE-SLIDELL GAME TO AIR THIS WEEKEND

The Ponchatoula-Slidell game from earlier this week, won by the Tigers, 9-5, will air at 2:30 pm. both Saturday and Sunday on Charter Cable Channel 17, FPTV.  The game will also air the following Wednesday night at 11 pm. on Channel 17.

All televised Green Wave baseball games are available for purchase at www.wavesportsvideo.com.

Saturday, April 3
HOLY CROSS TRIPS PONCHATOULA, 6-2

Shayne LeRouge’s fifth-inning single scored Blake Toscano with the go-ahead run, and Jordan White silenced Ponchatoula on four hits as the Tigers stopped the Green Wave, 6-2, Saturday in a non-district contest at Athletic Park.

Ponchatoula fell to 12-12 overall with the loss while Holy Cross of District 10-3A upped its record to 11-11 overall.

LeRouge’s RBI single capped a decisive, three-run rally in the fifth which broke a 2-2 deadlock.  With one out, Toscano doubled off Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

After an intentional walk to Joe Broussard, LeRouge sent a high-bouncing single over the third baseman’s head to put Holy Cross ahead, 3-2.  Ryan Deemes followed with a single to right, but the throw home was wild, allowing Broussard to score, and a subsequent wild throw to third plated LeRouge for a 5-2 lead.

The Tigers added a final run in the sixth when Kyle McSpadden singled and later scored on Toscano’s single for a 6-2 cushion.

Ponchatoula took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third when Trey Marino’s grounder to third  was dropped by the first basemena.  Justin Crowell then grounded into a double play to bring Hills home with the game’s first run.

Holy Cross responded with two runs in the top of the second to take the lead.  A single by Brian Reany and a walk to McSpadden set it up for Darryl Watson, who with two out sent a ground ball to shortstop that was thrown away at first, allowing two runs to score for a 2-1 Tiger lead.

Ponchatoula tied it up in the second when Dylan Meyers singled, pinch-runner Randall Meyers moved to second on a wild pitch, and Ryan Byers singled him home.

However, those were the last runs Ponchy would score off of White, who picked up the victory in six innings of work, allowing only four hits and one earned run while striking out five, walking two, and hitting one batter.

Reliever Tristian Diaz came on with two out and two men on in the sixth and induced a ground out to end the inning.  He retired the side in order in the seventh, two by strikeout.

The only hits the Wave managed off of White were a pair of singles by Byers and singles by Settoon and Dylan Meyers.

Settoon pitched all seven innings in the loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, striking out one, walking three, and hitting one batter.

Ponchatoula will jump back into District 7-5A action Tuesday on the road at league-leading Fontainebleau. Ponchatoula and three other teams- Covington, Northshore, and St. Paul- are one game back in second place.

Wednesday, April 7
BULLDOGS’ LATE RALLY CLIPS PONCHY, 8-5

	Joe Green had 3 hits vs. the Bulldogs (LeSaicherre photo)

Logan Peterson cranked a two-out, two-strike walkoff grand slam as league-leading Fontainebleau came from two runs down in the final inning to edge Ponchatoula, 8-5, Tuesday night in a 7-5A thriller in Mandeville.

The Wave fell to 12-13 on the season and 3-3 in 7-5A, tied for third with Northshore, a 10-7 loser to Mandeville, and St. Paul, a 6-5 loser to Covington in 10 innings.  Fontainebleau stands alone atop the league standings with a 5-1 district mark (17-8 overall) while the Covington is alone in second place.

Peterson’s walkoff slam marked the only time the Bulldogs led the entire game as Fontainebleau eclipsed a 5-3 Ponchy lead heading into the final frame.

The Green Wave jumped to an early 5-0 lead with nine hits through the first three innings, chasing Peterson from the mound for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Wave starter Dylan Hills handcuffed the Dogs through the first six frames, allowing only two earned runs on four hits to that point.

But David Fiegel led off the last of the seventh for Fontainebleau with a bloop single down the right field line.  After Hills struck out Adam Hines, Anthony LaGuardia’s slow chopper to shortstop resulted in an infield single to place men on first and second.

Ryan Casassa then sacrificed the runners to second and third before Hills intentionally walked Addison Melancon, who’d ripped two hits earlier in the game, to load the bases.  Jake Palmisano then beat out another bouncer to short to cut Ponchy’s lead to 5-4.

Hills then went right after Peterson, forcing a foul off the right side and a swing and miss for an 0-2 count before the Bulldog connected for the game-winner over the right field fence.

“It’s a hard one to swallow,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “I thought we played hard.  It’s just unfortunate that we lost.”

“When you come in to the first-place team’s backyard and have a two-run lead with your ace on the mound in the last inning, you normally feel pretty good.  But we didn’t make some plays in the last inning that gave them new life.  So it went down to the last hitter and last strike, and the guy swung at a high pitch with an 0-2 count and somehow hit it out of the park.”

The Green Wave bats came ready to play as Ponchy jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.  Hills led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Elisha Settoon.  Justin Crowell then singled home Hills for a 1-0 lead before Joe Green’s two-out single plated Settoon.

Ponchy upped the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second.  Darrin Bach led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Bass, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Hills then walked and stole second, but Bach was thrown out at the plate on the play.  With two outs, Settoon lined an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Hills from second.

A two-run rally in the top of the third gave the Green Wave what seemed like a commanding 5-0 lead.  Trey Marino led off with a single before Dylan Meyers blasted a towering RBI double to center, scoring Marino from first.  Green then singled home courtesy runner Randall Meyers for the second run of the inning.

Fontainebleau then began to chip away at Ponchatoula’s lead with two runs in the last of the third.  With one out LaGuardia walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Casassa’s single to right with Casassa advancing to second on the throw home.  Melancon then plated Casassa with an RBI single to make it 5-2.

In the top of the fourth Fontainebleau lifted Peterson, who’d not been beaten the entire season and sported a 1.50 ERA with a perfect game and a shared no-hitter to his credit.

Reliever Shane Mullen kept the Wave off balance for the next two innings, allowing two hits but no runs.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs added another run in the last of the fourth when Andrew Patin was hit by a pitch and pinch-runner Dalton LaFrance was sacrificed to second by Klay Galloway.  An attempted pickoff of LaFrance was then thrown wildly into centerfield by the catcher as the Bulldogs chopped the lead to 5-3.

Ponchatoula had a golden chance to add some insurance runs in the top of the sixth.  With two out, Crowell and Marino singled.  But Fontainebleau lifted Mullen for lefty Adam Hines, who walked Dylan Meyers to load the bases but struck out the final batter to escape the jam.

Hines struck out the Green Wave side in the top of the seventh to set up the Bulldog heroics in the bottom of the frame.

Hills pitched a complete game for the Wave, allowing eight runs on eight hits, striking out four while walking two and hitting one batter.

Meanwhile, the Wave pounded Fontainebleau pitchers for 13 hits.  Green led the attack with three hits while Hills, Settoon, Crowell and Marino had two hits apiece.  Bach and Dylan Meyers had the other two hits for Ponchy.

Ponchatoula returns home Friday to host 7-5A rival Hammond in a key district contest set to begin at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Thursday, April 8
WAVE RANKED #32, TIED FOR THIRD IN DISTRICT

 District 7-5A

 

The Ponchatoula Green Wave remained ranked #32 in the latest power rankings for 5A released at www.kenramsey.com.  Ponchatoula- with a game at home Friday vs. 7-5A rival Hammond- currently stands tied for third in league standings with Northshore, St. Paul and Slidell.  Fontainebleau leads the district and Covington currently stands second.

The Ponchatoula Green Wave wil face off with 7-5A rival Hammond Friday

Thursday, April 8
GREEN WAVE TO HOST RIVAL HAMMOND IN 7-5A SHOWDOWN

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will host Hammond Friday at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park in a key District 7-5A matchup.  A Hammond-Ponchatoula junior varsity game will precede the varsity affair, beginning at 4 pm.

Ponchatoula (12-13) brings a 3-3 district mark into the fray while Hammond (7-15) is 0-6.  The Green Wave is locked into a four-way tie for third with Northshore, St. Paul and Slidell.

Thursday, April 8
“CANE’S CHALLENGE” TO SPICE PONCHY-HAMMOND SHOWDOWN

Fans will have a chance for a free box of Cane’s Friday

Raising Cane’s, a sponsor for both Ponchatoula and Hammond High baseball teams this spring, will host a special “Cane’s Challenge” for all fans attending Friday night’s game between Ponchatoula and Hammond set to begin at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Everyone who enters the gate will be given a special coupon by Raising Cane’s with a chance to win the “Cane’s Challenge”- which for this game is a combined run total by both teams of six runs.

In other words, if Ponchatoula and Hammond combine for six runs, everyone with a coupon will be able to take advantage of a “Buy One, Get One Free” combo box of Cane’s chicken at either Raising Cane’s location in Hammond on either Friday or Saturday.

Wendy LeSaicherre has available player action photos like this of 3B Trey Marino

Friday, April 9
ACTION PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE AT WENDY LESAICHERRE PHOTOGRAPHY

Wendy LeSaicherre, team photographer for Ponchatoula baseball who provides the outstanding photos appearing on this website each week, is making this spring’s Green Wave game action photos available for purchase from an online gallery on her
website at www.wendylesaicherrephotography.com

Go to “online ordering”, then “sports”, enter your email address, enter the password which is “phs2010″, and make your selections.

Deadline for ordering is April 29th.  A few more games and team/individual photos will be added later.  For any questions, call 386-3077.

3B Elisha Settoon had two hits and 4 RBI vs. the Hammond Tors

Saturday, April 10
GREEN WAVE BLISTERS HAMMOND, 13-1

Trey Marino allowed just 3 hits with 8 K’s vs. Hammond

Trey Marino fashioned a three-hitter, and Ponchatoula belted 10 hits in four innings as the Green Wave crushed Hammond, 13-1, Friday in a District 7-5A game at Athletic Park.

The win evened Ponchy’s overall record at 13-13 and moved the Green Wave to 4-3 in 7-5A, good enough for a second-place tie with Northshore and St. Paul.  The Wave is only one game out of first place as Fontainebleau and Covington are tied for the top spot at 5-2.

“We did a great job of swinging the bats at Fontainebleau the other night, and it kind of continued tonight,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.

“Hammond walked us a few times and made a few mistakes on defense, and that kind of kept a couple of innings going.  We were fortunate to get a lead and kind of extend it and were able to relax a little bit.”

Marino gave up no earned runs while striking out eight and walking only one in five innings of work.

The Green Wave got on the board first with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning.  Justin Crowell singled and moved to second on a walk to Marino.  Dylan Meyers then walked to load the bases before Crowell came home on a wild pitch.

The Wave moved its lead to 4-0 in the second. Ryan Byers and Brady Bass both reached on infield errors and scored on a two-run double by Dylan Hills, who later scored on Crowell’s RBI single.

Ponchy blew it open with four more runs in the third.  Dylan Meyers led off with a double, and courtesy runner Zach Traylor advanced to third on a single by Byers.

Bass singled Traylor home, and Randall Meyers walked to load the bases.  Hills then grounded into an error by the shortstop, plating Byers for a 6-0 lead.

Elisha Settoon then followed with a two-run single to drive in both courtesy runner Mark Traylor and Meyers to round out the scoring for the inning.

The Wave capped its scoring with a five-run rally in the fourth.  Walks to Dylan Meyers, Joe Green and Mark Traylor loaded the bases, and with one out Randall Meyers drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-0.

Hills then drove in Green with a fielder’s choice grounder before Settoon ripped his second two-run single of the evening, plating Traylor and Meyers for an 11-0 lead.

Crowell then singled before Marino’s double scored both Settoon and Crowell for a 13-0 lead.

Hammond scored its only run off Marino in the top of the fifth when Troy Bass struck out but reached on a passed ball by the catcher.  After singling, Josh Byars was tagged out in a rundown, and Bass scored when the throw home was wild.

Crowell led Ponchy with three hits while Settoon had two hits and 4 RBI.  Marino, Byers, Bass and Dylan Meyers each had one hit while Hills had one hit and 4 RBI.

Ponchatoula will begin the second round of District 7-5A play Tuesday with a key home matchup with Northshore, currently tied with the Green Wave for second place in the district.  Game time is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

DH Justin Crowell had three hits vs. Hammond

Saturday, April 10
GREEN WAVE NOW TIED FOR SECOND IN 7-5A

Ponchatoula moved into a three-way, second-place tie with Northshore and St. Paul in District 7-5A standings Friday with its 13-1 drubbing of Hammond.  All three teams stand at 4-3 while the league leaders, Fontainebleau (which lost to St. Paul, 2-1) and Covington, are one game ahead at 5-2.

DISTRICT 7-5A

Friday’s Results (4/9)

Covington 8 – Mandeville 6
St. Paul 2 – Fontainebleau 1
Ponchatoula 13 - Hammond 1
Northshore 10 – Slidell 7

Fontainebleau	17 - 9         5 – 2
Covington	16 – 11       5 – 2
Northshore	15 - 9         4 – 3
St. Paul	12 – 8         4 – 3
Ponchatoula	13 – 13       4 – 3
Mandeville	7  – 16        3 – 4
Slidell	12 - 10        3 – 4
Hammond	7 – 16         0 – 7

Tuesday, April 13
PONCHATOULA HOSTS NORTHSHORE TONIGHT

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will host the Northshore Panthers tonight at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park in a District 7-5A matchup of teams tied for second place.

The Green Wave (13-13) and Panthers (15-9) are tied with St. Paul for second place with a 4-3 district mark.  Fontainebleau and Covington are tied for first at 5-2.

Ryan Byers had 3 hits and a clutch two-run double vs. Northshore

Thursday, April 15
GREEN WAVE TOPS NORTHSHORE IN NINE-INNING THRILLER

	Dylan Meyers had a 2-run homer to ignite the Wave in the 1st

Brady Bass drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a dramatic, five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth as Ponchatoula came from behind to nip Northshore, 11-10, Tuesday night in a crucial 7-5A clash at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave (14-13) moved to 5-3 in district, good enough for a second-place tie with St. Paul, a 9-2 winner over Mandeville, and Covington, a 4-1 loser to Slidell.  All three teams are one game behind league leader Fontainebleau at 6-2.

Northshore (15-10), which entered the game ranked No. 9 in the statge in power rankings, fell to 4-4, now tied for third with Slidell, a 49-2 winner over Mandeville.

In one of the most memorable games ever played at Athletic Park, Northshore broke a 6-6 deadlock through eight innings with four runs in the top of the ninth, building what seemed like an insurmountable lead.But the Green Wave responded with five in the bottom half, made possible in large part by six walks issued by Northshore pitchers.Dylan Hills led off the final frame against reliever Chris Eades with a double to right-center. Eades then issued consecutive walks to Elisha Settoon, Trey Marino and Dylan Meyers to force Hills home. Joe Green popped a sacrifice fly to deep left field, plating Settoon and cutting the deficit to 10-8.Justin Crowell then drew a walk before Ryan Byers delivered a clutch two-run double off the wall, scoring both Marino and Dylan Meyers to tie game at 10-all.Randall Meyers then drew an intentional walk before Bass walked on a 3-2 pitch to score Crowell and end the game.Both teams came out slugging in the first inning. Northshore jumped to a quick 3-0 lead off of Ponchy starter Dylan Hills when Trey Rickrode reached on an infield error, Chase Compton walked and Taylor Eads plastered a three-run homer over the left centerfield wall for a 3-0 lead.

The Wave more than responded against the Panthers’ Shane McKinley in the bottom half. Hills singled, and Settoon grounded into an error by the shortstop before Marino brought both men home with a two-run triple to right-center. Two pitches later, Dylan Meyers powered a shot over the right-field wall for a 4-0 lead.

But the Greenies weren’t done. Green was hit by a pitch before Crowell swatted a double down the first base line, driving Green to third. Byers then ripped a two-run single to left for a 6-3 Ponchatoula margin after only one inning.

But Ponchy couldn’t put up another tally until the dramatic ninth, leaving eight men on base in seven straight innings.

Meanwhile, Hills held Northshore without a score until the top of the fourth when Chris Miller singled, advanced to second when Rickrode was hit by a pitch, moved to third on Breck Kline’s sacrifice, and scored on a passed ball by the catcher on strike three to Chase Compton, who gained first on the play.

But Hills got out of the big jam with one out when shortstop Settoon lunged to stab a screeching one-hopper by Eads up the middle, touched second, and fired to first to complete the double play.

Northshore chipped away further in the sixth when Chris Miller led off with a home run to make the score 6-5.

The Panthers tied it in the top of the seventh when Ryan Eades was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice by McKinley, and scored on Kyle Deckwa’s RBI single.

In the top of the eighth Ponchy brought on Marino to relieve Hills, and the righty wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by getting McKinley to fly out to Green in deep left.

The Wave had a golden opportunity to win it in the last of the eighth. Crowell was hit by a pitch, and Byers sacrificed him to second. Randall Meyers then slapped a single to right field, but pinch-runner Zach Traylor was gunned down at the plate by Miller to kill the rally.

Northshore seemingly busted the game open in the top of the ninth. Deckwa led off with a walk, and with one out Miller walked. Rickrode grounded in the hole to short, and Miller beat the throw to second to load the bases. Kline then singled up the middle, scoring both Deckwa and Miller for an 8-6 lead.

Ponchy then lifted Marino for Settoon, and Chase Compton greeted him with an RBI sacrifice fly to centerfield. After an intentional walk to Taylor Eads, Ryan Eades singled home Kline for what seemed like a commanding 10-6 lead.

But the Green Wave responded with its decisive five-run rally in the last of the ninth to come away with the victory.

Settoon, who pitched the final two-thirds of the ninth inning, picked up the win in relief.

Starter Hills threw seven innings, allowing nine hits and five earned runs while striking out eight while walking two and hitting three.

Byers and Hills had three hits apiece to lead Ponchy while Settoon, Marino, Dylan Meyers, Crowell and Randall Meyers all had one hit.

Ponchatoula travels to Covington Thursday to take on the Lions at 6:30 pm. in a big 7-5A matchup.

---

Trey Marino got the win vs. Covington, allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits w/6 K’s

Friday, April 16
WAVE CRUSHES COVINGTON, MOVES INTO FIRST PLACE

Elisha Settoon led the Wave with 3 hits and 3 RBI, including a 2-run homer

Ponchatoula machine-gunned 17 hits, highlighted by home runs from Elisha Settoon and Joe Green, and Trey Marino scattered seven hits on the mound as the Green Wave crushed Covington, 14-7, in a huge District 7-5A matchup Thursday night at Covington.

The win moved the Green Wave (15-13) to 6-3 in 7-5A, vaulting them into a first-place tie with Fontainebleau, a 10-0 loser to Northshore, and St. Paul, a 3-1 winner over Hammond.

“I’m real excited about the way we’re swinging the bats,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Gosh, Covington is a tough place to play, and to come in here and get 14 runs on 17 hits is outstanding. We hit a lot of balls extremely hard.”

“It’s carried over from our hitting in games over the past couple of weeks and in our batting practice where our kids are just crushing the ball every day,” Gosnell said.  “They’re fighting at the bat rack to see who can get to the plate first.”

Ponchy came out slugging from the very start, getting all of the runs they needed with a seven-hit, seven-run first inning.

Leadoff hitter Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch from Lions starter Riley Boudreaux, and Settoon smashed a two-run homer to left for a quick 2-0 lead.

Dylan Meyers followed with a double and moved to second on a single by Marino.  Justin Crowell’s double plated Meyers before Green walked to load the bases.

Boudreaux was lifted for Dexter Thompson, and Ryan Byers greeted him with a single to drive home courtesy runner Taylor Denham.  Brady Bass followed with an RBI single that plated Crowell.

The Wave then made it back to the top of the lineup in the first, and Hills once again was hit by a pitch, this time plating Green.

Settoon got his third RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, driving home Byers with the final run of the inning and a 7-0 lead.

With Marino holding Covington scoreless in the first, Ponchy added another run in the second on Green’s solo blast to left-center for an 8-0 cushion.

Covington’s Daniel Thompson came on in relief and held Ponchy scoreless over the next two innings, and  Covington mounted a rally in the last of the second to momentarily get back in the game.

John Schaffer doubled, and with two out Jourdan Taylor doubled him home.

Trey Fortner then doubled home Taylor and scored on a wild throw off of Riley Boudreaux’s grounder to third. Bo Tedesco then singled in Boudreaux for the final run of the inning, chopping the deficit to 8-4.

The Lions cut the lead to 8-5 in the third on consecutive doubles by Payden Lynch and Schaffer.

Marino then settled down from the fourth inning on, shutting out Covington over the next three innings.

Meanwhile, the Green Wave added three more in the fifth and three in the seventh to regain the momentum and seal the victory.

Randall Meyers led off the top of the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Bass.  Hills was hit by a pitch for a third time in the game, and Settoon singled to load the bases.

Dylan Meyers then walked to push across Randall Meyers, and with two out Crowell delivered a two-run double down the left-field line for an 11-5 lead.

Dylan Meyers led off Ponchy’s seventh-inning rally with a triple, and courtesy runner Zach Traylor scored on a double by Marino.  Crowell was hit by a pitch, and with two out Byers greeted reliever Schaffer by singling home courtesy runner Mark Traylor.  Randall Meyers then doubled home Crowell for a commanding 14-5 lead.

Settoon relieved Marino in the seventh and picked up the save, allowing two runs on three hits.  Thompson led off with a single and advanced to second on an outfield error.

Lynch’s grounder to short clipped Thompson’s leg for one out before Schaffer singled and both men advanced on a wild pitch.  Pinch-hitter David Lee’s fielder’s choice grounder to short brought home Lynch, and Schaffer scored on Taylor’s double to cap the scoring for the night.

Marino picked up the win with six innings of work, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.  He struck out six, walked one and hit one batter.

“Trey did a good job of damage control,” Gosnell said.  “Despite their four-run inning, he didn’t panic.  He limited them, and that enabled us to relax and pick it back up again at the plate.  And Elisha did a nice job in relief.”

Settoon and Byers both had three hits to lead Ponchy’s assault at the plate.  Dylan Meyers, Marino, Crowell, Randall Meyers and Bass had two hits apiece.  Green had the other hit for the Green Wave.

Schaffer had three hits to lead Covington while Taylor had two hits and Tedesco, Dexter Thompson, Lynch, Fortner and Boudreaux had one apiece.

Ponchatoula returns home Saturday for a big District 7-5A matchup with Mandeville.  Game time is 12 noon at Athletic Park.

“Our kids are real excited, but we told them that tonight’s game is over, and we need to come back to practice tomorrow focused on getting ready for Saturday’s game,” Gosnell said.

Friday, April 16

The Green Wave’s 14-7 thrashing of Covington earned Ponchatoula a three-way tie for first in District 7-5A with Fontainebleau and St. Paul with five district games left on the schedule.

District 7-5A

Friday, April 16
PONCHATOULA MOVES INTO 3-WAY TIE FOR FIRST PLACE

The Green Wave’s 14-7 thrashing of Covington earned Ponchatoula a three-way tie for first in District 7-5A with Fontainebleau and St. Paul with five district games left on the schedule.

District 7-5A

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will host Mandeville at Athletic Park today

Friday, April 16
GREEN WAVE TO HOST MANDEVILLE AT 12 NOON TODAY

The Ponchatoula Green Wave, fresh off a 14-7 whipping of Covington, will host the Mandeville Skippers Saturday at 12 noon at Athletic Park in a key District 7-5A clash.

The Wave (15-13), currently ranked #29 in state power rankings according to www.kenramsey.com, is tied for first in 7-5A with a 6-3 mark along with Fontainebleau and St. Paul.  Mandeville, which beat Slidell 13-3 Thursday, is 8-17 overall and 4-5 in district.

The Wave and Skipper JV teams will play at 10 am. preceding the varsity game.

The Green Wave’s 13-1 win over Hammond will air at 2:30pm on Ch. 17 Sat. & Sun.

Saturday, April 17
PONCHY’S 13-1 WIN OVER HAMMOND TELEVISED THIS WEEKEND

Ponchatoula’s recent 13-1 victory over Hammond in District 7-5A action will be televised on Charter Cable Channel 17 FPTV at 2:30 pm. both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  The game will also air at 11 pm. this coming Wednesday night.

The WaveSportsVideo productions can be purchased online at www.wavesportsvideo.com. Games available so far this season are Hammond, St. Paul, Slidell, Covington, Acadiana and Walker.

Wave TV Sponsors this season include Smoothie King, Raising Cane’s, Subway, S&S Sportscenter, Double Helix Media, Hancock Bank, Jani-King Commercial Cleaning Services, Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court Julien Dufreche, and the Car Wash Depot.

Randall Meyers led Ponchatoula with 2 hits Saturday vs. Mandeville

Saturday, April 17
MANDEVILLE HALTS GREEN WAVE, 5-1

Joe Green had one of Ponchy’s 5 hits vs. the Skippers (LeSaicherre photo)

Ross Borrello limited Ponchatoula to four hits, and Mandeville had two-out, RBI singles four different times as the Skippers stopped the Green Wave, 5-1, Saturday in District 7-5A action at Athletic Park.

The loss dropped Ponchatoula (15-14) into second place at 6-4 in District 7-5A while Mandeville (9-17) moved into third place at 5-5.

Ponchatoula had beaten Mandeville twice earlier this year, 7-6 in the Parkview Baptist Tournament and 11-1 in the first round of 7-5A league action at Mandeville.

But on Saturday the Green Wave bats, which accounted for 30 hits and 25 runs in just two games earlier in the week in big wins against Northshore (11-10) and Covington 14-7), were basically non-existant Saturday thanks to the Skippers’ small lefty, Borrello.

“Obviously, we didn’t swing the bats very well today with only five hits and one run,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “You have to give their pitcher credit- he kept us off balance the whole game.”

“But we certainly had our chances.  We had the bases loaded once and men on second-and-third twice, and we could only get one run out of it- so we just didn’t get it done,” Gosnell said. ”They got the big two-out hits, and we didn’t.”

After a scoreless first inning, Mandeville got on the board first against Ponchy starter Dylan Hills in the top of the second.  Josh Goodwin walked and moved to second on Borrello’s sacrifice bunt.  Zach Dugas then delivered a run-scoring single for 1-0 lead.

Borrello got out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed in the bottom half.  After Joe Green’s single and walks to Ryan Byers and Randall Meyers, Borrello got a strikeout and a popup to end the threat.

The Skippers made it 2-0 in the third when Drew Francis walked, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, and scored on Lee Batchelder’s two-out single.

The Wave threatened again in the bottom half.  Elisha Settoon and Dylan Meyers drew back-to-back walks with nobody out, but Borrello this time induced a fly out to right and struck out the final two batters to squelch the rally.

Mandy built its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth.  Borrello and Dugas rapped back-to-back singles, and with two out Francis laced an RBI single.

Ponchy finally got on the board in the last of the fourth when Byers singled, advanced to third on a double by Randall Meyers, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Hills.  But Borrello forced another popup to get out of the jam.

Mandeville added some insurance runs in the sixth off of Ponchy reliever Elisha Settoon.  Borrello led off with a triple, and Dugas singled him home.  Joel Murphy sacrificed Dugas to second, and with two out Zack Liberto delivered a run-scoring single for a 5-1 lead.

Jonathan Baham came on in relief of Borrello in the seventh and gave up a one-out double to Dylan Meyers.  Trey Marino walked and one out later was picked off of first to end the game.

Borrello allowed just one run on four hits in six innings of work, striking out six and walking seven.

In picking up the save, Baham worked one inning, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk.

Randall Meyers had two of the five total hits for Ponchatoula.  Byers, Green and Dylan Meyes had one apiece.

Hills pitched five innings for Ponchy, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking three.

Settoon pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits while walking none.

Borrello and Dugas led the Skippers with two hits apiece while Francis, Liberto and Batchelder had one each.

“It’s really disappointing after playing so well in the last couple of games,” Gosnell said.  “But we just have to let it go, get back to work on Monday, and get ready for our big game against Slidell on Tuesday.  In this district every game is important, and this thing is a long way from over.”

The Green Wave travels to Slidell Tuesday to face the Tigers, which entered today’s action with a 4-5, fourth-place district record.  Game time is 6:

Coach Mark Gosnell instructs Dylan Meyers (13) and Joe Green (32) vs. St. Paul

Sunday, April 18
GREEN WAVE NOW TIED FOR SECOND

With its 5-1 loss to Mandeville Saturday, Ponchatoula now stands in a second-place tie with Northshore in the latest District 7-5A standings.  Both teams trail Fontainebleau and St. Paul by one game.  The Green Wave is ranked #30 in the latest 5A power rankings, according to www.kenramsey.com.

 

District 7-5A

Tuesday, April 20
WAVE TRAVELS TO SLIDELL FOR CRUCIAL LEAGUE TILT

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will travel to Slidell today (Tuesday) for a critical District 7-5A matchup with the Tigers.  Game time is 6:30 pm. at Slidell High School.

The Wave (15-14) enters the game at 6-4 in district, tied for second with Northshore and one game out of first.  Slidell (13-12) is 4-6 in district.

Thursday, April 22
GREEN WAVE LEAD SLIPS AWAY AT SLIDELL, 10-7

Ponchatoula raced to an early 5-0 lead, but Slidell staged a fourth-inning, six-run uprising to rally past the Green Wave, 10-7, Tuesday in a big District 7-5A matchup at Slidell.

The Green Wave (15-15) is now 6-5 in 7-5A, tied for second with Northshore and Covington, while Slidell (14-12) is 5-6 and tied with Mandeville at 5-5 in league play. Fontainebleau and St. Paul share the league lead with 8-3.

Ponchatoula once again was hot at the plate, outhitting the Tigers 14-9, but managed five errors to none for Slidell.

“It was a very disappointing loss for us,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We had a 6-2 lead and then gave up a six-run inning.  They hit some balls hard, but we didn’t make some plays in there.”

“We’d make an error with a bad throw or missing the cutoff man , and then they’d get a big hit to make us pay for it.  We made 5 errors and Slidell made none, and that was the difference in the game.”

Joe Green staked Ponchy to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the top of the second.

The Wave pushed the lead to 5-0 with four runs in the third.  Randall Meyers led off with a single and moved to third on a single by Dylan Hills.  Elisha Settoon’s RBI single to right then plated Meyers for a 2-0 lead.

Dylan Meyers followed with a run-scoring double deep to centerfield, scoring Hills, before Trey Marino drove home Settoon with a fielder’s choice ground out.  Justin Crowell’s RBI single then scored pinch-runner Zach Traylor for a 5-0 lead.

Slidell countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning off of Ponchy starter Marino.  Cameron Charbonnet reached on an infield throwing error before Dixon Faciane doubled him to third.  Adam Lagarde’s sacrifice fly scored Charbonnet, and Trey Wiebelt singled home Faciane to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Wave added another run in the fourth when Brady Bass drew a walk, Hills was hit by a pitch, and Settoon’s single drove home pinch-runner Taylor Denham for a 6-2 lead.

But the Tigers scored all of the runs they would need with a huge six-run rally in the bottom of the fourth.

Gary Daubert led off the inning with a single before Ricky Seacrest smashed a two-run homer.  Dylan Aymond singled and moved to second on an infield throwing error before Charbonnet walked and Faciane belted a two-run double to tie the game at 6-6.

Faciane then moved to third on a passed ball before Lagarde was hit by a pitch and Randall Meyer’s fielder’s choice ground ball plated Faciane for a 7-6 Slidell lead.  Jason Decker then doubled home Meyer to make the score 8-6.

Ponchatoula cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth when Hills singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.  With two out Marino singled Hills home to make the score 8-7.

But Slidell responded with two runs in the last of the sixth to put the game away.  With two out Wiebelt doubled and scored on Decker’s single.  Daubert singled Decker to second, and on an attempted double steal the catcher threw wild to third, scoring Decker for the final 10-7 cushion.

Ponchy mounted one final threat in the top of the seventh but came up empty with the bases loaded for the second time in the game.   The Green Wave left 11 runners on base in the defeat.

“We had some runners on base throughout,” Gosnell said.  “We had chances to put it away early and come back at the end, but we just didn’t get the job done.”

Marino went 6 and 2/3 innings on the mound for Ponchatoula.  He gave up seven earned runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking three.

Settoon pitched to one batter in relief in the seventh and struck him out.

Green led the Green Wave barrage at the plate with three base hits.  Hills, Settoon, Dylan Meyers and  Crowell had two hits apiece while Marino, Ryan Byers and Randall Meyers each had one.

The Green Wave travels to Covington Friday for a 6:30 pm. tilt with St. Paul in a must-win game for Ponchy’s state playoff hopes.

“We just have to find a way to put this one behind us and get back to work at practice for our next game,” Gosnell said.

Friday, April 23
PONCHATOULA TRAVELS TO ST. PAUL TONIGHT

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will travel to Covington tonight (Friday) to take on the St. Paul Wolves in a District 7-5A matchup that is critical for the Green Wave’s playoff hopes.  Game time is 6:30 pm.

Ponchy is 6-5 in district, tied for second with Northshore and Covington and two games behind first-place St. Paul and Fontainebleau at 8-3.  Remaining district games for the Wave are St. Paul, Fontainebleau, and Hammond.

A junior varsity game will precede the varsity contest at 4 pm.

Friday, April 23
PARKVIEW GAME SWITCHED TO 4 PM. SATURDAY

The Ponchatoula Green Wave’s game with Parkview Baptist scheduled for Saturday has a new starting time of 4 pm.  There will be no junior varsity game preceding it.

Parkview Baptist, the defending state AAA champ, is currently ranked first in state AAA power rankings.

Friday, April 23
PONCHY-ST. PAUL RAINED OUT, RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY

Constant rain forced the postponement of the key District 7-5A matchup between Ponchatoula and St. Paul Friday evening.  The game has been rescheduled for 1 pm. Sunday at the St. Paul field in Covington.

The preceding junior varsity game was cancelled.

Friday, April 23
WAVE HOSTS PARKVIEW AT 4 PM. SATURDAY
Weather permitting, the Ponchatoula Green Wave will host 3-A power Parkview Baptist Saturday at Athletic Park in a big non-district fray.  Game time is 4 pm.  There will be no junior varsity game beforehand.

Friday, April 23
PONCHY-HAMMOND GAME MOVED TO WEDNESDAY
The regular season finale between Ponchatoula and Hammond has been moved to Wednesday at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Alumni Field.  Game time is 6:30 pm.

Friday, April 23
BASEBALL BANQUET SET FOR MAY 27TH
The annual season-ending banquet honoring the 2010 Green Wave baseball team has been set for May 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the Twelve Oaks Cafeteria on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University.

Players will receive two free tickets apiece.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $20 each from the parent class representative.  All tickets must be purchased by April 30th.  Parent representatives are: Seniors – Cheryl Settoon; Juniors – Sonya Traylor; Sophomores – Allison Dupont; Freshman – Renee Castello.  If there are any questions, contact Booster Club president Tessa Hills at 507-1598.

Friday, April 23
PONCHY WIN OVER NORTHSHORE TO AIR ON TV THIS WEEKEND

Ponchatoula’s exciting 11-10 comeback win over Northshore will air this weekend on Charter Cable Channel 17 FPTV at 2:30 pm. both Saturday and Sunday and again at 11 pm. next Wednesday night.  Game videos can be purchased at www.wavesportsvideo.com.

Friday, April 23
PONCHATOULA IN 3-WAY TIE FOR SECOND

District 7-5A

Saturday, April 24
PARKVIEW SMACKS PONCHY, 8-0

Parkview Baptist hammered out 13 hits, and three Eagle pitchers combined to limit Ponchatoula to four safeties as Parkview shelled the Green Wave, 8-0, Saturday in a non-district game at Athletic Park.

The loss moved the Green Wave to 15-16 overall while Parkview, the defending state 3A champs and currently the top-ranked 3A team in the state, upped its record to 26-6 on the year.

Ponchatoula now plays its biggest game of the season Sunday against league-leading St. Paul in a must-win situation for Green Wave playoff hopes.  Ponchatoula is 6-5 in District 7-5A while St. Paul is 8-3.

In Saturday’s contest, Parkview got on the board first with an unearned run off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon.  An infield error and a single by James Coates set up Brenden Bozeman’s RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

With Eagle starter Colin Rodgers escaping a bases-loaded Ponchy jam in the second, Parkview stretched its lead to 2-0 in the third on Tanner Schafer’s solo homer.

Ryan Byers relieved Settoon at the start of the fourth, and the Eagles put together a three-run rally on three hits, two hit batsmen, and a fielder’s choice.  Big hits in the inning were an RBI single by Brooks Godberry and a two-run single by Bozeman for a 5-0 lead.

Parkview rallied for three more in the fifth.  Andrew Reeves led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on Jack Clautra’s single.  Clautra then stole second, and Garrett Deschamps walked, but Reeves dashed home on ball four as the pitch got by the catcher.

Clautra beat the throw home on a stealing attempt as Deschamps stole second with one out.  Brady Wilson then had an RBI single to plate Deschamps as Parkview stretched its lead to 8-0.

Relievers William Bacon and Reeves held Ponchy scoreless after the fifth inning to record the group shutout.

The Green Wave brought Darrin Bach to pitch the last inning, and he retired the side without a run. Meanwhile Ponchy failed to get a run in the final half-inning for the final 8-0 score.

All total the Green Wave left seven runners stranded in the defeat.

Hills, Marino, Crowell and Brady Bass were the only Greenies to collect hits for the Green Wave on the evening.

William Bacon pitched a scoreless fifth-inning before Reeves closed out the shutout with no runs on one hit.

Rodgers, the winning pitcher, shut out Ponchy in four innings of work, allowing only two hits while striking out six and walking two.

Settoon gave up one earned run in three innings of work, allowing five hits while walking one and striking out one.

Byers pitched two innings, allowing six runs on five hits while hitting two batters and walking one.

Lessard gave up no runs in two innings of work, allowing three hits.

Bach retired the side in order in his only inning on the mound.

Saturday, April 24
WAVE GAME WITH FONTAINEBLEAU SWITCHED TO MONDAY AT 6:30 PM.

In an effort to wrap up District 7-5A play, including possible inter-league playoffs for seeding purposes, the Fontainebleau game has been moved to 6:30 pm. Monday at Athletic Park.  A special ceremony honoring the Green Wave seniors will be held at 6 pm. preceding the game.  The Ponchy and Fontainebleau JV will square off at 4 pm.

In addition, now Ponchatoula will play Hammond on Wednesday at Alumni Field at Southeastern Louisiana University.  Game time is 6:30 pm. The Ponchy and Hammond JV teams will play at 4 pm. Wednesday at Athletic Park.

Sunday, April 25
WAVE PLAYOFF HOPES ON LINE TODAY VS. ST. PAUL

The Ponchatoula Green Wave travels to Covington today for a 1 pm. matchup with St. Paul with the Wave’s 2010 playoff hopes on the line.  Ponchy (6-5)must win today’s game vs. first-place St. Paul (8-3) to stay alive in the District 7-5A race.

If the Green Wave wins, Ponchy will also face a must-win situation against Fontainebleau, tied for the league lead with St. Paul, at 6:30 pm. Monday night at Athletic Park.

Dylan Hills allowed only 3 earned runs in a complete game win vs. St. Paul

Sunday, April 25
GREEN WAVE HOLDS ON TO TOP ST. PAUL, 9-7

	Justin Crowell had 3 hits and 3 RBI vs. St. Paul

Ponchatoula rallied for six runs in the fourth inning, and Dylan Hills pitched a complete game victory as the Green Wave edged the Wolves, 9-7, in a huge District 7-5A game Sunday at Covington.

The victory moved the Green Wave to 16-16 overall and 7-5 in 7-5A standings, one game behind St. Paul and two behind league-leading Fontainebleau.  Ponchatoula hosts Fontainebleau at 6:30 pm. Monday at Athletic Park in another must-win game for Green Wave playoff hopes.

“It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride this year,” said  Green Wave head coach Gosnell.  “We’ve been very up and down all year.”

“What a difference a day makes,” he continued.  “The kids came out and played really hard today unlike yesterday (against Parkview).  We came in here and beat a darned good baseball team at their place to tie for second place in the district.”

Sunday’s victory over St. Paul, the Wave’s second of the season, wasn’t an easy one for the Green Wave as it again came down to the final out.  The Wolves had runners on first and second with two out and the winning run at the plate when Hills got leadoff batter Dane Stubbs to ground out to third to end the game.

The Wave, which pounded out 11 hits, jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off of Wolves starter John Gremillion.

Hills reached on a muffed popup before Elisha Settoon was hit by a pitch.  With two out Justin Crowell doubled to deep right-center to drive home both runners.  Joe Green then singled home Crowell for the early 3-0 lead.

Hills shut out St. Paul through the first two innings, but the Wolves tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the third.

Alex ***z singled and moved to second when Stubbs was hit by a pitch.  Reed Wilson sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Christian Spansel was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  With two out Aaron Allain lofted a high fly ball down the left field line that was muffed, allowing all three runners to score to tie the game at 3-all.

But the Green Wave responded with a six run-rally in the top of the fourth for what proved to be the decisive inning. Ryan Byers led off with a single, and Randall Meyers sacrificed him to second.  Brady Bass walked before Hills singled to left to plate Byers for a 4-3 lead.

Settoon singled pinch-runner Mark Traylor to third before Dylan Meyers drove home Traylor with a sacrifice fly to deep left.  On the play the shortstop made a relay throw to try to pick Settoon off of first, but threw wild into the Greenie dugout, allowing Hills to score and moving Settoon to third.

Marino’s hot grounder then got through the shortstop to score Settoon before Crowell scorched a double to plate Marino.  Joe Green rounded out the scoring with an RBI single to score Crowell for a 9-3 lead.

“We kept swinging the bats, getting some guys on base each inning and getting some big hits to keep the pressure on,” Gosnell said.

The Wolves chopped the lead to 9-6 in the last of the fourth.  Shawn Lacrouts reached on an infield error, and with two out Stubbs was once again hit with a pitch.  Wilson then drove home both runners with a triple down the right field line and later scored himself on a double by Spansel.

St. Paul added another run in the last of the fifth when consecutive singles by Lacrouts and Logan Trent placed men on first and second with two out.  ***z then reached on a fielder’s choice before Stubbs two-out single drove home Lacrouts to make the score 9-7.

Shane Lecrouts took over for Gremillion on the mound and held Ponchy scoreless through the last three innings.

Meanwhile, St. Paul got the tying run to the plate in the last of the sixth, but Hills induced a 6-4-3 double play, Ponchy’s second of the game, to kill the threat.

The Wave had two men on in the seventh via Green’s double and Byers’ single, but Byers was thrown out attempting to steal to end the inning.

Shawn Lecrouts doubled with one out in the seventh, but Hills got Trent to fly out to left.  After ***z walked, Hills toughened up to get Stubbs on a ground ball to third to end the game.

Hills worked the entire seven innings, allowing only three earned runs on 11 hits.  He struck out seven, walked two, and hit three batters.

“Dylan Hills was just outstanding,” Gosnell said.  “Most of the runs he gave up were due to misplayed outfield popups or infield grounders that gave them extra outs and kept them alive in several innings.  But I can tell you this- he wasn’t coming out of the game.”

Crowell had three hits and three RBI while Green had three hits and two RBI to lead the Green Wave at the plate.  Byers had two hits while Hills, Settoon and Marino had one each.

The Green Wave will host league-leading Fontainebleau at 6:30 Monday at Athletic Park in a must-win game for Ponchy playoff hopes.

A special ceremony honoring the 2010 seniors will be held just prior to the game Monday at 6 pm.  The Ponchatoula seniors are Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon, Justin Crowell, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft, Trey Marino and Joe Green.

A junior varsity game between Ponchy and Fontainebleau will be played at 4 pm.

Joe Green had 3 hits and 2 RBI for the Wave vs. the Wolves

Monday, April 26
DISTRICT 7-5A STANDINGS HEADING INTO FINAL WEEK

District 7-5A

Monday, April 26
GREEN WAVE IN MUST-WIN GAME WITH FONTAINEBLEAU TONIGHT

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will host the Fontainebleau Bulldogs tonight in a must-win game for the Green Wave’s playoff hopes.  With Sunday’s big 9-7 win over St. Paul, the Wave (16-16) is currently 7-5 in District 7-5A, two games behind Fontainebleau which leads the league with a 9-3 record and only one game behind St. Paul (8-4).

Game time at Athletic Park is 6:30 pm.  A special Senior Day ceremony will be held at 6 pm. prior to the game while the day kicks off with a junior varsity contest at 4 pm.

Seniors (top L-R) Crowell, Settoon, Hills, Kraft, Marino, (bottom) Green, Meyers

Monday, April 26
“SENIOR DAY” TO HONOR 7 GREEN WAVE SENIORS TONIGHT

Ponchatoula baseball will honor its 2010 Green Wave seniors tonight with “Senior Day” set to begin at 6 pm. at Athletic Park just prior to the Wave’s big district game with Fontainebleau.

Those Ponchatoula seniors playing in their final regular season home game at Athletic Park include Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon, Justin Crowell, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft, Trey Marino and Joe Green.

Trey Marino allowed only 3 hits,1 unearned run & had an RBI single vs. FHS

Monday, April 26
FONTAINEBLEAU NIPS PONCHATOULA, 2-1

Klay Galloway tossed a complete-game two-hitter, and Fontainebleau rallied for the only runs it needed in the first two innings to edge Ponchatoula, 2-1, Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The win dropped the Green Wave to 16-17 on the season and 7-6 in District 7-5A, putting a damper on any Ponchy hopes for the state 5A playoffs.

Meanwhile, Fontainebleau secured at least a tie for the district title, moving its record to 22-10 overall and 10-3 in league play.

Ponchatoula celebrated “Senior Day” just prior to the game where seven Green Wave seniors were honored.

Galloway hooked up in a pitcher’s duel with Ponchy’s Trey Marino, who also pitched a complete game and gave up only three hits and one earned run.

But Ponchy could manage only five baserunners the entire game as the tall lefty threw changeup after changeup which the Green Wave hitters turned into deep fly outs.

Fontainebleau got on the board first in the top of the first when Ryan Cassassa singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Jake Palmisano’s single.

With Galloway throwing a perfect game through the first three innings, the Bulldogs added their second and final run in the second inning.

Andrew Patin walked, and David Fiegel hit into a fielder’s choice grounder where the runner was safe at second.  Galloway sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Matt Ernst’s slow infield hopper was booted, allowing Patin to score for a 2-0 lead.  It would be all of the run support Galloway would need for the remainder of the game.

Ponchy finally got on the board in the last of the fourth when Elisha Settoon was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Dylan Meyers’ slow grounder to first.

With two out Marino brought home Settoon with a single to center to cut the lead to 2-1.  Marino then advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Galloway induced a hard ground ball out to end the inning.

After the second inning, Marino shut out the Bulldogs, allowing only five more baserunners.

Ponchatoula mounted two more threats before the end of the game, but Galloway wiggled out of them both.

In the last of the fifth Justin Crowell singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Byers.  With two out Brady Bass walked, but Galloway induced a fly out to center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Crowell walked with one out to put the tying run aboard.  But two straight deep fly balls to the wall were caught by Fontainebleau to end the game.

Galloway struck out three, walked two, and hit one batter in his seven innings of work.

Marino threw a sterling six innings in a losing effort, striking out four, walking three, and hitting one batter.

Marino and Crowell had the only hits for Ponchatoula while Palmisano had two singles for the Bulldogs and Cassassa had one.

Ponchatoula will wind up its regular season schedule Wednesday against Hammond at 6:30 pm. at Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

Tuesday, April 27
PONCHY TO FACE HAMMOND IN SEASON FINALE AT SLU

The Ponchatoula Green Wave will play arch-rival Hammond in the season finale Wednesday night at 6:30 pm. at Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

The Hammond-Ponchy junior varsity game will begin at 4:30 pm. Wednesday and will be played at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave varsity was eliminated from playoff contention Monday in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to league-leading Fontainebleau.  The Wave currently has a 16-17 overall record with a 7-6 mark in District 7-5A.

Wednesday will mark the final game as Greenies for seniors Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon, Justin Crowell, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft, Trey Marino and Joe Green.

Elisha Settoon pitched a 3-hitter w/9 K’s & had two 2B’s for 4 RBI vs. the Tors

Thursday, April 29
GREEN WAVE CRUSHES TORNADOES, 13-1, IN SEASON FINALE

	Dylan Hills smacked 3 hits for 2 RBI vs. Hammond

Elisha Settoon shut down Hammond with a complete-game three-hitter and drove in four runs himself with a pair of doubles as Ponchatoula crushed the Tornadoes, 13-1, in the season finale at Southeastern’s Alumni Field Wednesday night.

The Green Wave, which narrowly missed the state 5A playoffs, finished 17-17 overall and 8-6 in District 7-5A, good enough for third place in the league.  They trailed only champion Fontainebleau (11-3) and Northshore and St. Paul, which both finished 9-5 and tied for second.  It was the second time that Ponchy has finished with a winning 8-6 record in the tough 7-5A district.

Against the Tornadoes, it was a way to go out in style in the final game for seven Green Wave seniors, most of whom have been a part of 65 wins over the last four years. Those seniors are Settoon, Dylan Hills, Justin Crowell, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft, Trey Marino and Joe Green.

Settoon allowed no earned runs and only five baserunners over the entire seven innings he pitched, striking out nine and walking only one.  He gave up only a bunt single to Lucas Quebedeaux and singles to Trey Perkins and Jon-Michael Williams.

Meanwhile, Ponchatoula jumped on the board in the top of the first with a leadoff single by Hills, who collected three hits on the evening, a walk to Settoon, and a muffed grounder off the bat of Marino to score Hills for an early 1-0 lead.

Marino then stole second, and Settoon scored on the catcher’s throw down for a 2-0 lead.

Hammond cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third.  With one out Williams singled and Quebedeaux laid down a bunt single.  Josh Byars bunted, and a wild throw to third loaded the bases.  Austin Davis then walked to plate Williams with what would turn out to be Hammond’s only run of the game as Settoon retired 14 straight batters to end the game.

Ponchatoula responded with four runs in the fourth. Green singled, and Marino reached on a dropped fly by the left fielder.  Ryan Byers singled home Green, and Kraft reached on a fielder’s choice.  Hills then ripped a double to score Byers before Settoon crashed a two-run double off the left-field wall for a 6-1 cushion.

Ponchy added two more in the top of the sixth.  With one out Randall Meyers scorched a double down the left-field line, and Kraft singled him to third.  Hills singled home Meyers, and Settoon’s ground ball got through the third baseman, scoring pinch-runner Jake Lipps for an 8-1 lead.

Ponchy ended the season with a bang in the seventh, scoring five runs.  Green led off with a walk, and Marino and Byers both reached on infield errors to load the bases.

Randall Meyers then singled home both Green and Marino.  Next Hills was hit by a pitch before Settoon clouted another two-run double to deep left-center.  Dylan Meyers then pushed across Hills with a ground out for the final 13-1 count.

Hills led the Ponchy plate assault with three hits and two RBI while Settoon had two hits and four RBI and Randall Meyers had two hits and two RBI.  Green, Byers, and Kraft had one hit each for the Green Wave.

Ponchatoula will hold its 2010 banquet on May 27th at the Twelve Oaks Cafeteria on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus.

Senior Randall Meyers had 2 hits and 2 RBI in the win over Hammond

Saturday, May 1
FINAL DISTRICT 7-5A STANDINGS FOR 2010

The 2010 Ponchatoula Green Wave finished with an 8-6 record in District 7-5A, just the second time that Ponchatoula has finished with a winning record in District 7-5A.  The Wave finished just behind first-place Fontainebleau and two teams tied for second, Northshore and St. Paul.  All three teams qualified for the state playoffs.  The Wave split with Northshore and beat St. Paul twice during the season.

 

District 7-5A

Photos such as Trey Marino pitching are made available by Wendy LeSaicherre

Saturday, May 1
TONIGHT IS DEADLINE TO ORDER PHOTOS

Shots like Joe Green digging are made available by Wendy LeSaicherre

Midnight tonight is the deadline to order photos from Wendy LeSaicherre.

Great game action, individual and team photos from Ponchatoula’s exciting 2010 season are currently available at LeSaicherre’s onsite photo gallery, www.wendylesaicherrephotography.com.

Go to “online ordering”, then “sports”, enter your email address, enter the password which is “phs2010″, and make your selections.

For any questions, call 386-3077.

Saturday, May 1
BOOSTER CLUB MEETING SET FOR MAY 24TH
A meeting of the Ponchatoula baseball Grand Slam Booster Club will be held at 7 pm. Monday, May 24th at the Ponchatoula High School Library.  All members are expected to attend.

Sunday, May 16
MARINO COMMITS TO LSU-EUNICE

Ponchy senior Trey Marino will pitch for LSU-Eunice

Ponchatoula Green Wave senior pitcher-infielder Trey Marino has committed to play baseball for Louisiana State University at Eunice.  Marino, who made second-team All-District 7-5A for the Green Wave this season, will pitch for the Bengals which won the  junior college national championship in 2006 and 2008.

Marino pitched and played third base for the Green Wave this season, his first with Ponchatoula after transferring from St. Stanislaus in Mississippi.  Marino spent his sophomore and freshman seasons at St. Thomas Acquinas in Hammond where he was an All-District 9-2A performer.

Elisha Settoon w/parents & PHS coach Mark Gosnell, principal Danny Strickland

Sunday, May 16
SETTOON SIGNS WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

Ponchatoula High senior pitcher-infielder Elisha Settoon has signed on to attend the University of Texas at Dallas where he will play baseball for the Comets of the American Southwest Conference.  Settoon was a three-year starter and three-year all-district performer for the Green Wave, playing all four infield positions and pitching.

This year Settoon was selected by league coaches to the First Team All-District 7-5A team and by the LHSAA to the First Team  Academic All-State Composite team.  A National Merit Scholar with a 4.0 grade point average, Settoon will major in Business Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.  He will pitch and play infield for the Comets, who’ve posted nine straight winning seasons and eight trips to the ASC playoffs.

Settoon made 1st Team All-District 7-5A & 1st Team Academic All-State Composite

Sunday, May 16
WAVE PLACES FOUR ON 5A ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAM

	Randall Meyers made Honorable Mention 5A Academic All-State as an outfielder

The Ponchatoula High Green Wave baseball team has placed four players on the 2010 5A Academic All-State Baseball Team recently selected by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA).

Seniors Elisha Settoon, Randall Meyers, Dylan Hills and Kaleb Kraft were named to the 5A team honoring student athletes in the sport of baseball who’ve earned high scholastic grades during their first seven semesters in high school in the 5A classification.

In addition to being named to the First Team 5A Academic All-State team as a third baseman, Settoon was selected to the First Team Academic All-State Composite team, comprised of the top players accumulating the highest grade point averages from across the state’s seven classifications.

Settoon, who earned a perfect 4.0000 grade point average, will receive his First Team Composite Academic All-State plaque at the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) All-Star Baseball Game to be played in Alexandria on Saturday, May 29th.

Meyers, who had a 3.5319 GPA, was named 5A Honorable Mention as an outfielder while Hills, with a 3.2826 GPA, made the 5A Honorable Mention team as a shortstop.  Kraft, who sported a 3.0416 GPA, made the 5A Honorable Mention team as a first baseman.

Kaleb Kraft made Honorable Mention 5A Academic All-State at 1B

Friday, May 21
HILLS VISITS PRO CAMPS

Dylan Hills has worked out with two MLB clubs

Ponchatoula senior pitcher-infielder Dylan Hills is busy with a pair of pre-draft workouts this week with major league teams the Florida Marlins and Baltimore Orioles.

The workouts are held by major league teams before the Major League Draft June 7-9.

Hills worked out with 17 other pro prospects at the Florida Marlins workout  in Alabama Tuesday.  He is slated to work out with the Baltimore Orioles in Texas Saturday at their greater Houston area workout.

According to Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell, who accompanied Hills to the Marlins’ workout, other teams that have reportedly expressed interest in the Ponchatoula product are the New York Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Hills, a three-time all-district selection for the Green Wave, is being looked at as a corner outfielder and could be drafted as early as Day 2 of the draft- which covers rounds 2 through 30.

If drafted, Hills, a Southeastern signee as a pitcher, would be the first player in Ponchatoula history drafted.

Dylan Hills made the 1st Team All-7-5A infield for the 2nd straight year

Friday, May 21
WAVE LANDS SEVEN ON ALL-DISTRICT 7-5A TEAM

Elisha Settoon, a 1st Team pick, made All-7-5A for the 3rd straight year

The 2010 Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball team placed seven players on the All-District 7-5A team selected by league coaches, it was announced Wednesday.

The Green Wave tied St. Paul with the second-most players making the All-7-5A team, trailing only Northshore which had eight.  Ponchatoula had four players selected to the first team and three players making the second team.

Wave players named to the first team were seniors Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon and Joe Green along with sophomore Dylan Meyers.

Seniors Trey Marino and Justin Crowell made the second team along with sophomore
Ryan Byers.

It marked the third year in a row that both Hills and Settoon were selected to the All-District 7-5A team while Meyers and Crowell were named for the second straight year.

Hills was selected to the first-team infield for the second straight season, hitting .390 in district with one home run and 15 RBI.

Settoon led the Green Wave in district batting average, hitting .406 with one home run and 14 RBI while striking out only once in league play.  He was honored as the 7-5A first-team utility player as he played all four infield positions and pitched with a 2-1 district record on the mound.

Meyers was named first-team catcher, sporting a .370 district average with two homers and 14 RBI.

Green, in only his first year of prep baseball, made the first-team outfield with a .375 average, two homers, and 10 RBI.

Marino, a transfer senior, was named to the second team as a pitcher with a 4-2 record, 3.59 earned run average and 32 strikeouts.

Byers made the second-team infield with a league average of .342 along with two homers and 14 RBI.

Crowell was named the second-team designated hitter with a .370 average and 11 RBI.

The District 7-5A Most Valuable Player was Fontainebleau’s Logan Peterson, who went 6-0 on the mound with a 2.44 ERA and 34 strikeouts.  Peterson also hit for a .289 average with one home run and nine RBI.

Brian Babin, who led Fontainebleau to its first District 7-5A title ever, was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

Soph. catcher Dylan Meyers made All-7-5A for the 2nd straight year

Saturday, May 22
2010 ALL-DISTRICT 7-5A BASEBALL TEAM

                               FIRST TEAM 

Randy LeBlanc          Sr.      P       2-3, 2.20 ERA, 64K       Covington

Logan Peterson         Sr.      P       6-0, 2.44 ERA, 34K       Fontainebleau

Jacob Corbin             Jr.      P       4-0, 1.91 ERA, 20K       Northshore

Randal Meyer            Sr.     P       3-4, 2.80 ERA, 58K       Slidell 

Christian Trent          Jr.      P       5-1, 0.94 ERA, 48K       St. Paul

Dylan Meyers            So.    C       .370, 2 HR, 14 RBI        Ponchatoula

Tre Wiebelt               Jr.     C       .318, 4 HR, 14 RBI        Slidell

Ryan Eades               Sr.    IF      .366, 2 HR, 13 RBI        Northshore

Breck Kline                Jr.    IF      .431, , 3 HR, 8 RBI        Northshore

Dylan Hills                Sr.    IF      .390, 1 HR, 15 RBI        Ponchatoula

Tanner Rainey           Jr.    IF      .469, 1 HR, 9 RBI          St. Paul

Christian Spansel       Sr.   IF      .458, 4 HR, 12 RBI         St. Paul

Addison Melancon      Sr.   IF      .341, 2 HR, 9 RBI           Fontainebleau

Elisha Settoon           Sr.   UTL    .406, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 2-1  Ponchatoula

Taylor Eads               Sr.   OF     .550, 12 HR, 31 RBI       Northshore

Joe Green                 Sr.   OF     .375, 2 HR, 10 RBI         Ponchatoula

John Gremillion          Jr.   OF     .408, 8 RBI                    St. Paul

Drew Francis             Jr.   OF     .381, 2 HR, 10 RBI          Mandeville

Jake Palmisano          Sr.  OF     .400, 2 HR, 8 RBI            Fontainebleau

Chase Compton         Sr.  DH     .462, 5 HR, 19 RBI          Northshore

 

                                         SECOND TEAM

Lucas Quebedeaux    Sr.   P       3.54 ERA, 16K                 Hammond

Trey Marino              Sr.   P      4-2, 3.59 ERA, 32K           Ponchatoula

Klay Galloway           Jr.    P      2-1, 2.07 ERA, 6 K           Fontainebleau

Lee Batchelder          Sr.   P      1-5, 4.20 ERA, 23K           Mandeville

Ryan LeBlanc            Jr.    P      4-0, 2.10 ERA, 8K            Northshore

Zach Dugas              Jr.    C      .293                               Mandeville

Jourdan Taylor          Sr.   C      .306, 2 HR, 10 RBI           Covington

Dexter Thompson      Sr.   IF     .337, 14 RBI                    Covington

Blake Butera             Jr.   IF      .317, 2 HR, 12 RBI           Mandeville

Zack Liberto             Sr.   IF      .319, 1 HR, 10 RBI           Mandeville

Trey Rickrode           Sr.   IF      .395, 1 HR, 6 RBI             Northshore

Ryan Byers              So.   IF      .341, 2 HR, 14 RBI           Ponchatoula

Shawn Lacrouts        Jr.    IF      .297, 7 RBI                     St. Paul

Anthony LaGuardia   Sr.   UTL    .281, 1 HR, 5 RBI             Fontainebleau

Aaron Allain             Jr.    OF     .342, 14 RBI                    St. Paul

Austin Davis            Sr.    OF     .320                               Hammond

Chris Miller              Jr.     OF    .325, 3 HR, 11 RBI           Northshore

Dane Stubbs           So.    OF    .326, 4 RBI                      St. Paul

David Fiegel            Sr.    OF    .314, 5 RBI                      Fontainebleau

Justin Crowell          Sr.    DH    .370, 11 RBI                    Ponchatoula

 

MVP- Logan Peterson  Sr.  6-0,2.44 ERA,34 K,.289,9 RBI   Fontainebleau

Coach of the Year-     Brian Babin                                    Fontainebleau

Senior OF Joe Green made 1st Team All-7-5A in his 1st year

Wednesday, June 2
BANQUET PHOTOS AVAILABLE ONLINE

Wendy LeSaicherre has posted a gallery of photos from the season-ending PHS baseball banquet at www.wendylesaicherrephotography.com.

Go to the menu, then “online ordering”, then “sports”, then type in your email address and the password “phs2010″.

Wendy will keep the banquet gallery up until June 10.

Images taken of players with a family or dates will be a 5×7 which will be given to players in about a week courtesy of the Grand Slam Boosters Club.  Any prints
from these shots must be ordered in the next 10 days.  You can also call 386-3077.

Wednesday, June 2
2010 GREEN WAVE HONORED AT BANQUET

The 2010 Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball team was honored at the season-ending banquet held recently at Southeastern’s Twelve Oaks Cafeteria.

Head Coach Mark Gosnell recognized seven seniors for their four-year contribution of 67 wins, one of the best marks of a Wave senior class during the past decade.  The seniors posted a pair of winning 8-6 district records in 7-5A over the past three years and helped Ponchy to its first-ever trip to the 5A state quarterfinals in 2008.

Seniors recognized were Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon, Justin Crowell, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft, Trey Marino and Joe Green.

Four seniors were honored with 5A Academic All-State plaques.  Settoon was named to the First Team 5A All-State and Composite teams (all classifications) with a 4.00 grade point average while Hills, Meyers and Kraft were named 5A All-State Honorable Mention with GPA’s between 3.00 and 3.50.

A total of 22 Ponchy players had a 3.0 or better GPA.

All-District 7-5A players from Ponchatoula were also honored with plaques.  Making First Team All-District were Hills (infield), Settoon (utility), Green (outfield) and sophomore Dylan Meyers (catcher).  Settoon and Hills were named to the All-District 7-5A team for the third year in a row.

Named to the Second Team were Marino (pitcher),  Crowell (designated hitter) and sophomore Ryan Byers (infield).  Randall  Meyers (outfield) was named Honorable Mention All-District.

Winning team awards were Hills (Most Valuable Player), Crowell and Green (Hitting Award), and Marino (Defensive Award).

Also recognized were juniors Brett Vampran, Hayden Hutches, Mark Traylor and Darrin Bach along with sophomores Brady Bass, Zach Traylor, Tyler Corbin, Taylor Denham, Zack Rock, Chris Foster, Jake Lipps, Jacob Mercante, Blake Falconello and Branden Lessard.

Freshmen recognized were Brennan Castello, Brice Hubert, Shane Narro, Quentin Landry, Landyn Ragan, Brady Raiford, Tyler Robinson and Will Thompson.

The 2010 Green Wave, which finished 17-17 overall, was coached by Gosnell, Jeremy Harper, Brian Gardiner, Allen Waddell, Dakota Simoneaux and Steve Pugh.

Wednesday, January 13
GREEN WAVE TO FACE BARBE

The Ponchatoula Green Wave varsity baseball team added a 36th game to its schedule Wednesday- a road trip to play perennial 5A powerhouse Barbe in Lake Charles.

As soon as the District 7-5A regular season schedule is completed April 29th against Hammond, the Greenies will travel to Lake Charles the next day for a 4 pm. matchup with Barbe, five-time state 5A champions during the past decade who were nipped in the state 5A semifinals last year by eventual state champion Northshore.

Two years ago Barbe won the state 5A championship, eliminating Ponchatoula in the quarterfinals.  The additional game will almost certainly help the 2010 Green Wave in the newly-installed Power Rankings system of determining state playoff teams and seedings as Barbe is normally ranked in the state’s Top 10 on a regular basis.

The addition of Barbe to the slate means the Green Wave this spring will play three of the top four 5A teams from a year ago- state semifinalist Barbe, state runnerup Dutchtown, and state champion Northshore (two games in District 7-5A).

Saturday, January 16
GREEN WAVE ADDS 11 NEWCOMERS TO 2010 ROSTER

The Ponchatoula Green Wave has completed January tryouts and selected 11 newcomers for its 2010 spring roster, including two seniors and nine freshmen.

Seniors added include pitcher-infielder Trey Marino, a transfer from St. Stanislaus (Ms.) and former All-District 9-2A player with St. Thomas Acquinas of Hammond, and outfielder Joe Green, standout running back for Ponchatoula who made the All-District 7-5A first team in football.

Freshmen selected to the roster include Brennan Castello, Grant Gainous, Brice Hubert, Quenton Landry, Shayne Narro, Brady Raiford, Landyn Ragan, Tyler Robinson and Will Thompson.

The Green Wave began practicing with its full roster last week and will resume at 2 pm. Monday at Athletic Park.

The Greenies open the 2010 slate with a pair of scrimmages against Brother Martin Feb. 13 (home) and Franklinton Feb. 17 (away).

PONCHATOULA FINISHES WITH WINNING SEASON

The Green Wave finished 2007 with an overall 16-15 record in one of the toughest baseball districts in the state (7-5A) and against one of the toughest non-district schedules around.  This included wins over Comeaux, Walker and state power Archbishop Rummel.

Ponchatoula also advanced to the finals of the Parkview Baptist tournament before bowing out to eventual 4-A state champion Zachary.

The 2008 schedule is even more ambitious with games against Acadiana, 5-A state champion Jesuit and Walker.  In addition, the Green Wave will play Comeaux and Rummel at Southeastern’s Alumni Field.

 

DISTRICT 7-AAAAA

Covington, Hammond, Northshore, Slidell, Fontainbleau, Mandeville, PONCHATOULA, St. Paul’s

 

2007 ALL-DISTRICT HONORS:

Tyler Nelson, Torin Lucas, Nykellan Isaac, Logan Davis

Honorable Mention:  Laramie Pittman, Dylan Hills, Regis Stephens, Phillip Kraft

Wednesday, May 28
LEGION TEAM SQUASHES OAK FOREST, 17-4

	Dylan Posey had a two-run double and 3 RBI vs. Oak Forest

Dylan Hills struck out seven batters in three innings on the mound while his Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors teammates laced 12 hits to rip Oak Forest, 17-4, in the American Legion opener for both clubs Saturday in the Hammond tournament.

Hills allowed only three hits in his first mound start in nearly a year.  He also walked three and hit one batter.

Jake Ruiz picked up the save, allowing only one earned run in two innings of work while striking out two, allowing two hits and walking two batters.

Pevey took a 1-0 lead in the first when Elisha Settoon singled, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on Laramie Pittman’s single, and scored on an RBI ground out by Dylan Posey.

Pevey made it 2-0 in the second when Reeve Kirkland walked, stole second, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a passed ball.

Oak Forest tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run double in the second, but Jeremy Trouillet put Pevey up for good in the third when he tripled and scored on a wild throw home from center on Hills’ fly ball.

Pevey made it 4-2 in the third when Pittman walked and scored on a grounder by Justin Crowell.  Run-scoring singles by Kirkland and Dylan Meyers made it 6-2 after four.

Pevey put up another run in the fifth when Hills tripled and scored on a first base error.

The Realtors then erupted for 10 runs in the fifth inning.  Cody Gueldner walked and moved to second on a single by Randall Meyers.  Kirkland sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Dylan Meyers walked to load the bases. Kaleb Kraft singled Gueldner home, and Randall Meyers scored on an error by the left fielder.

Ethan Murray then lifted an RBI sacrifice fly before a pair of errors, back-to-back singles by Settoon and Pittman, a two-run double by Posey, and a two-run homer by Gueldner accounted for the rest of the scoring.

Settoon and Pittman led Pevey at the plate with two hits apiece.  Hills, Posey, Gueldner, Kirkland, Kraft, Trouillet, Randall Meyers and Dylan Meyers all had one hit.

Wednesday, May 28
PEVEY FALLS TO SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI

A walkoff single in the bottom of the sixth handed Pevey Realtors its first loss of the American Legion season, 9-8, at the hands of the McComb-based Southwest Mississippi Stars Saturday in the Hammond tournament.

Pevey held a 3-0 lead for three innings behind starter Elisha Settoon, who allowed only one hit through the first three frames.

The Ponchatoula-based Realtors scored their first run in the top of the second when Ethan Murray walked, moved to second on a walk to Cody Gueldner, and advanced to third on a single by Dylan Meyers.  Murray then scored on an RBI ground out by Kaleb Kraft for the game’s first run.

Pevey added two more in the third.  With one out Dylan Hills singled, and Settoon was hit by a pitch.  A walk to Justin Crowell, a wild pitch and Dylan Posey’s RBI ground out made it 3-0.

But Southwest Mississippi touched Settoon for four runs in the fourth, two of them earned.  A one-out double, an RBI single, a walk, an error and a single made it 3-2 before a two-out, two-run single gave Southwest the lead for the first time at 4-3.

Ethan Murray relieved Settoon on the mound in the fifth and allowed four runs on three singles, two walks, a hit batsman and an error.

But Pevey staged a five-run rally in the sixth to tie the game at 8-all.  Randall Meyers led off the inning with a double off the left-centerfield fence before Murray walked and Reeve Kirkland delivered a two-run double.

Dylan Meyers then drove home another run with a sacrifice fly before Kraft’s RBI grounder made the score 8-6.  Back-to-back singles by Jake Ruiz and Joey Lamarca cut the lead to 8-7 before Hills grounded into a shortstop error to tie the score and send the game to the last of the sixth.

Ruiz relieved Murray on the hill in the sixth.  A walk and three singles provided the winning score for Southwest Mississippi as the time limit expired.

Hills, Settoon, Randall Meyers, Kirkland, Dylan Meyers, Ruiz and Lamarca all had one hit for Ponchatoula.

In four innings of work on the mound, Settoon gave up two earned runs and five hits while striking out two and walking two.

Wednesday, May 28
LIVINGSTON POWERS SLIDELL PAST PEVEY

Chad Livingston blasted a pair of towering two-run homers, and his Slidell-based American Legion club withstood a late rally by Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors to win, 10-6, Monday in the Hammond tournament finale.

Livingston paced a 10-hit Slidell attack that coasted to an 8-0 lead before Pevey mounted a comeback in the final two innings.

Pevey couldn’t manage a hit or a baserunner through the first three innings, but the Realtors cut into the Slidell lead with three runs in the fourth.

Dylan Hills led off with a double, and back-to-back walks to Elisha Settoon and Randall Meyers loaded the bases.  Dylan Posey then drove in the first Pevey run with a ground out to shortstop, and with two out, Dylan Meyers smashed a two-run double in the right-centerfield gap to cut the deficit to 8-3.

Slidell added two more runs on Livingston’s second homer in the fifth before a Pevey rally came up just short in the last at-bat.

Reeve Kirkland led off with a single, and walks to Ethan Murray and Justin Crowell loaded the bases.  Hills drove Kirkland home on a double play ball to the shortstop, but the second baseman threw wild to first on the turn, allowing Murray to score.

A single by Settoon and an RBI single by Randall Meyers plated Hills to make the score 10-6 before Posey’s deep fly ball was caught to end the game as the time limit expired.

Starter Posey hurled three and and one-third innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking two.

Kirkland pitched one and one-third of an inning in relief, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk while striking out two batters.

Hills, Settoon, Randall Meyers, Dylan Meyers and Kirkland had the only hits for Pevey.

Saturday, May 31
PEVEY HOLDS OFF LORANGER, 4-3

	Randall Meyers led Pevey with 2 hits and 2 RBI vs. Loranger

Dylan Hills fired a three-hit shutout for five innings, and reliever Elisha Settoon struck out the final batter with the tying run on third as the Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors legion team defeated the Loranger-based Piggly Wiggly club, 4-3, in the district 7-5A opener for both teams.

Hills struck out three and walked three in his five innings of work as Pevey jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead and coasted from there until a seventh-inning Loranger rally.

Pevey broke the ice in the last of the fourth when Settoon walked, Laramie Pittman singled, and Dylan Posey smacked a two-run double for a 2-0 lead.

Dylan Meyers then reached on an error by the first baseman before Randall Meyers drilled a two-run single for a 4-0 cushion.

Hills then put a stranglehold on Loranger, stranding six runners, through the fifth.

Settoon relieved in the sixth and continue the shutout for one more inning, but Loranger rallied in the top of the seventh.

A pair of singles and four Pevey errors cut the lead to 4-3.  But with runners on second and third and two out, Settoon struck out the final batter on a 3-2 pitch to preserve the win.

Settoon allowed no earned runs and three hits while striking out one and walking none to pick up the save.

Pittman and Randall Meyers led Pevey at the plate with two hits each.  Hills, Posey, Justin Crowell and Reeve Kirkland all had one hit apiece.

Pevey hosts St. Paul in another district clash at 6 pm. Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Thursday, June 5
ST. PAUL’S BLITZES PEVEY IN LEGION ACTION

	Catcher Kaleb Kraft swatted a 3-run homer vs. Peake BMW

Peake BMW (St. Paul’s) staged a six-run, sixth-inning rally to break open a close game and whip Pevey Realtors, 11-5, in American Legion District 6 action Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The loss evened Pevey’s district record at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s game at Hammond.

Patrick Huval’s three-run homer keyed the sixth-inning rally for Peake BMW, blowing open a tight 5-3 game.  Peake lined out 13 hits in the game to eight for Pevey Realtors.

With Peake hurler Jared Robicheaux and Pevey starter Elisha Settoon locked in a scoreless duel through the first two innings, Peake BMW drew first blood with single runs in both the third and fourth innings.

But catcher Kaleb Kraft put Pevey ahead 3-2 in the last of the fourth when he followed a single by Justin Crowell and a walk to Joey Lamarca with a three-run homer over the left-field fence.

But the visitors regained the lead at 5-3 in the top of the fifth on a solo homer by Christian Spansel, an infield error, a triple and a throwing error.

Peake then blew the game open in the sixth.  A walk, two errors and four hits, including Huval’s blast, made it a commanding 11-3.

Pevey added two more runs in the final frame.  Ryan Daniels doubled before Randall Meyers doubled him home.  Meyers then scored when Laramie Pittman grounded into a shortstop error.

Dakota Simoneaux came on to relieve Settoon in the seventh and held Peake scoreless.

Crowell led Pevey at the plate with a pair of singles.  Meyers, Settoon, Pittman, Posey, Kraft and Daniels all had one hit.

Thursday, June 5
PEVEY SLIPS BY HAMMOND, 11-10

Randall Meyers singled home the go-ahead run in the top of seventh and struck out the Hammond side in the bottom of the frame to give Pevey a come-from-behind, 11-10 victory over the Tornadoes Wednesday in American Legion action at Hammond.

The win pushed Pevey to 2-1 in Sixth District East, West Division play and a 3-3 mark overall.

Meyers’ two-run single in the seventh provided the difference, and his four-inning, nine strikeout pitching performance in relief totally stymied Hammond.

The Tors bolted to a 5-0 in the bottom of the second on three Pevey errors and Trevor Ragan’s two-run single.

But Pevey answered with six runs in the top of the third to take the lead.  Jake Ruiz reached on an infield error before Joey Lamarca doubled him to third.  Meyers then ripped a two-run triple to centerfield that  scored both Ruiz and Lamarca.

Elisha Settoon’s grounder to shortstop brought Meyers home before a single by Laramie Pittman and Justin Crowell’s muffed grounder plated Settoon.  Pittman scored when Dylan Meyers’ grounder was booted by the first baseman, and pinch-runner Ryan Daniels scored on a sacrifice fly by Reeve Kirkland to boost Pevey into a 6-5 lead.

But the see-saw battle continued in the last of the third.  A walk, a bunt, three Pevey errors and back-to-back doubles made it 9-6, Hammond.

Pevey chopped the Tornado lead to one in the top of the fourth.  Lamarca singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Settoon’s liner that got through the shortstop.  Settoon then moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Crowell’s single to make the score, 9-8.

The Tornadoes notched another run in the last of the fourth, but Meyers relieved starter Jake Ruiz on the hill and struck out three straight batters with the bases loaded to get out of a huge jam.  With Meyers giving up only one hit and walking two, Hammond would not score for the rest of the night.

Meanwhile, Pevey chipped away at the lead.  Pittman tripled in the top of the sixth and scored on Crowell’s single to chop the deficit to 10-9. And in the top of the seventh, Pevey went ahead for good.

Reeve Kirkland was hit by a pitch before Daniels laid down a bunt single.  Lamarca then sacrificed the runners to second and third before Meyers slapped a two-run single past a drawn-in infield for the game-winner.

Meyers struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Meyers also led Pevey at the plate with three hits.  Pittman, Crowell and Lamarca had two apiece while Settoon, Kirkland, Daniels and Kaleb Kraft all had one.

Saturday, June 7
PEVEY TRIMS LAFAYETTE, 6-5

Justin Crowell’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh propelled Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors to a 6-5 victory over Lafayette High in opening game action of the Denham Springs Wood Bat tournament at North Park Friday.

The win gave Ponchatoula’s American Legion squad a 4-3 overall record on the season.

Crowell’s winning hit came on the heels of a three-run rally by Lafayette in the top of the seventh to tie the score at 5-all.

Pevey starting pitcher Dylan Posey held Lafayette at bay through the first six innings, allowing only two runs on three hits while striking out five, walking three and hitting three batters.

But Posey ran into trouble in the last of the seventh when Lafayette staged a three-run rally.  A walk, fielder’s choice, single and a wild pitch plated the first run before another walk and an outfield error scored two more to tie the game at 5-apiece.

One walk later, Posey turned the pitching duties over to reliever Elisha Settoon.  Inheriting a 2-0 count with two men out, Settoon walked the first batter on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases before getting the final batter on an infield popup to send the game to the last of the seventh tied at 5-5.

Randall Meyers led off the last of the seventh with a walk before Settoon’s hard liner off the pitcher’s leg moved Meyers to second.  Laramie Pittman singled Meyers to third before Crowell drove him home with the game-winner, a drive to left-center over the drawn-in outfield.

Lafayette took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second before Pevey scored its first run in the bottom half.  Reeve Kirkland reached on an infield error and scored when Joey Lamarca’s ground ball was thrown wild to first.

Pevey knotted the score in the second when Pittman tripled and scored on a wild throw by the catcher.

Pevey took a 5-2 lead in the fifth when Kaleb Kraft doubled to left, Ethan Murray reached on a misplayed bunt, back-to-back RBI singles by Meyers and Pittman, and Crowell’s RBI ground out.

Pittman led Pevey at the plate with three hits while Crowell had two and Meyers, Kirkland and Kraft all had one.

Saturday, June 7
PEVEY AND LA. ALL-STARS BATTLE TO 7-7 TIE

Pevey Realtors overcame a 7-0 deficit to tie the Baton Rouge-based Louisiana All-Star Indians, 7-7, before the time limit expired in Pevey’s final appearance at the Denham Springs Wood Bat tourney Saturday at North Park.

The win gave Pevey a 1-1-1 mark for the tournament and a 4-4-1 record overall.

The All-Stars touched Pevey starter Randall Meyers for five runs in the first two innings on seven hits, one error and one walk.

The All-Star club, made up of players from a number of high schools such as Barbe, Denham Springs, Central, University High and Riverside, added two more runs in the third off of reliever Jake Ruiz.  A single, two infield errors, a walk and a hit batsman made the score 7-0.

But Pevey staged a huge five-run rally in the fourth to get back in the game.  Elisha Settoon led off with a single before Justin Crowell walked and Dylan Posey singled to load the bases.

Five straight walks by All-Star pitchers cut the deficit to 7-5 before Pevey tied the game at 7-all in the sixth.

Walks to Dylan Meyers and Reeve Kirkland placed runners on first and second before Cody Gueldner was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  With two out, Dakota Simoneaux’s dribbler back to the mound was thrown wildly to first, scoring two runs to knot the game.

Neither team could score in the seventh, and the game was halted due to the tourney’s time limit.

Ruiz kept the All-Stars off balance after the second inning.  He allowed no earned runs and four hits in five innings of work while striking out one, walking one and hitting a batter.

Pevey scored its seven runs despite managing only three hits for the game.  Posey led Pevey with two hits while Settoon had the other hit.

Saturday, June 7
PEVEY FALLS TO DENHAM SPRINGS IN WOOD BAT TOURNEY

The Denham Springs-based Sport-n-Center American Legion club jumped on Pevey Realtors with five runs in the first inning and coasted to a 9-2 win Saturday morning in the Denham Springs Wood Bat tourney.

The loss dropped Pevey to 1-1 in the tourney before their final appearance against the Louisiana All-Star Indians at mid-day Saturday.

Three walks, a three-run double and a hit batsman chased Pevey starter Dakota Simoneaux in the top of the first. Sport-n-Center then greeted reliever Reeve Kirkland with a pair of RBI singles.

Kirkland would allow only two more runs over the next two innings on four hits, but Pevey couldn’t get on the scoreboard until the last of the third.

Ryan Daniels reached on a fielder’s choice before singles by Ethan Murray and Randall Meyers loaded the bases.  Elisha Settoon then drove Daniels home with an RBI single before Murray scored on a passed ball.

Sport-n-Center scored two more runs in the last of the fourth to end the game on the seven-run, four-inning mercy rule.

Settoon, Meyers and Murray had the only hits for Pevey Realtors.

Reeve Kirkland had 2 RBI and pitched 4 innings vs. Fontainebleau

Tuesday, June 10
FONTAINEBLEAU TOPS PEVEY REALTORS, 11-8

Fontainebleau-based Hood Chevrolet rapped out eight hits and took advantage of nine errors to beat Pevey Realtors, 11-8, Monday in a non-district American Legion clash at Mandeville.

The loss dropped Pevey to 4-5 overall on the season.  The Realtors face Covington today in a 6 pm. district clash at Athletic Park.

Scott Malaschak had three hits and Logan Peterson drove in three runs to lead the Hood attack.

Hood took an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first on three Pevey errors.

Pevey tied it in the second when Reeve Kirkland reached on an infield error, Joey Lamarca singled, Jeremy Trouillet poked an infield grounder that was thrown wild to the plate, Ethan Murray smacked an RBI ground out, and Dylan Hills ripped an RBI double.

After Hood added a run in the last of the third, Pevey tied it at 4-4 lead in the fourth when Dylan Meyers doubled and Kirkland’s bunt was thrown into right field, scoring pinch-runner Ryan Daniels.

But Hood Chevrolet countered with six runs in the decisive fifth, aided by Malaschak’s RBI double, a two-run double by Peterson, and three Pevey errors.

Pevey closed the gap to 10-8 in the top of the fifth.  Hills walked and moved to second on a single by Elisha Settoon.  Randall Meyers walked, and Justin Crowell was hit by a pitch to bring home Hills.  Dylan Meyers then walked to plate Settoon before Kirkland lined a two-run single.

Hood Chevrolet added another run in the sixth on a double by Addison Melancon, a stolen base, and a passed ball.

Starter Reeve Kirkland pitched three-and-a-half innings for Pevey, allowing only three earned runs on four hits while fanning one, walking three and hitting a batter.  He was victimized by four Pevey errors.

Murray and Dakota Simoneaux also saw action on the mound for Pevey.

Hills had three hits to lead Pevey at the plate while Dylan Meyers had two hits.  Settoon, Kirkland, Lamarca and Randall Meyers all had one hit.

Tuesday, June 10
PEVEY WHIPS COVINGTON, 8-4

Justin Crowell hammered three hits, including a go-ahead solo homer in the fifth, and Elisha Settoon scattered eight hits in going the distance on the mound as Pevey Realtors stopped Covington Post 16, 8-4, in American Legion District 6 East action Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The win gave Pevey a 3-1 record in district action and a 5-5 mark overall.

Crowell slammed a double, triple and solo homer for 3 RBI’s in three at-bats to key Pevey’s 11-hit attack.

Meanwhile, Settoon went all seven innings on the hill to handcuff Covington, allowing only two earned runs while striking out six, hitting a batter and giving up only an intentional walk.

Covington jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the first when Brady King doubled, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeffrey Joiner.

Pevey tied the game in the bottom of the first when Randall Meyers reached second on an infield throwing error and scored on Crowell’s triple to centerfield.

The Realtors went up 2-1 in the second. Reeve Kirkland singled and advanced to second when the leftfielder let the ball get by him.  Ethan Murray’s fielder’s choice moved Kirkland to third, and a throwing error on the play tallied Pevey’s second run.

Post 16 went up 3-2 in the top of the third. King, Dexter Thompson and Joiner rapped consecutive singles for one run, and a throwing error on an attempted double play scored another.

Pevey responded with two runs in the last of the third.  Hills singled and moved to second when the catcher let a third strike get by him.  Meyers then plated Hills with a ground out before Crowell drove home pinch-runner Ryan Daniels with a double to right-center.

Post 16 tied the score again on a single and two errors in the fourth, but Pevey went ahead for good on Crowell’s solo shot to right in the bottom half of the inning.

Settoon shut out Covington the rest of the way, striking out the final two batters in the fifth with two runners in scoring position.

Pevey added three insurance runs in the last of the sixth.  Jeremy Trouillet singled, and Meyers and Crowell walked before Trouillet scored on a wild pitch.  Kaleb Kraft then slammed a two-run double to left to put the game away.

Kraft had a pair of doubles, and Kirkland and Trouillet had two singles apiece to go along with Crowell’s three safeties to lead Pevey at the plate.  Settoon and Hills also had hits for the winners.

Thursday, June 12
MANDEVILLE EDGES PEVEY, 3-2

Dylan Hills allowed just 5 hits and struck out 9 in six innings

Blake Butera’s two-out double in the bottom of the sixth plated the go-ahead run as Mandeville-based LLOG Exploration nipped Ponchatoula’s Pevey Realtors, 3-2, in American Legion District 6 East action Thursday at Mandeville.

Pevey dropped to 3-2 in district action and 5-6-1 overall.  Pevey is currently tied with LLOG for second place in district, one game behind Loranger.

The loss overshadowed a strong pitching performance by Dylan Hills, who went six innings on the mound, allowing only five hits and walking one while whiffing nine batters.

But Pevey failed to give Hills the necessary run support, leaving 10 runners on base and stranding seven in scoring position.

LLOG got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the first.  Kody Keowen and Butera rapped back-to-back singles before Andrew Thompson slapped a two-run double.

Pevey cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third.  With one out, Elisha Settoon blasted a double and scored when Justin Crowell slammed a double off of the right centerfield wall.

Pevey tied the game in the top of the fifth when Hills beat out an infield single, moved to second on a ground out by Crowell, and scored on Randall Meyers’ deep double to left center.

In the last of the fifth, Butera slapped his RBI double to provide the winning margin for LLOG.

Pevey rallied with two out in the seventh, but Keowen’s diving stab of Reeve Kirkland’s blooper to centerfield ended the game with runners on first and second.

Chris Brady went the distance for LLOG, allowing seven hits, fanning four and walking four.

Settoon and Crowell led Pevey at the plate with two hits apiece while Hills, Randall Meyers and Dylan Meyers had one hit apiece.

Pevey plays a doubleheader Saturday, facing Rummel at 11 am. and Fontainebleau at 5:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Sunday, June 15
PEVEY BASHES FONTAINEBLEAU, 11-1

Pevey Realtors blasted 13 hits, including a three-run homer by Laramie Pittman, and Jake Ruiz pitched a one-hitter as Pevey shelled Fontainebleau-based Hood Chevrolet, 11-1, in American Legion action Saturday at Athletic Park.

Pevey (6-6-1) rallied for four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to win the game by the 10-run mercy rule.

Ruiz allowed one run in the top of the first and shut out Hood Chevrolet the rest of the way.  He gave up one hit, an infield single by Rolston Bergeron, while walking two and striking out one in five innings of work.

Hood scored its only run in the top of the first when leadoff batter David Fiegel was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and then third on a wild pickoff attempt before scoring on a wild pitch.

Pevey took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the first.  Dylan Hills doubled off the wall before scoring on a double by Pittman.  Justin Crowell then doubled Pittman home, and Pevey had the lead for good.

The Realtors added a run in the third when Pittman, Crowell and Dylan Meyers laced back-to-back-to-back singles.

More fireworks followed in the fourth.  Darrin Bach led off with a single before Ethan Murray walked.  Ruiz bunted the runners to second and third, and Elisha Settoon drove Bach home on a ground ball to third base.  Pittman then powered a three-run blast over the left field fence for a commanding 7-1 lead.

Pevey put the icing on the cake in the fifth.  Reeve Kirkland singled, and Bach reached on an infield error.  Ruiz followed with a two-run single, and Hills singled home the third run of the inning.  Settoon then launched a walkoff, sacrifice fly to centerfield that plated pinch-runner Mark Traylor to end the game by the ten-run rule.

Pittman and Crowell both lined three hits to lead the Pevey plate assault.  Hills and Ruiz had two hits apiece while Meyers, Kirkland and Bach had one hit apiece.

Sunday, June 15
RUMMEL ROUTS PEVEY, 14-4

Carvin Johnson threw five shutout innings, and his Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration club smacked 12 hits to whip Pevey Realtors, 14-4, in American Legion action Saturday at Athletic Park.

The loss dropped Pevey to 6-7-1 on the season.  The Realtors face Loranger-based Piggly Wiggly in a key district clash at 6 pm. Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Through the first five innings Johnson allowed only three hits, singles by Elisha Settoon, Dylan Hills and Jeremy Trouillet, while his Nationwide teammates pounded out an 8-0 lead.

A leadoff homer by Matt Fury and an RBI single by Tyler Johns staked Nationwide to a 2-0 first inning lead.

A single, hit batsman, infield error and a sacrifice fly by Nate Fury made it 4-0 through the top of the second.

Back-to-back singles, a pair of errors, and an infield ground out plated two more in the third while Craig Murphy’s two-run double made it 8-0 after five.

Pevey made a game of it in the sixth, rallying to cut the lead to 8-4.  Elisha Settoon singled, moved to third on a double by Laramie Pittman, and scored on Justin Crowell’s RBI ground out.

Randall Meyers popped a run-scoring single before Dylan Meyers lined a two-run homer over the right field fence.

But Nationwide scored six more runs in the last of the sixth to put the game away by the ten-run mercy rule.  Four hits, three walks and one error led to Pevey’s undoing.

Settoon led Pevey at the plate with two hits while Hills, Pittman, Randall Meyers, Dylan Meyers and Jeremy Trouillet all had one hit.

Randall Meyers started and pitched four innings for Pevey while Dakota Simoneaux threw two innings and Darrin Bach one in relief.

Wednesday, June 18
PIGGLY-WIGGLY RALLIES TO TOP PEVEY

Taylor Abdalla ripped two home runs, the second a two-run blast in the seventh that provided the winning margin, as Loranger-based Piggly-Wiggly overcame Pevey Realtors, 6-4, in Sixth District East Western Division American Legion action Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The loss dropped Pevey to 3-3 in district, two games  behind leader Piggly-Wiggly (5-1).  Pevey handed Piggly-Wiggly its only loss, 4-3, earlier in the legion season.

Abdalla’s seventh-inning shot keyed a seven-hit, five-run burst by Piggly in the top of the seventh, wiping out a 4-1 deficit.

Pevey jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the last of the first when Elisha Settoon singled and Laramie Pittman doubled him home.

The lead expanded to 2-0 in the second.  Dylan Meyers walked, Reeve Kirkland sacrificed him to second, and Kaleb Kraft singled him to third with Meyers scoring on a muffed throw to the plate.

With Pevey starter Dylan Hills holding Piggly scoreless on only one hit through the first five innings, Pevey jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fifth.  Settoon doubled to right before Pittman crunched a two-run homer.

But Piggly Wiggly finally got to Hills in the seventh.  Kyle Bracey singled and was forced at second by Shea Edwards.  With two men out, Bryce Himel singled Edwards to third, and a botched relay cut Pevey’s lead to 4-2.

Himel went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Jacob Trapani.  Abdalla then mashed a two-run homer to right field to give Piggly-Wiggly the lead, 5-4.  After Tyler Kenderick singled, Hills was lifted for Settoon, who gave up an RBI double to Kyle Wheeler.

In the bottom of the seventh Abdalla replaced starter Steven Mercier on the mound and shut down Pevey without a run.

Mercier got the win with six innings of work, allowing three earned runs and seven hits while walking only one and striking out seven.

Hills pitched into the seventh inning, giving up five earned runs and seven hits while walking one and striking out two.

Pittman led Pevey at the plate with three hits while Settoon had two.  Kraft and Dylan Meyers had one apiece.

Thursday, June 19
PEVEY RIPS LEAGUE-LEADING PEAKE BMW

	Elisha Settoon 5-hit Peake and had 2 doubles w/3 RBI

Elisha Settoon fired a complete game four-hitter and keyed a five-run rally in the seventh inning with a go-ahead, RBI double as Pevey Realtors whipped league- leading Peake BMW (St. Paul’s), 9-4, Thursday in American Legion Sixth District East action at Covington.

Pevey’s record moved to 4-3 in district play and to 7-7-1 overall with the win.  The St. Paul’s-based Peake BMW, which beat Pevey 11-4 earlier this year, fell to 5-2 in league play with the loss.

Settoon pitched a one-hitter through five innings as Pevey entered the bottom of the sixth leading 4-1.  But Peake BMW rallied for three in the sixth to tie it at 4-4  before Pevey tallied five runs on five hits in the seventh to take command of the game.

After going scoreless the first two innings, Peake BMW took a brief 1-0 lead in the last of the third.  John Barnes singled, moved to second on a sacrifice fly and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Drew Francis.

Pevey responded with three runs in the top of the fifth.  Reeve Kirkland was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch.  With one out, Joey Lamarca singled to right field, moving Kirkland to third.

Ethan Murray delivered an RBI single to put Pevey on the board before Dylan Meyers walked and Settoon  smashed a two-run double to left to give Pevey the lead, 3-1.

Pevey added a single run in the sixth when Kirkland walked, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild throw to third.

But Peake rallied for three runs in the last of the sixth.  With one out Patrick Huval crashed a solo homer before Eric Guidry’s double, an infield error, and Harry Clay’s two-run double tied it at 4-4.

But Pevey pounded out five hits to score five runs in the top of the seventh.  Murray led off with a walk, and Dylan Meyers sacrificed him to second.  With one out Settoon blasted a run-scoring double deep down the left field line to put  Pevey up for good, 5 -4.

Laramie Pittman, Dylan Posey and Randall Meyers then hammered consecutive singles for an 8-4 lead before Kaleb Kraft singled home Meyers to round out the scoring.

One Peake batter reached on an infield error in the seventh, but Settoon retired the other three batters to seal the victory.  In his second straight complete game district win, Settoon allowed only two earned runs and five hits while striking out two, walking one and hitting two batters.  He was supported by excellent Pevey defense, especially the outfield play, throughout the contest.

Settoon, who had three RBI’s, and Posey had two hits each to lead the 9-hit Pevey attack.  Pittman, Randall Meyers, Kraft, Lamarca and Murray all had one hit.

Ethan Murray had an RBI single and scored 2 runs for Pevey vs. Peake BMW

Wednesday, June 25
PEVEY SLAPS TEAM HAMMOND, 9-0

Elisha Settoon shut out Hammond on two hits, and Laramie Pittman drove in four runs with four hits as Pevey Realtors whitewashed Hammond, 9-0, Tuesday in American Legion District 6 East Western Division action at Athletic Park.

Pevey (9-9-1 overall) moved its district record to 5-3 with the win.  Prior to game time, Pevey was two games out of first place in league play.

Settoon (4-1) gave up only singles to Derrick Rose and Chris Moran and a total of four baserunners in his six complete innings on the hill.  He struck out three and walked one.

Pevey got on the board in the bottom of the first when Dylan Meyers led off with a double down the left field line and scored when Settoon’s infield grounder was thrown wild to first.  Pittman singled Settoon to third before Dylan Posey brought home the game’s second run with a ground out to shortstop.  Kaleb Kraft then drove home Pittman with a sacrifice fly to centerfield for a 3-0 lead.

Pevey added four more in the second.  Ethan Murray led off with a single before Dylan Meyers walked and Settoon reached on an infield single.  Murray then scored on a passed ball before Pittman walloped a two-run triple to deep center.  Posey drove home Pittman with an RBI ground out to round out the scoring.

Pittman accounted for a single run in the fourth when he singled, moved to second on a passed ball, reached third when Randall Meyers’ fly ball to right was dropped, and scored on a passed ball.

Pevey scored its final run in the fifth when Dylan Meyers doubled and Pittman singled him home for the final 9-0 tally.

Pittman picked up the save by coming on to close out the game on the mound in the seventh.

Pittman led the Pevey hitting attack with a perfect 4-4 performance, including four RBI’s.  Dylan Meyers had a pair of doubles while Murray, Settoon and Justin Crowell all had one hit.

Catcher Dylan Meyers had a pair of doubles against Hammond

Justin Crowell had a 3-run homer and 4 RBI vs. Post 16

Thursday, July 3
PEVEY TRIPPED UP BY COVINGTON, 10-9

Covington Post 16 took advantage of five walks issued by Pevey Realtor pitchers in the last of the sixth to rally for a 10-9 victory in American Legion Sixth District East western division action Tuesday at Covington.

The loss dropped Pevey to 5-4 in league play with Tuesday’s regular season finale at Athletic Park against Mandeville’s LLOG Exploration looming large in the district’s playoff picture.  LLOG nipped Pevey, 3-2, earlier this year.

Against Post 16, Pevey entered the bottom of the sixth with a 9-7 lead.  Laramie Pittman, who relieved Elisha Settoon on the mound in the fourth, walked the first Covington batter before giving way to closer Dylan Hills.

Hills walked two straight batters to load the bases before a fielder’s choice ground out scored a run to make it 9-8.  Hills then intentionally walked Jeffrey Joiner, who torched Pevey earlier with a three-run triple, to load the bases before walking in the tying run.  A sacrifice fly by Cory Ricks then gave Post 16 the lead with what proved to be the winning run.

Pevey went down in order in the seventh to end the game.

It wasn’t the first time that Pevey blew a lead in the game as the Realtors squandered a five-run cushion earlier.

Settoon held Post 16 scoreless through the first two innings, dodging Covington scoring threats both times.

With the score 0-0, Brady King led off the bottom of the first with a double.  After Settoon struck out the next batter, he fielded Ricks’ comebacker to the mound and caught King trying to advance to third.  Settoon then picked Ricks off first to end the inning.

Pevey struck in the top of the second when Randall Meyers walked and scored on a triple by Hills, who later scored on Kaleb Kraft’s RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second Covington threatened.  After a pair of singles and a passed ball, Ricks’ grounder to shortstop caught Joiner off third.  After a walk loaded the bases, Settoon fielded a grounder back to the box and forced the lead runner at the plate before Kraft, the catcher, fired to first for the double play to end the inning.

Pevey made it 5-0 in the third.  Dylan Meyers singled, and Settoon walked before Justin Crowell crushed a three-run homer over the right field wall.

Post 16 finally got on the board with a single run in the third. King was hit by a pitch, and Dexter Thompson and Ricks rapped back-to-back singles with King scoring on a dropped relay throw.

Pevey responded with a run in the fourth.  Reeve Kirkland walked, and Dylan Meyers was hit by a pitch.  Crowell then picked up his fourth RBI, singling Kirkland home for a 6-1 lead.

But Post 16 finally got to Settoon for a big rally in the fourth.  A pair of infield errors, two walks, a hit batsman, and two singles made it 6-4 with the bases loaded and two outs.  Pittman replaced Settoon on the mound and was greeted by Joiner’s bases-loaded triple to put the home team up 7-6.

Pevey regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a three-run rally.  Hills was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double down the left field line by Kraft.  Kirkland’s fly ball to centerfield was dropped, scoring two runs, before Settoon singled to center, scoring Kirkland for a 9-7 Pevey lead.

Post 16 then staged its sixth-inning comeback for the victory.

Crowell and Hills both had two hits to lead Pevey at the plate.  Settoon, Kraft, Randall Meyers and Dylan Meyers all had one hit apiece.

Pevey will host Holy Cross in a non-district game Monday at 5 pm. at Athletic Park before hosting LLOG in the big district game at 6 pm. Tuesday.

Elisha Settoon had three hits and picked up the mound win vs. LLOG

Thursday, August 7
PEVEY EDGES MANDEVILLE, FORCES PLAYOFF

	Dylan Hills threw two shutout innings in relief for the save

Dylan Meyers singled home Elisha Settoon with what proved to be the winning run in the last of the fourth as Pevey Realtors nipped Mandeville-based LLOG Exploration, 7-6, Tuesday in American Legion District 6 East action at Athletic Park.

The win forces a playoff Thursday between Pevey and LLOG at Mandeville for the third spot in District 6 East’s Western Division.  Loranger-based Piggly Wiggly and St. Paul’s-based Peake BMW hold down the first two spots.

Settoon (5-1) started and went five innings on the mound to pick up the win for Pevey while Dylan Hills came on in the final two innings to close the door on LLOG.

Both Pevey and LLOG blasted 13 hits in the slugfest.

Leadoff batter Blake Butera staked LLOG to a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer in the top of the first.  Joey Pajares then reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch before Lee Batchelder made it 2-0 with an RBI single.

Pevey tied it up in the last of the first when Hills led off with a single.  Consecutive singles by Settoon and Laramie Pittman loaded the bases for Justin Crowell who responded with a two-run single.

LLOG went up 5-2 in the top of the second.  Michael Symms singled, Blake Butera was hit by a pitch and Thomas Anderson singled to load the bases.  Pajares then lofted an RBI sacrifice fly before Ryan Lassus slapped a run-scoring single and Batchelder drove home Anderson with a fly ball that was muffed in the outfield.

Pevey again responded to tie the game in the bottom of the second.  Randall Meyers reached on an infield error and moved to third on a double by Reeve Kirkland.  Hills drove home Meyers with an RBI ground out.  Settoon then singled home Kirkland and scored on a double by Pittman to tie the game 5-5.

Settoon got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third without yielding a run, and Pevey took the lead in the last of the third.  Dylan Meyers singled, moved to second when Dylan Posey was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Randall Meyers.  Kaleb Kraft then drove home pinch-runner Jeremy Trouillet with the go-ahead run to make the score 6-5.

Settoon again escaped a bases-loaded jam untouched in the fourth while Pevey upped its lead to 7-5 in the last of the fourth.  Settoon led off with a single and moved to second on Pittman’s single.  With one out, Dylan Meyers singled Settoon home with what proved to be the winning run.

LLOG added a run in the fifth when Pajares doubled with two out and scored on a single by Lassus.

Hills relieved Settoon in the top of the sixth with Pevey leading 7-6 and proceeded to slam the door on LLOG, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk while fanning two in the final two innings.

Settoon picked up the win in going five innings, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits, three walks and one hit batsman while striking out two.

Settoon and Pittman both had three hits to lead Pevey hitters.  Hills and Dylan Meyers had two hits apiece while Crowell, Kirkland and Randall Meyers had one hit apiece.

Thursday, August 7
LLOG SINKS PEVEY IN PLAYOFF

	Dylan Meyers was one of four Pevey hitters with two hits vs. LLOG

Joey Pajares stranded 10 Pevey Realtors baserunners, including seven in scoring position, and his Mandeville-based LLOG Exploration teammates belted out 12 hits to eliminate Pevey from the American Legion 6th District East western division race Thursday at Mandeville.

LLOG Exploration will now advance to the 6th District East playoffs while Pevey’s legion season is over.

Pevey took a 1-0 first-inning lead when Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon and Laramie Pittman ripped back-to-back singles.

LLOG responded with two runs in the last of the first on run-scoring singles by Thomas Anderson and Lee Batchelder.

Pevey tied it in the third when Dylan Meyers doubled, moved to third on Randall Meyers single, and scored on a double steal.

But LLOG tallied two runs on three hits in the fourth, two runs on two hits in the fifth, and one run on three hits in the sixth to win going away.

Hills started on the mound for Pevey, threw 5 and 1/3 innings, and gave up six runs on eight hits.  He walked three, hit one batter, and struck out one.

Dylan Posey threw 1 and 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits and one hit batsman while striking out two.

Overall, Pajares scattered nine hits over seven innings while striking out three and walking only one.

Settoon, Pittman, Dylan Meyers and Randall Meyers had two hits apiece for Pevey while Hills had one safety.

Torin Lucas was a perfect 6-0 in 7-5A enroute to league MVP honors

Thursday, May 22
TORIN LUCAS NAMED MVP OF DISTRICT 7-5A

Torin Lucas, Ponchatoula’s stellar pitcher and catcher, capped off a brilliant prep career recently when he was named by league coaches as the Most Valuable Player in District 7-5A, widely regarded as the top district in Louisiana prep baseball.

Lucas, who led the Wave to the state 5A quarterfinals for the first time in school history, posted a perfect 6-0 record on the mound in district play and a 12-1 mark overall.  The senior Southeastern signee posted 49 strikeouts in district with a 1.69 earned run average.

As a catcher Lucas allowed only one stolen base all season while belting out a .352 league average at the plate, including four home runs and 14 RBI.

Lucas earlier was selected by coaches around the state to play in the prestigious Louisiana High School All-Star game May 24th in Alexandria.

The only other Green Wave teammate to make the 2008 All- 7-5A first team was senior designated hitter B.J. Welch, who hit .359.

Three Ponchatoula seniors were named to the second team, including centerfielder Laramie Pittman, catcher Seth Bratton and utility player Regis Stephens.

Named Honorable Mention on the All-District 7-5A team were second baseman Tyler Nelson, third baseman Elisha Settoon, outfielder Dylan Hills, first baseman Jacob Griffin and designated hitter Derek Gaudin.

Saturday, May 31
2008 GREEN WAVE HONORED AT ANNUAL BANQUET

The 2008 Ponchatoula Green Wave, the first team in school history to reach the state 5A quarterfinals, was honored recently at its annual banquet at the Fleur-de-lis in Ponchatoula.

The banquet featured comments from emcee and former Green Wave hurler Phillip Bankston and head coach Mark Gosnell.  Along with the awards presentation, a season highlight video and a special video tribute to 12 Green Wave seniors highlighted the evening.

Top individual award winners included senior pitcher-catcher Torin Lucas, named Outstanding Offensive Player and Outstanding Pitcher, and shortstop-pitcher Regis Stephens, who received the Coaches’ Award.

Catcher Seth Bratton and centerfielder Laramie Pittman received co-Outstanding Defensive Player awards.

Lucas was recognized for first team 5A All-State recognition as a pitcher and for being named the Most Valuable Player for District 7-5A.

Other Greenies receiving plaques for All District 7-5A recognition included first teamer B.J. Welch at designated hitter, second teamers Bratton (catcher), Pittman (centerfield), and Stephens (utility), and honorable mention winners Dylan Hills (outfield), Elisha Settoon (third base), Tyler Nelson (second base), Jacob Griffin (first base) and Derek Gaudin (designated hitter).

Nelson, Lucas, Griffin, Welch and Pittman were recognized for making Academic All State while Wesley Fletcher joined the senior group honored for top academic achievement during the season.

Saturday, May 31
LUCAS NAMED 5A ALL-STATE

Torin Lucas has been named to the first team 5A All-State team as a pitcher.  The 17-member team was selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Lucas, the MVP of District 7-5A, was the district’s lone representative to the squad.  He joined 5A state MVP Ryan Doiron of Barbe, Catholic’s D.J. Ponder and East Ascension’s Dane Amedee as the first-team pitchers.

Lucas went 12-1 on the mound for the Wave, including a perfect 6-0 mark in district.  He posted a 1.61 earned run average, striking out 107 batters in 95 innings pitched.  He also hit .365 with four home runs and 35 RBI.

Lucas, who has signed to play catcher with Southeastern, was also selected by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association to play in the state’s annual all-star game in late May.

The 2008 Wave was the first Ponchy team ever to reach the 5A quarterfinals

Tuesday, March 11
GREEN WAVE STUNS 5A STATE CHAMPION JESUIT!

Ponchatoula pitchers silenced defending 5A state champion Jesuit on four hits, and an airtight Green Wave defense snuffed out Blue Jay rallies with men in scoring position on five different occasions as Ponchy blanked Jesuit, 3-0, in a key non-district showdown Tuesday night at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave moved to 9-3 on the season with its shutout of the Blue Jays, the preseason top-ranked 5A team in the state with 12 returning seniors from their state title club and currently ranked 9th by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association.

Ponchatoula starter Rudy Townsend hurled four scoreless innings before giving way to strong relief work from Torin Lucas and Regis Stephens who completed the shutout.

From the outset, Townsend was locked in a fierce mound duel with Jesuit ace Jordan Rittiner, who went 15-0 for the state champs last year and was named the state’s top 5A pitcher.

Heading into the bottom of the second, Ponchy touched Rittiner to break a scoreless deadlock when B.J. Welch singled and moved to second on a walk to Stephens.  After a passed ball advanced Welch to third, Elisha Settoon drove Welch home with the game’s first run on a grounder to the shortstop.  It turned out to be the only run Ponchatoula would need on an evening that spotlighted great pitching and defense for both teams.

In the top of the third Jesuit leadoff hitter Cory Guidry walked and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Townsend struck out Manny Estrada for the third out of the inning.

With the Green Wave leaving a man stranded in its half of the third, Jesuit mounted its most serious threat of the game in the fourth inning.  Singles by Mason Katz and Joe Palmer and a walk to Steven Lukinovich loaded the bases with only one out.

But Townsend bore down to strike out both pinch-hitter Nick James and Chad Guidry on 3-2 counts to wipe out the threat and end the inning.

After Ponchy went down in order in the fourth, Jesuit threatened again in the fifth.  Lucas, who relieved Townsend on the hill, walked Evan Schiavi, who stole second with nobody out.  But Lucas got successive Blue Jay hitters to fly out to right field and pop up twice to escape the inning unscathed.

Ponchatoula threatened to score off of Rittiner in the fifth.  Jacob Griffin reached on an error by the shortstop, and pinch-runner Dylan Hills advanced to second on a wild pickoff throw by the catcher.  Pinch-hitter Matt Stock bunted Hills to third, but Tyler Nelson’s infield nubber to first base failed to score Hills, who was nailed at the plate on the catcher’s scooped throw and tag.

Lucas retired Jesuit in order in the top of the sixth, and in the bottom half of the inning Ponchatoula finally got to Rittiner for some insurance runs.

Lucas led off the inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Randall Meyers, who moved to second on a passed ball.  An infield single by B.J. Welch sent Meyers to third before Stephens lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Meyers for a 2-0 lead.  Settoon then singled pinch-runner Reeve Kirkland to second, and Griffin drove in Kirkland with the third and final run of the night on a single to right field.

Stephens went to the mound for Ponchatoula in the seventh and had to overcome one last Jesuit scoring threat.  Dustin Stricker led off with an infield single and moved to second on an infield error, the first and only Green Wave error of the night.

But with runners on first and second, Stephens struck out Schiavi, forced Guidry to ground out to second base, and fanned pinch-hitter Joe Morse on a 2-2 count to end the game.

Townsend got the win in four innings of work, giving up no runs on three hits while striking out five and walking only two.   Lucas allowed no runs and no hits in two innings of relief, striking out two and walking one.  Stephens picked up the save in his one inning on the hill, preserving the shutout and allowing one hit while striking out two.

Welch had two hits to lead the Green Wave at the plate.  Settoon, Griffin and Nelson had one hit each for Ponchatoula.

The Green Wave defense committed only one error the entire evening while the Blue Jays had three errors.

“Tonight was a good win for us,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Our pitching did another outstanding job making the right pitches when it counted.  All three of our guys (Townsend, Lucas, Stephens) pitched well against a very good team.”

“Overall our bats were a little slow tonight, and that is a credit to their pitcher,” Gosnell said. “But we got the hits we needed to win.  It was a great team win for us tonight.”

Ponchatoula is at home Friday at 4:30 pm. against 6-4A Live Oak (10-5), ranked this week as one of the top 18 4A schools in the state by the LBCA.  Ponchy opens tough 7-5A district play Saturday in Slidell against Northshore, one of the league’s preseason playoff favorites.

Tuesday night’s Ponchatoula-Jesuit battle will be televised at 2:30 pm. both Saturday and Sunday on Florida Parishes Television Channel 17.  Green Wave baseball games will be broadcast at the same times and days for the next nine weeks.

Friday, March 14
PONCHY JV DROWNS NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN

Dylan Hills broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run homer in the third inning to key a four-run rally and lead the Ponchatoula Green Wave JV to its third win of the season, a 10-5 pasting of Northlake Christian Thursday night at Athletic Park.

Hills had three hits in the game, half of his team’s total, while four Green Wave pitchers held Northlake to six hits.  NLC committed five errors to aid Ponchatoula’s scoring.

After the Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Ponchy rallied for two in the bottom half of the inning.

Hills led off the inning with an infield single and later scored on a single by Ethan Murray for the first run.  Murray eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.

After Northlake tied it with a run in the second, Ponchatoula regained the lead when Joey Lamarca walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Reeve Kirkland and scored on a pair of wild pitches.

NLC knotted the score at three in the third before the Greenies took the lead for good.  Jeremy Trouillet reached base on an error by the shortstop before Hills blasted his home run over the left centerfield wall.

The Wave scored two more runs in the third when Murray walked and both Dylan Posey and Jake Ruiz reached on infield errors.  A walk to Randall Meyers advanced the runners before Lamarca’s fly ball to left field was dropped and Kirkland’s grounder to third was booted to make it 7-3.

The PHS JV added insurance in the fifth on a single by Posey and a walk to Ruiz.  Both runners wound up scoring on wild pitches.

Hayden Hutches started on the mound for Ponchy and went one-and-a third innings before giving way to Dakota Simoneaux, who allowed one run in the third.  Meyers pitched the fourth and fifth innings, allowing one run and striking out a batter, while Kirkland pitched the final inning, giving up one run and striking out two.

Hills’ went three-for-three for the Wave while Posey had two hits and Murray one.

The Ponchy JV (3-1) returns to action at 4 pm. Tuesday against Covington at Athletic Park.

Friday, March 14
GREEN WAVE SLAMS WAY PAST LIVE OAK

Ponchatoula exploded for six runs in the fourth inning on two home runs, one a grand slam by Seth Bratton, while Wesley Fletcher hummed a complete game, six-hitter to send the Green Wave to an 8-3 win over the Live Oak Eagles Friday at Athletic Park.

The win gave the Green Wave a 10-3 record in pre-district action, including four wins over teams either ranked or receiving votes in the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association weekly Top Ten Poll.  Live Oak (10-6) entered the game having received votes in this week’s LABC Top Ten for the 4A classification.

Ponchatoula plays its first 7-5A district game on road Saturday morning in Slidell against Northshore, one of the preseason favorites to make the state playoffs.

Live Oak jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Seth Kuhlmann reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a single by Jacob Davis, and scored on a wild pitch.

Ponchatoula tied it in the bottom of the first when Laramie Pittman singled, advanced to second when Derrick Gaudin was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a single by Torin Lucas, and scored when Taylor Ort issued a walk to B.J. Welch.

The Eagles regained the lead in the top of the second when Josh Craft walked, moved to second on a single by Cody Roddy, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Adam LeBlanc, and scored on a dropped throw to home plate.

Live Oak took the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth when Ponchatoula rallied to break the game open.  Elisha Settoon led off the inning with a walk before walks to Regis Stephens and Jacob Griffin loaded the bases for Bratton, who greeted reliever Koley Little by smashing his second pitch off of the left field scoreboard for a grand slam.

One out later, Pittman powered a solo shot over the left centerfield wall for a 6-2 lead.  The Greenies scored their final run of the inning on a single by Gaudin, who moved up on a walk and a fielder’s choice before scoring on an RBI single by Stephens.

Ponchy added its final run in the fifth when Bratton was hit by a pitch, stole second, claimed third on a passed ball and scored on a balk.

Meanwhile, Fletcher (3-1) went all seven innings on the mound, allowing six hits and only one earned run.  He struck out seven, walked two and hit a batter.

Pittman and Stephens had two hits apiece to lead the Wave at the plate while Bratton, Lucas and Gaudin had the other hits.

“After a rocky start we battled offensively and defensively,” said Ponchy head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We were also able to get some guys on base and get the hits to drive them in.  Wesley did a great job of going the distance on the mound.”

Saturday, March 15
PONCHY OUTSLUGS NORTHSHORE IN 7-5A OPENER

Ponchatoula belted six home runs, including two each by Torin Lucas and Laramie Pittman, and the Green Wave staved off a seventh-inning Northshore rally to tame the Panthers, 16-15, Saturday in the District 7-5A opener for both teams in Slidell.

The Greenies overcame an early 5-0 deficit by exploding for 12 runs in the third-inning to move to 11-3 on the season.  Pittman smashed a grand slam and Lucas had a three-run blast as Ponchy hammered out 11 hits in the slugfest, which featured 24 hits and eight home runs.

Northshore took an early 5-0 lead with a second-inning rally.  Two singles and a sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third with two out.  A booted grounder allowed the first run to score before a hit batsman, a two-run single, a balk, single and outfield error rounded out the scoring in the inning.

But Ponchatoula responded with 12 runs in the top of the third.  Starter Steven Comeaux, who’d handcuffed the Greenies without a baserunner through the first two frames, hit Elisha Settoon with a pitch to lead off the third inning.  A walk to Jacob Griffin and a single by Seth Bratton loaded the bases before a walk to Tyler Nelson accounted for the first PHS run.

One out later, Derrick Gaudin ripped a two-run single before Lucas crushed a 3-2 pitch over the right centerfield fence for a 6-5 Ponchy lead.

But the Green Wave wasn’t finished in the third.  Comeaux walked Regis Stephens and gave up a double to B.J. Welch before being lifted for Cody Deckwa, who promptly hit Settoon with a pitch for the second time in the inning.  Deckwa walked Griffin, hit Bratton and walked Nelson before Pittman rocked a grand slam to left center to boost Ponchy’s lead to 12-5.  When the big inning was over, Northshore pitchers had walked four batters, hit three more and given up five hits, including two homers, in the frame.

Lucas, who started on the hill for the Wave, retired Northshore in order in the third, and upped the lead to 13-5 with his second homer of the game, a solo shot to centerfield, in the top of the fourth.

The Panthers got back in the game with four runs in the last half of the inning.  A leadoff homer by Andrew Cosse, a single by Taylor Campbell, a run-scoring double by Andrew Bates, and an outfield error made the score 13-9.

Ponchy scored two more in the fifth on a solo homer by Bratton and another solo shot by Pittman, his third homer in two days, to make the lead 15-9. Lucas retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth.

The Green Wave scored its final run in the top of the sixth on a solo homer by Griffin, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

Northshore cut the lead to 16-11 in their half on a two-run blast by Chad Fortenberry.  Stephens then relieved Lucas on the mound to get out of the inning by striking out Deckwa.

Reliever Bates held the Wave scoreless before the Panthers rallied to almost pull it out in the seventh.

With nobody out an infield error, back-to-back singles, and a pair of walks made it 16-13 before a throwing error allowed two more runs to score.  But on the wild throw leftfielder Gaudin gunned out a runner attempting to reach third for the first out.  Stephens then retired the three-hole and cleanup hitters in the lineup on ground balls with the tying run on second to end the wild affair.

“The most important thing is we got a win,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We finally found a way to get them out in the seventh. We swung the bats very well today. Anytime you hit six home runs you had a good day at the plate.”

“We are very excited to be 1-0 in district play,” Gosnell continued.  “It won’t get any easier.  Hopefully, we can keep it rolling.”

Lucas (4-1) picked up the win, going five and one-third innings on the mound and allowing six earned runs and 11 hits.  He struck out four, walked one, and hit a batter.   Stephens got the save in giving up one earned run, two hits and two walks while fanning one.

Lucas, Pittman and Bratton led Ponchatoula at the plate with two hits each.  Nelson, Gaudin, Stephens, Welch and Griffin all had one hit.  The six home runs now gives Ponchy 13 on the season.

Ponchatoula (1-0 in 7-5A) will host Covington, currently ranked in the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association top twenty, in a big district clash at 6:30 pm. Tuesday night at Athletic Park.  A 4 pm. JV clash will preceed the varsity game.

Monday, March 17
WAVE JV SINKS SKIPPERS

Dylan Posey hit a walkoff solo homer in the last of the sixth to push the Ponchatoula Green Wave junior varsity over Mandeville, 7-6, at Athletic Park Monday night.

The win gave the Greenie JV a 3-1 overall record and a 2-1 district mark.  The JV plays another district contest at home against Covington Tuesday.

Posey’s homer redeemed the Wave, which blew a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth with four walks, a hit batter and a single.

Dylan Hills gave Ponchy a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a leadoff home run to left center.

Mandeville scored a pair of runs in the second to regain the lead, 2-1, on a walk and a pair of infield errors.

But Hills again gave Ponchatoula the lead in the top of the third with a two-run double, driving home Ryan Daniels and Jeremy Trouillet.  When the outfield throw sailed into the dugout, Hills scored to give the Greenies a 4-2 lead.  Ethan Murray followed with a single and scored on three consecutive walks to Green Wave batters to make the score 5-2.

Mandeville countered with a run in the top of the fourth on a walk, a pair of fielder’s choices, and a wild pitch.

Ponchatoula made the score 6-3 in the last of the fourth when Mark Traylor reached on an infield error,  advanced to third on a pair of walks, and scored on a wild pitch.

Mandeville rallied to tie the score with three runs in the top of the sixth before Posey ended the game with a shot over the left field fence on the first pitch to him.

Simoneaux was the winning pitcher in relief while Posey started the game on the hill.

Hills led the Ponchy JV at the plate with two hits, including the leadoff homer, while Murray’s single and Posey’s HR were the only two other hits.

Tuesday, March 18
GREEN WAVE RIPS COVINGTON, 8-2

Ponchatoula pounded out 11 hits, including three hits and three key RBI’s from B.J. Welch, while Green Wave pitchers shut down Covington on six hits as the  Wave whipped the Lions, 8-2, in a district 7-5A encounter Tuesday night at Athletic Park.

The win moved Ponchy to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in district to sit atop the early 7-5A standings. The Green Wave travels to Mandeville Friday for another big league clash.

“We are very excited to be 2-0 in district,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We have to look forward to Friday now and prepare for another big game.”

In addition to the big outburst at the plate, Ponchatoula received solid pitching from starter Rudy Townsend and reliever Regis Stephens.  Townsend (2-0) gave up only three hits and one run to notch the win while Stephens again closed the door in three innings of relief with identical numbers- allowing three hits and only one run- to pick up the save.  The Ponchy hurlers combined to leave 11 Covington baserunners stranded on he evening.

The Lions (10-5 overall, 0-2 in district) jumped to an early 1-0 lead off of Townsend when leadoff hitter D.J. Thompson walked, moved to second when Colt Bruhl was hit by a pitch, and scored on a single by Hunter Anthony.  It would be Covington’s only lead of the game and its only run scored until the final frame.

The Green Wave knotted the score at one in the bottom of the second when Stephens singled, Welch reached on an infield error, and Jacob Griffin smacked a run-scoring single.

With Townsend settling down on the mound and allowing only two baserunners through the next three innings, Ponchatoula staged rallies in both the third and fourth frames to take the lead and tuck the game away.  Welch keyed both rallies with singles that knocked in three runs.

Laramie Pittman led off the third with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Welch for a 2-1 lead.

The Greenie bats continued popping in the fourth, salting the game away with a four-run rally.  Leadoff hitter Elisha Settoon was hit by a pitch, and pinchrunner Randall Meyers moved to second on a bunt single by Seth Bratton.  Pittman loaded the bases with his second single before Derrick Gaudin singled Meyers home for a 3-1 lead.

With two outs, Stephens worked starter Stevie Sharp for a bases-loaded walk before Welch singled in two more runs for a 6-1 lead.

With reliever Stephens retiring  Covington with two men on base in the fifth, Ponchatoula scored its final two runs in the last half of the inning.

Settoon led off, smashing a double down the left field line and moving to third on a passed ball before scoring on Pittman’s booted grounder to the shortstop. Pittman later scored on Gaudin’s second RBI single to round out the scoring.

Covington picked up a meaningless run in the seventh on an infield single by Brady King and an RBI double by Jeffrey Joiner.

Welch led the Green Wave assault at the plate with two singles and a double for three RBI’s.  Pittman and Gaudin both had two hits while Gaudin had two RBI’s.  Settoon, Stephens, Griffin and Bratton each had one hit.

“Rudy struggled a bit, but kept a good team to one run over four,” Gosnell said.  “He had 11 hits behind him tonight, and we seem to be seeing the ball well.”

Townsend struck out four, walked three and hit one batter in 4.1 innings of work.  Stephens walked two and struck out two in three innings of relief.

Sharp was the losing pitcher in 3.2 innings of work while Chuck Humphries and Chase Sharp saw innings of relief.

Tuesday, March 18
PONCHY JV USES BIG THIRD INNING TO DOWN COVINGTON

Ponchatoula slammed six of its total eight hits in a six-run, third-inning rally to stop Covington, 7-4, in a junior varsity clash Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave JV is now 4-1 on the season.

Facing a 4-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the third, the Green Wave responded with six runs in the inning to take the lead for good.

Dakota Simoneaux reached on a fielder’s choice before Mark Traylor singled.  Dylan Hills then drove home both runners with a single for a 2-1 lead.

After a walk to Randall Meyers, Justin Crowell stroked a two-run single to tie the game, and Dylan Posey followed with an RBI single for a 5-4 lead.  Jeremy Trouillet’s single then drove Posey home for a 6-4 cushion.

Ponchatoula added another run in the fifth when Meyers singled and scored on a double by Posey.

Meyers started on the mound for the Green Wave and
picked up the win, going five innings and allowing four runs on four hits while striking out seven, walking two and hitting three batters.

Simoneaux pitched a scoreless inning in relief, allowing two hits with one strikeout and a walk.

Posey led Ponchy at the plate with two hits while Hills, Meyers, Crowell, Trouillet and Traylor all had one hit.

The Wave JV travels to Mandeville Friday to take on the Skipper JV’s at 4 pm.

Friday, March 21
WAVE EDGES MANDEVILLE TO STAND ATOP DISTRICT

Regis Stephens broke a 2-2 tie with a sixth-inning leadoff home run, and as a seventh-inning reliever he closed the door on Mandeville with the tying run at the plate as Ponchatoula edged the Skippers, 4-2, Friday night.

The big win gives Ponchatoula (13-3 overall) sole possession of first place in district 7-5A with an unbeaten 3-0 record.  Mandeville (7-5), the defending 7-5A champion and preseason favorite to repeat this year, dropped to 1-2 in league play.

Stephens , trying to protect a two-run lead, came on in relief in the seventh for starter Torin Lucas.  With two out and a runner aboard, Stephens struck out Tulane signee Jamie Bruno to end the game.

The Green Wave drew first blood in the top of the first against Mandeville starter J.P. Catalanotto.  Laramie Pittman singled and moved to second on a walk to Derrick Gaudin.  A single by Lucas loaded the bases before Stephens was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run.  Then, with two out, Jacob Griffin was hit by a pitch to plate Gaudin and make the score 2-0.

The Skippers got on the board in the bottom of the first on a solo homer by Garrett Cannizarro.  But Lucas then struck out Bruno and Ross Hardy, a pair of Tulane signees, in succession to end the inning.

Mandeville tied the game in the fourth when Bruno led off with a single and moved to third on a double by James Winget.  John Wenzel drove home Bruno on a fielder’s choice grounder to tie up the game at 2-2.

Lucas then got out of the inning with two men out and the go-ahead run on third when centerfielder Pittman robbed Joey Pajares of a certain home run with a leaping grab over the centerfield wall.

The score stood 2-2 until the last of the fifth when Ponchy faced Mandeville’s most serious threat of the game.  Lucas escaped a huge jam unharmed when he struck out Hardy with two out and the bases loaded.

That set the stage for Stephens’ heroics in the sixth.  The senior shortstop sent the first pitch high over the left field fence for what proved to be the winning run.

The Greenies added an insurance run when B.J. Welch singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Griffin, advanced to third when Elisha Settoon’s grounder to third was thrown wild to first, and scored when Seth Bratton’s fly ball was dropped by the rightfielder.

Lucas pitched a masterful six innings in picking up the win on the mound, giving up two runs to the normally heavy-hitting Skippers on only four hits while striking out seven and walking only three.  He got out of jams three times with runners in scoring position, twice by striking out the final batter of the inning.

Stephens, Pittman, Lucas, Welch, Bratton and Tyler Nelson all had one hit for Ponchatoula.

“We played really well tonight,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Anytime you hold Mandeville to two runs, you’ve done your job on the mound.  Torin was outstanding tonight, and Regis came in and closed the door on them.”

The Green Wave travels to play 5A Comeaux of Lafayette in a non-district game Saturday and returns home Tuesday for another 7-5A showdown with Slidell.

At game time Friday Ponchatoula was ranked by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association in its top 18 5A teams and ranked number three in state 5A power rankings by Ken Ramsey.

Saturday, March 22
JV FALLS TO MANDEVILLE

Mandeville used a big five-run fifth inning to break open a tight game and defeat the Ponchatoula Junior Varsity, 10-3, Friday at Mandeville.

The two teams were locked in a 1-1 tie after four innings, but with two out in the fifth the Skipper JV’s staged their big rally.

The Wave JV scored its first run in the fourth when Randall Meyers reached on an error by the shortstop and scored when Reeve Kirkland grounded into a shortstop error.

The Wave added two more in the seventh when Meyers singled, Cody Gueldner and Kaleb Kraft walked, and Ryan Daniels hit a two-run single.

Dakota Simoneaux started on the mound for the Green Wave JV while Mark Traylor relieved.

Saturday, March 22
WAVE FALLS FLAT AGAINST COMEAUX

Less than 20 hours after its biggest win of the season, Ponchatoula’s out-of-district trek to Lafayette fell flat as the Green Wave lost to Comeaux, 11-1, Saturday afternoon.

The Wave appeared to be emotionally drained after gaining sole possession of first place in district 7-5A  Friday night with a heart-thumping 4-2 win over the Skippers.

Facing a 5A Comeaux club it had already beaten 3-1 in the season opener, Ponchy batters could muster only three singles and no runs over the first four innings behind starter Wesley Fletcher, who left the mound after three innings with the score 0-0.

After Fletcher, Ponchy elected to go with young pitchers the rest of the way in the non-district fray, and that’s when Comeaux blew the lid off at the plate.

Comeaux greeted fourth-inning reliever Elisha Settoon with five hits, the big one a three-run homer by Blair Boutee, and capitalized on an infield error which allowed two runs to score in quickly building a 5-0 lead.

Ponchy’s Tyler Nelson made it 5-1 with a solo homer in the fifth, but Comeaux rallied for three runs off of reliever Dylan Posey and three more off of Reeve Kirkland to end the game by the ten-run rule.  Four hits, two walks, a hit batsman and an infield error accounted for all of the runs.

Along with Nelson, Ponchatoula also had hits from Derrick Gaudin, Torin Lucas, Jacob Griffin and Seth Bratton.

The Green Wave returns to district 7-5A action at 6:30 pm. Tuesday at Athletic Park against 2007 state semifinalist Slidell.

Tuesday, March 25
SLIDELL BATS SLAM WAVE

Slidell machine-gunned 18 hits, including three home runs, and exploded for nine runs in the second inning to slam Ponchatoula, 19-0, in a district 7-5A clash at Athletic Park Tuesday.

The loss dropped the Green Wave (13-5 overall) into a first-place tie with Slidell (8-5-1 overall) in district 7-5A with both teams now sporting a 3-1 league mark.

Chad Livingston went four-for-four for the Tigers, including a fourth-inning homer, to lead Slidell’s assault at the plate.  He sparked a first-inning rally with a single and later scored on a two-run double by Sean Nelson for an early 2-0 lead.

The Tigers, which made it all the way to the state 5A semifinals last season, unleashed a six-hit barrage against starter Rudy Townsend and reliever Wesley Fletcher in the second inning, capitalizing on four walks and three errors to plate nine runners and virtually put the game out of reach, 11-0.  Big blows were a solo homer by Blake Forbes and two-run singles by Livingston, Nathan Reis and Shad De St. Germain.

The Tigers added further damage in the third on RBI doubles by Lance Swearms and Randall Meyer and a run-scoring single by Forbes for a 14-0 lead.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the third that Ponchatoula got its first hit off of Slidell starter Nelson when Elisha Settoon doubled down the left field line, but the Greenies were unable to score.

Meanwhile, Livingston’s solo shot in the fourth made it 15-0 while a three-run homer by James Davis in the fifth and an RBI single by Reis tallied the final scores for Slidell.

Ponchy threatened to score in the fourth when Derrick Gaudin reached on an error and Torin Lucas singled to left, but an inning-ending double play kept the Wave scoreless.

The Greenies also failed to drive home Dylan Hills, who led off the fifth with a double down the left field line.

Settoon, Lucas and Hills had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

On Friday Ponchatoula hosts St. Paul in another key league matchup.  The Wolves faced Northshore Tuesday with both teams entering the game with one league loss.

Wednesday, March 26
WAVE HOPES TO RECLAIM MAGIC FRIDAY

The Ponchatoula Green Wave, currently tied for first place in District 7-5A, hopes to return to its winning ways at 6:30 pm. Friday against the St. Paul Wolves at Athletic Park.

A junior varsity game will preceed the varsity contest at 4 pm.

The Greenies are currently 13-5 overall and 3-1 in district play, tied for the top spot in 7-5A with Slidell and Northshore.

St. Paul enters the game 11-7 overall and 2-2 in district after losing 10-9 to Northshore Tuesday.

Friday, March 28
WAVE STOPS ST. PAUL, 4-1, IN KEY DISTRICT CLASH
Torin Lucas shut down St. Paul on four hits, and the Ponchatoula Green Wave staged a four-run, first-inning rally for all of the runs they would need to
cage the Wolves, 4-1, in a key 7-5A clash Friday night at Athletic Park.

The win kept the 10th-ranked Green Wave (14-5) atop the district 7-5A standings with a 4-1 league mark.  St. Paul dropped to 2-3 in district and 11-8 overall.

Lucas (7-0) surrendered his only run in the top of the first when Brandon Boudreaux reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a double by Craig Gautreaux.

But Ponchy answered in the bottom of the first with all of the runs they would need against starter Trey Campeaux.  Leadoff batter Tyler Nelson doubled to left center and scored on a single by Laramie Pittman to tie the game at 1-1 before Derrick Gaudin and Lucas walked to load the bases.

Regis Stephens then brought Pittman home with a fielders choice grounder to the shortstop for a 2-1 lead.  B.J. Welch singled Gaudin home before Elisha Settoon’s ground ball to the shortstop was booted, scoring Stephens.

Trailing 4-1, St. Paul brought John Greenleaf to the mound, and the Wolves righthander hooked up with Lucas in a pitcher’s duel the rest of the way as
Ponchatoula could manage only one hit, a fourth-inning single by Seth Bratton, and no runs after the first inning.

Meanwhile, Lucas blanked St. Paul through five straight innings, spacing two hits, striking out six and walking only three batters during that time.  He
snuffed out a second inning rally with a double play, striking out Nick Hummel before Bratton gunned Beau Trist out at second attempting to steal.

Lucas again nipped a potential rally by the Wolves in the third by picking Nick Bowers off at first.

He then faced his most serious threat in the fifth, but the big righthander got out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam by forcing an infield ground out.

Lucas gave way in the seventh to Stephens, who closed the deal by retiring three of the four batters he faced for the save.

“It was a great game tonight between two good teams,” said Green Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We competed tonight and came out on top.”

Both clubs could manage only four hits in the defensive struggle.

“Torin battled tonight, kept the ball down and made great pitches, and Regis was able to come in and close it out,”  Gosnell said.  “It’s great to be 4-1 in
district, and we’re in good shape.  I’m proud of the kids for bouncing back after the Slidell game.”

Ponchatoula travels to face 9th-ranked Fontainebleau Tuesday in another key 7-5A clash.

Saturday, March 29
PONCHY JV FALLS TO ST. PAUL, 6-4

The St. Paul junior varsity rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth to eak out a 6-4 victory over Ponchatoula Friday at Athletic Park.

After St. Paul scored a run in the top of the first, the Green Wave JV tied the score on a leadoff single by Dylan Hills and a pair of shortstop errors on balls hit by Justin Crowell and Dylan Posey.

The Wolves upped the lead to 3-1 in the third, but Ponchy added a run on a single by Jeremy Trouillet and another single by Hills.

The Wave JV took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on back-to-back singles by Cody Gueldner and Kaleb Kraft, a fielder’s choice off the bat of Mark Traylor, a dropped fly hit by Darrin Bach, and a ground ball hit by Hills that was booted by the second baseman.

But St. Paul staged its comeback in the final inning for the win.

Hills led Ponchy at the plate with two hits while Gueldner, Kraft, Trouillet and Randall Meyers had one hit apiece.

The junior varsity travels for a 4 pm. game Tuesday at Fontainebleau.

Wednesday, April 2
GREEN WAVE RANKED 8TH IN LATEST STATE 5A POLL

The Ponchatoula Green Wave continues to climb in state rankings as the latest poll conducted by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association released Wednesday has the Greenies ranked 8th in the 5A classification.

Ponchatoula (14-5, 4-1) is the lone representative of district 7-5A in the Top Ten.  Of the other eight teams receiving votes, 7-5A members Slidell and Fontainebleau are included along with another Ponchy foe, Central of Baton Rouge.  Wave opponent Franklinton is ranked 5th in the state 4A poll.

Thursday, April 3
PONCHY BLANKS HAMMOND, 8-0, BEHIND LUCAS

Torin Lucas shut out Hammond on five hits while the eighth-ranked Ponchatoula Green Wave hammered out 11 hits of their own to whitewash the rival Tornadoes, 8-0, Thursday night in a district 7-5A meeting at Athletic Park.

The win gave Ponchy (15-5 overall) sole possession of first place in 7-5A standings with a 5-1 mark.  Slidell, which entered the game tied with Ponchatoula atop league standings, lost to Northshore, 5-3, Thursday night to fall into a second-place tie with the Panthers at 4-2.

The Greenies, ranked as the eighth-best 5A team in the state in the latest Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association poll, will trek to Fontainebleau at 4:30 pm. Friday to resume a rained out game from earlier this week.  Ponchy sported a 1-0 first inning lead when the game was called.

Lucas (8-0) struck out seven and hit one batter in a seven-inning, complete-game performance to dominate the Tors from the mound.

Meanwhile, the Green Wave scored all of the runs they needed in the bottom of the second to break a scoreless deadlock.  B.J. Welch reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a single by Elisha Settoon.  Jacob Griffin blooped a single to the right side of the infield, and Welch scored all the way from second when the second baseman booted the baseball.  Seth Bratton then drove Settoon home with a double down the left field line for a 2-0 lead.

With Lucas holding Hammond at bay, the Green Wave put the game out of reach with four runs in the fourth.  Griffin was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single by Bratton.  Tyler Nelson then doubled to deep left, plating both pinch-runner Randall Meyers and Bratton for a 4-0 lead.

Laramie Pittman followed with a run-scoring single to score Nelson before Lucas drove home Pittman with a single for a 6-0 lead.

Ponchatoula added two more runs in the fifth on a single by Griffin, a run-scoring double by Pittman, and an RBI sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Dylan Hills.

Pittman, Bratton and Griffin led Ponchy at the plate with two hits each.  Nelson, Gaudin, Lucas, Stephens and Settoon all had one hit apiece.

Thursday, April 3
PONCHY JV EDGES HAMMOND, 10-9

Jake Ruiz’s walkoff single scored Hayden Hutches with the winning run in the last of the fifth as the Ponchatoula junior varsity stopped Hammond, 10-9, Thursday at Athletic Park.

Trailing 9-8, Ponchy rallied in the final inning on a one-out walk to Darrin Bach, a single by Hutches, a walk to Justin Crowell, and a walk to Dylan Posey before Ruiz’s winning hit.

Shelby Payne’s two-run homer gave Hammond an early 5-0 lead, but the Green Wave rallied in the bottom of the second to take a 6-5 lead.

Randall Meyers led off with a solo homer to make it 5-1 before the Greenies did the rest of their damage with two men out.  Kaleb Kraft singled, Ryan Daniels reached on an infield error and Jeremy Trouillet reached on a centerfield error before consecutive singles by Dylan Hills, Ethan Murray and Joey Lamarca gave Ponchatoula a one-run lead.

A second home run by Payne, this one a three-run blast, gave Hammond an 8-6 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

But Ponchatoula answered on a single by Kraft and Meyers’ second home run, a two-run blast, to tie the game at eight.

Hammond then regained the lead in the top of the fifth before Ponchy scored two more to win it in the fifth as the time limit expired.

Meyers led the 11-hit attack for Ponchy with a pair of home runs.  Hills, Lamarca and Kraft also had two hits apiece while Murray, Hutches and Ruiz had one hit each.

Ruiz relieved Meyers on the mound in the third inning to pick up the win.  He allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and hitting a batter in three innings of work.

Saturday, April 5
NORTHSHORE DRUBS GREEN WAVE, 9-3

Northshore pitcher Cody Deckwa no-hit Ponchatoula through five and two-thirds innings, and the Panthers erupted for six runs in the first inning to slam the eighth-ranked Green Wave, 9-3, in a battle of 7-5A leaders Saturday at Athletic Park.

The win moves Northshore (15-11) into sole possession of first place in 7-5A with a 6-2 league mark.  The Panthers defeated league playoff contenders Slidell, Mandeville and Ponchatoula on consecutive days to take a half-game lead over Ponchatoula and Slidell.

Ponchy (15-6, 5-2) will try to get back on track at 4 pm. Monday at Fontainebleau, resuming a game rained out twice earlier in the week with action most recently stopped with a 1-1 tie in the third inning.

Things started badly for the Wave in the top of the first as two walks, three hit batters, a single by Steven Comeaux and a sacrifice fly by Chad Gough-Fortenberry chased starter Regis Stephens and brought reliever Wesley Fletcher to the mound with the score 3-0 and the bases loaded.

A two-run single by Deckwa and a run-scoring single by Andrew Cosse then staked Northshore to a 6-0 lead.

With Ponchatoula held hitless, the Panthers scored two more runs in the third on a single by Taylor Campbell, a stolen base, an infield error and an RBI single by Chase Compton.

Northshore took a 9-0 lead in the fifth off reliever Rudy Townsend when Deckwa singled and scored on a double by Cosse.

Ponchatoula scored its first run with two out in the sixth when Dylan Hills reached on an error and scored on a double by Torin Lucas, Ponchy’s first hit of the game.

The Wave added its second run of the inning when Stephens was hit by a pitch and B.J. Welch walked to load the bases with two out.  Elisha Settoon then bounced a slow chopper in the hole, scoring pinch-runner Matt Stock in the process.

Ponchatoula scored its final run in the last of the seventh. Seth Bratton was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a single by Laramie Pittman, and scored on an RBI single by Hills.

The Green Wave loaded the bases when Lucas was hit by a pitch, but reliever Compton came on to put an end to the uprising by striking out the final two Ponchy batters.

In relief Fletcher threw three and two-thirds innings, allowing no earned runs and six hits while striking out two, walking one and hitting a batter.

In three innings of work Townsend allowed only one earned run on four hits, walking two.

Monday, April 7
GREEN WAVE FALLS TO FONTAINEBLEAU IN EIGHT INNINGS

David Fiegel’s infield single scored Matt Pittari with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as Fontainebleau outlasted Ponchatoula, 3-2, in a 7-5A fray that was rained-delayed twice last week.

The loss dropped the Green Wave (15-7 overall) into three-way tie with Slidell and Covington for second place in district 7-5A with a 5-3 record, one game behind leader Northshore at 6-2.  Fontainebleau moved to 13-7 and 2-5 in league play.

Addison Melancon allowed only four Ponchatoula hits in the Bulldog victory, striking out six and walking four.  For eight innings he was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Ponchy’s Regis Stephens, who allowed only two earned runs on ten hits while striking out nine batters, walking none and hitting a batter.

Ponchatoula broke the ice in the first inning when Tyler Nelson reached on an error by the catcher, advanced to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Laramie Pittman, and scored on an RBI ground out by Derrick Gaudin.

The Bulldogs tied the score in the bottom of the first when Daniel Brockhoeft doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an outfield error.

The Green Wave regained the lead 2-1 in the third when Gaudin walked, moved to second on a walk to Torin Lucas and took third on a fielder’s choice grounder by B.J. Welch.  With Dylan Hills running for Gaudin, Welch intentionally got caught in a rundown attempting to steal, and the return throw home was dropped by the catcher, allowing Hills to score.

The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the third when Colton Atkins singled and Broeckhoeft tripled to right-center to tie the game at 2-all.

There the game stood all the way until the bottom of the eighth when Fontainebleau pushed across the winning run.  With two out an infield single by Jacob Palmisano and a double by Scott Malaschak placed runners on second and third before Fiegel’s infield single scored pinch-runner Pittari to end the game.

Brockhoeft, Palmisano and Adam Becnel had two hits each for Fontainebleau.  Adkins, Fiegel, Malaschak and Melancon all had one.

Stephens, Lucas, Elisha Settoon and Seth Bratton had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

The Green Wave will be back in action at 6:30 pm. Tuesday when they travel to face Covington (15-8, 5-3) in a big 7-5A matchup.  Covington defeated league co-leader Slidell, 10-5, on Monday.  Earlier this year the Wave bested the Lions, 8-2, at Athletic Park.

Monday, April 7
BULLDOGS BITE WAVE JV, 9-3

The Fontainebleau junior varsity rallied for five runs in the first inning and built a 9-0 lead to whip Ponchatoula, 9-3.

The Bulldog JV’s slapped 12 hits in the victory.  The decisive five-run first resulted from two walks and four hits, including a home run.

Ponchy failed to score until the sixth inning when a single by Ryan Daniels, a double by Dylan Hills, a single by Randall Meyers, a sacrifice fly by Justin Crowell, and a single by Dylan Posey produced three runs.

Meyers led the Green Wave JV at the plate with a pair of singles.  Hills, Daniels, Dakota Simoneaux and Brett Vampran had the other hits for Ponchy.

Reeve Kirkland started and pitched two innings for the Wave while Hayden Hutches threw the final three innings.

Tuesday, April 8
WAVE LOSES SECOND STRAIGHT HEARTBREAKER

Covington’s Stevie Sharp singled home Cory Thomas with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Lions edged Ponchatoula, 2-1, Tuesday night in Covington.

It was the second straight eight-inning loss for Ponchatoula, having fallen to Fontainebleau, 3-2, on Monday.  The defeat dropped the Green Wave (15-8 overall) to 5-4 in district 7-5A play while the Lions improved to 6-3.  Ponchatoula defeated Covington, 8-2, earlier this season at Athletic Park.

The loss tainted a dominating pitching performance by Ponchatoula starter Torin Lucas, who gave up only one unearned run and six hits in seven innings of work while striking out 12 and walking just one.

Lucas hooked up in a pitcher’s duel with Covington’s Matt Myer, who threw all eight innings and gave up six hits, striking out nine, walking one and hitting a batter.

Ponchatoula jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tyler Nelson singled and scored from first when Laramie Pittman’s single got by the centerfielder.

But the Wave couldn’t muster any more scoring for the next seven innings, despite leaving runners in scoring position four times.

Meanwhile, Covington tied the score in the last of the sixth when D.J. Thompson led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brady King, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an errant throw.

Lucas dug deep to stop Covington with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but in the last of the eighth Regis Stephens relieved Lucas on the hill.

Cory Thomas greeted the Green Wave reliever with a double, and with one out he moved to third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Jeffrey Joiner.  This set the stage for Sharp, who blooped a walkoff single just out of the infield for the game-winner.

Nelson paced the Green Wave attack with a pair of singles while Pittman, Derek Gaudin, B.J. Welch and Dylan Hills all had one hit.

Ponchatoula returns home at 6:30 pm. Friday to face 7-5A defending champion Mandeville.

Wednesday, April 9
PONCHY FROSH/SOPHS TOP LORANGER

Ponchatoula rapped out nine hits, and Mark Traylor went the distance on the mound as the Green Wave freshman/sophomore team dropped Loranger, 10-3, Wednesday at Athletic Park.

The Green Wave took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Justin Crowell singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on an RBI ground out by Darrin Bach.

Loranger tied the score in the top of the third when Logan Whiting singled, moved to second on a balk, and scored on a single by Boo Boudreaux.

Ponchy regained the lead in the third when Kaleb Kraft led off with a walk before pinch-runner Randall Meyers stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on Traylor’s RBI ground out.

Loranger tied it at 2-2 in the top of the fourth when Alan Mizell doubled, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a wild throw.

But the Green Wave scored four runs in the last of the fourth to take the lead for good.  Meyers led off with a double before a single by Crowell, a walk to Ryan Daniels and a two-run double by Bach made it 4-2.  After a walk to Jake Ruiz, both Kraft and Brett Vampran drove in runs with RBI grounders.

The Greenies added one run in the fifth on a solo homer by Jeremy Trouillet, and rallied for three more in the sixth.  Kraft led off with a single, and back-to-back doubles by Vampran and Hayden Hutches produced two runs.  Trouillet singled in the final run for the Wave.

Loranger scored its third run in the sixth when Taylor Abrams singled and Brad Childress scored on an outfield error.

Trouillet and Crowell had two hits each to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Meyers, Bach, Kraft, Vampran and Hutches all had one hit.

Traylor pitched the entire seven innings to pick up the win.

Saturday, April 12
MANDEVILLE EDGES PONCHATOULA, 7-6

Garrett Cannizaro doubled home the tying run in the sixth and then scored the winning run on a wild pitch as Mandeville slipped by Ponchatoula, 7-6, in 7-5A action Friday at Athletic Park.

The loss dropped the Green Wave to 15-9 overall and 5-5 in district play.  With four 7-5A games remaining, the Wave is tied with Mandeville (11-8 overall) and St. Paul for fourth place with 5-5 league marks.  Northshore leads at 8-2 with Slidell second at 7-3 and Covington third at 6-4.

The Green Wave, which entered the game ranked 10th in the state 5A poll and had beaten Mandeville 4-2 earlier this year on the road, suffered its third straight one-run loss in the same week.  The Wave lost consecutive eight-inning games to Fontainebleau and Covington on Monday and Tuesday.

Cannizaro had three hits and 2 RBI’s to lead Mandeville, which blew an early 5-0 lead and trailed 6-5 heading into the sixth inning.

Mandeville got on the board first when leadoff hitter Kody Keowen walked, stole second and scored on a double by James Winget.

The Skippers increased their lead to 5-0 in the second when Remy Angelle was hit by a pitch and scored on Cannizaro’s single.  With two out Jamie Bruno crushed a two-run homer off the flag pole in centerfield for a 4-0 lead.  Ross Hardy then singled before Winget doubled him home for the early five-run cushion.

Ponchy starter Rudy Townsend then settled down to shut out Mandeville through the next three innings, and he was on the mound when the Wave actually took the lead in the fourth and fifth innings.

In the last of the fourth Dylan Hills started the Greenie uprising with a single before Torin Lucas clobbered a two-run homer over the left field wall.

Regis Stephens then walked and moved to second on a fielder’s choice.  With two out Elisha Settoon’s ground ball to the shortstop was booted, allowing Stephens to score.  Settoon moved to second when Jacob Griffin’s grounder was mishandled, and Tyler Nelson singled up the middle, scoring Settoon to cut the lead to 5-4.

Ponchatoula then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Hills again led off with a single before Lucas singled him to second.  Stephens sacrificed the runners to second and third before B.J. Welch delivered the game-tying single to right field.  Seth Bratton followed with a single to plate pinch-runner Ethan Murray to put the Greenies ahead.

In the top of the sixth Stephens relieved Townsend on the mound and hit the first batter, Kody Keowen, who promptly stole second base.  Cannizaro then doubled to deep center, scoring Keowen to tie the game.  Cannizaro moved to third on a fielder’s choice before scoring on a wild pitch.

The Greenies placed the tying run on second in the sixth inning but failed to drive him home.

Ponchy pitchers allowed ten hits while walking four and hitting two Mandeville batters.

Tyler Nelson led Ponchatoula at the plate with three hits while Hills and Lucas both had two safeties.   Welch, Bratton and Griffin all had one hit.

The Green Wave returns to action Saturday afternoon in a non-district fray against Acadiana, ranked third in the state in latest 7-5A polls.  Ponchy travels to Slidell Tuesday to resume district play.

Saturday, April 12
PONCHY FALLS TO FIFTH-RANKED ACADIANA

Acadiana erupted for six hits in a five-run fifth-inning to break open a close game and topple Ponchatoula, 10-3, Saturday in a non-district game at Athletic Park.

Acadiana, the fifth-ranked 5A team in the latest Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association, moved its overall record to 23-5-1.  The Green Wave, ranked 10th in the 5A state rankings by the same poll, fell to 15-10 overall.

Acadiana broke a scoreless deadlock in the second inning on a hit batsman, three errors and Colton Daigle’s single.

The Green Wave answered in the bottom of the second.  Torin Lucas doubled, pinch-runner Ethan Murray went to third on a passed ball and later scored on Derrick Gaudin’s sacrifice fly.  Regis Stephens’ double, Seth Bratton’s single and an error by the pitcher cut the lead to 3-2.

The Greenies tied the score in the third when Tyler Nelson singled and Laramie Pittman followed on a hit-and-run play with a double down the left field line.

But Acadiana scored two more runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.  Three hits, a walk and an outfield error provided a 5-3 lead.

Ponchatoula failed to score the rest of the way while Acadiana salted the game away with five runs on six hits in the fifth.  The big blow was a two-run single by  Tucker Cockrell.

Lucas had two hits to lead the Green Wave at the plate.  Nelson, Pittman,  Stephens, Bratton and Dylan Hills had the other hits.

Wesley Fletcher, the Ponchy starter on the mound, threw five innings and gave up ten runs on ten hits, but only two of the runs were earned due to five errors.  Fletcher also walked three, striking out one and hitting a batter. Reliever Elisha Settoon pitched two innings, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out one and walking two batters.

The Green Wave returns to action Tuesday on the road against current 7-5A runnerup Slidell.

Saturday, April 12
SKIPPERS CLOBBER WAVE JV’S

The Mandeville Skipper junior varsity piled up eight runs in the third inning to smash the Ponchatoula JV, 16-3, Friday at Athletic Park.

The Skippers parlayed six walks, a double and a home run for the outburst.  Mandeville also scored six runs on four hits in the fifth inning.

Mandeville totaled seven hits in the victory but also took advantage of 12 walks issued by Ponchatoula pitchers.

Ponchatoula scored two runs in the first inning on a double by Dylan Hills, a walk to Ethan Murray and a double by Dylan Posey.

The Greenies added another in the fourth when Posey singled, Justin Crowell walked, and Joey Lamarca doubled home Posey.

Posey led Ponchy at the plate with three hits while Hills had two and Lamarca one.

Tuesday, April 15
GREEN WAVE FALLS TO SLIDELL

Blake Forbis drove in three runs, including two with a fourth-inning homer to right field, to lead Slidell over Ponchatoula, 7-5, Tuesday in a key district 7-5A matchup at Slidell.

The Green Wave fell to 15-11 overall and 5-6 in district, now locked in a four-way tie for fourth in 7-5A with Mandeville, St. Paul and Fontainebleau.  Slidell strengthened its hold on second place in the district, moving to 8-3 in league play behind leader Northshore at 9-2.

Despite recording only four hits, Ponchatoula chased Tiger starter Shane Riedie, an LSU signee, with three runs in the fifth inning to knot the game at 5-all.

But the Greenies failed to get anything going against reliever Sean Nelson, and they left five runners in scoring position over the last three innings for their
fourth straight district loss by two runs or less.

Ponchy got on the board first in the top of the second when Dylan Hills reached on a shortstop error, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Regis Stephens,
went to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch on ball four to Elisha Settoon.

Slidell answered in the last of the second with three runs.  Nelson reached on a fielder’s choice before Randall Meyer walked and Forbis delivered a run-scoring single, which also scored Meyer when the ball was booted in the outfield. Forbis later scored on a single by Shad de St. Germaine to make the score 3-1.

The Green Wave cut the lead to 3-2 when Torin Lucas was hit by a pitch and pinch-runner Matt Stock scored on a two-out double by Seth Bratton.

The Tigers went up 5-2 in the fourth on a walk to Meyer and Forbis’s two-run blast to right field.

But Ponchatoula rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 5-5.  Jacob Griffin and Tyler Nelson walked before Laramie Pittman moved the
runners up on a sacrifice fly.  Derrick Gaudin and Lucas then rapped back-to-back singles to cut the lead to 5-4 before Gaudin scored on a wild pitch
to tie the game.

With runners on second and third, the Greenies failed to produce against reliever Nelson, and Slidell regained the lead in the last of the fifth when Riedie reached second on an infield error and later scored on Meyer’s RBI single.

The Tigers went up 7-5 in the sixth on a pair of walks, a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch and a balk.

The Greenies left men stranded on first and third in the sixth, and they left the bases loaded in the seventh in going down to defeat.

Gaudin had a pair of hits to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Nelson, Bratton and Lucas had one hit apiece.

Stephens, who started on the mound for Ponchy, went five innings, allowing four earned runs on only five hits while fanning five, walking three and hitting two batters.  Reliever Rudy Townsend threw one inning, allowing one run on no hits while walking two and striking out one.

Ponchatoula, which is now in a do-or-die situation in the 7-5A playoff hunt, goes on the road Thursday to play St. Paul at 6:30 pm. in Covington.

Tuesday, April 15
GREEN WAVE JV SPLITS IN HAMMOND TOURNEY

The Ponchatoula junior varsity ripped Salmen, 12-2, and lost to Hammond, 4-1, in a junior varsity tournament held at Hammond Saturday.

In the first game, the Wave used two-hit pitching from Jake Ruiz to roll over Salmen by the ten-run rule.  Ruiz threw five innings and struck out four batters.

Salmen scored two runs in the first inning, but the Wave answered with one in the first, three in the second and eight in the fifth.

Cody Gueldner led Ponchy with three hits in three times to the plate, including two doubles and three RBI’s.  Dylan Posey had a single and two RBI’s while Ruiz and Darren Bach both had run-scoring singles.  Ryan Daniels had a single for the Greenies.

In the second game, Ponchy scored its only run in the second inning while Hammond answered with four runs on one hit and three walks in their half to put the game away.

The Wave scored its lone run when Joey Lamarca singled, moved to second on Reeve Kirkland’s infield single and scored on an RBI single by Kaleb Kraft.

Posey started on the mound for Ponchy and gave way to Kirkland, who threw five innings of relief, allowing no runs and only two hits with five strikeouts.

Kirkland also had two hits to lead Wave batters.  Kraft, Posey, Lamarca, Justin Crowell and Hayden Hutches also had hits.

Thursday, April 17
GREEN WAVE ROUTS ST. PAUL’S, 11-2

Laramie Pittman blasted four hits, including a two-run double that keyed a seven-run, fifth-inning rally, and Torin Lucas shut down St. Paul’s on three hits as the Green Wave routed the Wolves, 11-2, in a big district 7-5A matchup in Covington Thursday.

Lucas also added a two-run homer in the fifth-inning explosion as Ponchatoula (16-11 overall) hammered out 12 hits to boost its district record to 6-6 overall, good enough for a third place tie with Mandeville and Covington.  Northshore leads the district with a 10-2 mark while Slidell stands second at 9-3.

The Wolves broke the ice in the last of the first when Nick Bowers singled, Craig Gautreaux was hit by a pitch, and both runners scored when Patrick Huval’s ground ball was thrown wildly to first, scoring both runners for a 2-0 lead.

The Green Wave, which had lost four straight league games by two runs or less, chipped away at the lead in fourth with a single run that made the score 2-1.  Tyler Nelson walked, went to second on a single by Pittman and moved to third on a walk to Lucas.  Dylan Hills then followed with a run-scoring single to make the score 2-1.

With Lucas holding St. Paul’s scoreless after the first inning, Ponchatoula’s bats blew the game open in the top of the fifth.  Jacob Griffin walked, and Nelson was hit by a pitch before Pittman’s two-run double off of the left centerield field wall scored both Nelson and pinch-runner Randall Meyers to put Ponchy on top for the first time in the game, 3-2.

Pinch-hitter B.J. Welch then dropped an RBI-single to right field, scoring Pittman and setting the stage for Lucas, who clouted a two-run shot over the left centerfield wall.  Hills then singled, stole second base and scored on Seth Bratton’s RBI double.  Griffin, batting for the second time in the inning, then singled Bratton home for a commanding 8-2 lead.

Ponchatoula added three more runs in the seventh.  Regis Stephens was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Elisha Settoon.  Stephens took third on a wild pitch and scored on Griffin’s sacrifice fly to center field.  With two out, Nelson singled and scored on a double by Pittman.  Welch’s single then drove home Pittman to round out the scoring.

Pittman led Ponchatoula’s 12-hit attack with four hits while Hills and Welch had two hits each.  Nelson, Lucas, Bratton and Griffin had one hit each.

Lucas, now 9-0 on the mound this year, allowed no earned runs and only three hits, striking out five and hitting one batter.  After the first inning, the big righty allowed only two baserunners the rest of the way.

Ponchatoula now returns home for a big 7-5A showdown with Fontainebleau at 1:30 pm. Saturday at Athletic Park.  The Bulldogs bested the Wave, 3-2, earlier this season.

Friday, April 18
PONCHY FROSH/SOPHS HANDLE LORANGER

The Ponchatoula Green Wave freshman-sophomore team collected 13 hits and used the pitching of Darrin Bach to whip Loranger, 12-6 Wednesday at Loranger.

Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft and Ryan Daniels led the hit parade with two each while Justin Crowell, Mark Traylor, Jeremy Trouillet, Jake Ruiz, Brett Vampran, Hayden Hutches and Bach all had one hit apiece.

Crowell, Daniels and Kraft all had 2 RBI’s while Vampran and Hutches both had one RBI.

Bach pitched five innings, allowing only two runs and three hits.  He struck out five.

Hayden Hutches pitched one inning, allowing four runs and three hits while striking out two.

Friday, April 18
WAVE JV COMES UP SHORT AGAINST ST. PAUL’S

St. Paul’s junior varsity scored two runs in the first, one in the fourth and two in the fifth to squeeze out a 5-3 win over the Ponchy JV’s Thursday in Covington.

Ponchatoula scored one run in the second inning when Justin Crowell tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Reeve Kirkland.

The Greenie JV’s added two in the sixth on singles by Randall Meyers and Jeremy Trouillet and an RBI single by Dakota Simoneaux.  Brett Vampran and Joey Lamarca followed with singles for the second run of the inning.

Meyers started on the mound for Ponchy and threw four and 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on nine hits.  Jake Ruiz came on in relief for the final one and 1/3 innings and allowed no runs and no hits.

Friday, April 18
SATURDAY IS “SENIOR DAY” AT ATHLETIC PARK
Not only is Saturday’s clash with Fontainebleau a critical game for Ponchatoula to win if it hopes to make the state 5A playoffs, it marks the final regular season home appearance for 12 Green Wave seniors who’ll be honored in “Senior Day” pre-game festivities.  The Wave seniors- who hope to make the playoffs for the first time in their careers- are Regis Stephens, Kyle Sheridan, Rudy Townsend, Tyler Nelson, Torin Lucas, Jacob Griffin, Derrick Gaudin, B.J. Welch, Wesley Fletcher, Laramie Pittman, Matt Stock and Seth Bratton. 

Saturday, April 19
PONCHATOULA RALLIES PAST FONTAINEBLEAU, 7-3

Regis Stephens fired a complete game six-hitter and climaxed a decisive four-run, fifth-inning rally with a two-run homer as Ponchatoula whipped Fontainebleau, 7-3, in a crucial District 7-5A clash Saturday at Athletic Park.

The win places the Green Wave in the driver’s seat for a third playoff spot from 7-5A with a 7-6 league record.  Ponchatoula (17-11 overall) entered the game in a three-way tie for third with Mandeville and Covington.  The Greenies travel to Hammond at 6:30 pm. Tuesday for their district finale.

It was the second straight game where the fifth-inning was the charm for the Green Wave, which erupted for seven runs in the fifth to come-from-behind and dismantle St. Paul’s, 11-2, Thursday night.

Fontainebleau (16-10, 5-8), which nipped the Green Wave 3-2 in eight innings earlier this season, got on the board first when Scott Malaschak was hit by Stephens, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild throw.

With the Green Wave stranding three runners in scoring position through the first two frames, the Bulldogs added two more in the third.  David Fiegel led off with a bunt single and moved to third on Adam Becnel’s ground-rule double.

Malaschak then drove home Fiegel with a ground out to shortstop before Daniel Brockhoeft singled Becnel home for a 3-0 lead.

Bulldog starter Addison Melancon again stifled Ponchatoula with a runner in scoring position in the last of the third, but the Green Wave busted loose to tie the game in the fourth.

With two men out, Seth Bratton walked and Stephens moved him to second when he grounded into an infield error.  Pinch-hitter Derek Gaudin then delivered a run-scoring double to left center before Jacob Griffin cleared the bases with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

Stephens retired the Bulldogs in order in the fifth, setting the stage for Ponchatoula’s decisive four-run rally.

Dylan Hills led off with an infield single, and Torin Lucas walked before B.J. Welch greeted reliever Brennan Marque with a clutch two-run single to put the Green Wave ahead 5-3.

One out later, Stephens launched a towering two-run blast over the left field fence for a four-run cushion at 7-3.

Stephens put Fontainebleau down in order in the sixth and squelched a last-gasp, bases-loaded rally in the seventh, forcing a ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Stephens allowed only two earned runs on six hits in the seven-inning effort on the mound.  The senior righthander walked only two and struck out one.

Welch and Griffin led the nine-hit Greenie attack at the plate with two hits apiece.  Stephens, Hills, Gaudin, Tyler Nelson and Laramie Pittman had one hit apiece.

“I’m very proud of our kids,” said Ponchatoula head coach Mark Gosnell.  “This was a huge win at home for us on Senior Day.”

The ”Senior Day” celebration, held each year in the final regular season home game at Athletic Park, recognized 12 Ponchatoula seniors, including seven starters.

“I’m proud of our seniors,” Gosnell continued.  “Regis Stephens was outstanding on the mound and hit a big home run.  We battled back again.  These kids don’t know how to give up.”

The 2008 Ponchatoula seniors honored were Nelson, Pittman, Lucas, Welch, Bratton, Stephens, Griffin, Gaudin, Wesley Fletcher, Rudy Townsend, Matt Stock and Kyle Sheridan.

The Green Wave can clinch a state 5A playoff spot for the first time since 2000 with a win against Hammond at 6:30 pm. Tuesday.  The Wave winds up its schedule with a big non-district clash Thursday night against Rummel at Southeastern’s Kenelly Diamond.

Tuesday, April 22
GREEN WAVE TOPS TORS, 8-1
Torin Lucas fired a six-hitter and keyed a sixth-inning rally with a two-run double to lead Ponchatoula past arch-rival Hammond, 8-1, Tuesday night at the
Hammond diamond in the final regular season 7-5A game for both teams.

The win guaranteed Ponchatoula (18-11 overall) a third-place finish in the 7-5A regular season with an 8-6 record and the possibility of its first state 5A
playoff berth since 2000.  The Green Wave finished in a third-place tie with defending champion Mandeville, a 4-2 winner over Covington Tuesday night, and
must face the Skippers for a fourth time this season in a playoff Thursday at a site to be determined by a coin flip on Wednesday.

The winner of the Ponchatoula-Mandeville playoff will receive an automatic state tourney playoff bid as the third place team from district 7-5A while the loser
will hope that it’s selected as one of 5A’s two wild card representatives. Last season 7-5A had a wild card representative.  Northshore won the district 7-5A
title Tuesday with a 6-4 win over Slidell.

Lucas, who finished the regular season 10-0 on the mound and 6-0 in district, again put on a commanding performance on the hill, allowing only one run on six
hits while walking two and striking out eight.

The Greenies gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tyler Nelson led off with a single, moved to second when Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch, advanced
to third when Lucas was intentionally walked, and scored on a sacrifice fly by B.J. Welch.

Ponchatoula scored a second run in the third when Hills and Lucas were both hit by pitches and catcher Seth Bratton delivered a run-scoring single down the left field line.

With Hammond starter Steven Tannis holding the Greenie bats to only five hits, Ponchatoula failed to score in the fourth and fifth while the Tors cut the lead
to 2-1 in the fourth.

Shane Cutrer singled, moved to second on a single by Jack Jacobsen, advanced to third on a single by Cody Miller, and scored on a single by Alex Wolf.  However,
Jacobsen tried to score from second on Wolf’s hit, but he was cut down at the plate on a rifle throw from Hills in left field.

Ponchatoula’s bats came alive for a three-run rally in the sixth.  Nelson reached on an infield error and Laramie Pittman singled before Lucas cleared the
bases with a double in the left centerfield gap.  Matt Stock, who was pinch-running for Lucas, then scored on an RBI single by B.J. Welch.

Ponchy added three more in the seventh for insurance.  Elisha Settoon led off with a single to left, and Jacob Griffin followed with a single to center.
Nelson grounded into an infield error to load the bases before Pittman’s fielder’s choice grounder scored pinch-runner Randall Meyers from third.  Hills
then greeted reliever Wolf with a two-run single to center to round out the scoring.

Hills led the 10-hit Ponchy attack at the plate with two safeties.  Nelson, Pittman, Lucas, Welch, Bratton, Stephens, Settoon and Griffin had one hit apiece.

Shane Cutrer had two hits to lead the Tors at the plate while Tannis, Wolf, Jeremy Skinner and Cody Miller all had one hit.

Tannis worked six and one-third innings on the mound for Hammond, giving up five earned runs on nine hits, striking out four, walking one and hitting four batters.

Wednesday, April 23
PONCHY JV HOLDS OFF HAMMOND, 6-5

The Ponchatoula junior varsity rallied for four runs in the final inning and held off a late Hammond rally to outlast the Tornadoes, 6-5, Thursday at Hammond.

The Green Wave took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Cody Gueldner walked, moved to second on an infield error and scored on a single by Justin Crowell.

Hammond tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the first, but the Green Wave regained the lead in the second when Kaleb Kraft singled and scored on consecutive hits by Jake Ruiz, Jeremy Trouillet and Ryan Daniels.

Ponchy led 2-1 before a four-run rally in the fourth and final inning.  Pitcher Reeve Kirkland led off with a single before Kraft was hit by a pitch.  Joey Lamarca singled, Ruiz reached on an infield error, Trouillet moved the runners up on a ground out, Ryan Daniels reached on an infield error, and Dakota Simoneaux singled to make the score 6-1.

Hammond capitalized on three hits and two errors in the fourth but came up a run short.

Reeve Kirkland went all the way on the mound for Ponchatoula to pick up the win.  In four innings of work Kirkland gave up five runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk to his credit.

Friday, April 25
WAVE AWAITS WORD ON WILD CARD
The Ponchatoula Green Wave must wait until Tuesday to find out if it has secured one of two 5A wild card berths for the state playoffs.  It’s the consensus of current opinion that District 7-5A- as possibly the toughest district in the state- will receive one of the two wild cards.  Ponchatoula- as the fourth-place team in the district via an 8-7 league mark- would then receive that berth.

Friday, April 25
PONCHATOULA TO PLAY AT SOUTHEASTERN MONDAY

Ponchatoula will play on Southeastern’s Pat Kenelly Diamond after all, but it will be this coming Monday at 6 pm. against Brother Martin, the 10-5A champion and ranked No. 8 in the state in all polls.  It will be the Wave’s last regular season game before beginning the state playoffs next week, should Ponchy receive a wild card on Tuesday. Ponchatoula and Brother Martin met for a preseason scrimmage at Athletic Park in February.

Friday, April 25
MANDEVILLE HOMERS WAY PAST WAVE

Tulane signees Jamie Bruno and Ross Hardy smashed back-to-back home runs in the third inning, and pitcher Garrett Cannizaro escaped rallies in all but one inning to power Mandeville past Ponchatoula, 6-2, Thursday night at Athletic Park.

The win secured third place in District 7-5A and an automatic playoff bid for the Skippers (15-9 overall, 9-6 in district).  As the fourth-place team, the Green Wave must now await Tuesday’s decision on whether or not it will receive a wild card berth in the playoffs.

The Green Wave left a total of eight runners stranded, including four innings with men in scoring position, against Cannizaro, who scattered eight hits.

It started out like the Greenies would score a ton of runs.  In the top of the first, Tyler Nelson led off with a double while Laramie Pittman followed with a run-scoring double.  A walk to Torin Lucas and a single by B.J. Welch loaded the bases, but the Greenies grounded into a double play to end the inning.

In the third the Skippers brought out their big bats to take the lead against Wave starter Regis Stephens with a three-run rally.  With two out, Cannizaro walked before Bruno sent a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for a 2-1 lead.  Two pitches later, Hardy lined a solo shot to left for all of the runs Mandeville would need.

Mandeville upped its lead to 5-1 in the fifth.  Leadoff hitter Kody Keowen singled and moved to second on a walk to Cannizaro.  With one out Hardy slapped a single, and the wild throw home bounded over the backstop, scoring both Keowen and Cannizaro.

The Skippers added another run in the seventh. Hardy reached on a fielder’s choice, and back-to-back singles by James Winget and Joey Pajares off of reliever Wesley Fletcher loaded the bases.  Dustin Guillory then drew a walk to make the score 6-1.

The Green Wave scored another run in their last at bat when Nelson walked and Dylan Hills doubled him to third.  With one out Lucas drove home Nelson with a sacrifice fly, and Cannizaro struck out the final batter to end the game.

Hills and Welch led Ponchatoula at the plate with two hits apiece while Nelson, Pittman and Lucas had the other hits.

Stephens gave up three earned runs and six hits in six innings on the hill, walking five and striking out three.

Cannizaro scattered seven hits in allowing two earned runs.  He struck out seven, walked two and hit one batter.

Monday, April 28
CRUSADERS TOP WAVE IN PLAYOFF TUNEUP, 5-1

Leadoff hitter Brandon Bartholomew broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth, and Braeden Ford and Kevin Berry slapped back-to-back doubles for two more runs as Brother Martin outlasted Ponchatoula, 5-1, in the regular season finale for both teams at Southeastern’s Pat Kenelly Diamond.

Ponchatoula (8-6 in 7-5A), which is expecting to receive a wild card bid to the state 5A playoffs Tuesday morning, finished the regular season at 18-13.  Brother Martin, the District 10-5A champ with a 10-2 league record, wound up 24-9 overall.  The Crusaders, which beat out Jesuit and Rummel for the league title, were ranked eighth in the latest coaches’ 5A poll.

Both teams used the game as a final tuneup for their pitching staffs, using 13 hurlers between the two clubs.  Even then, the score stood 1-1 through seven complete innings.

Johnny Thomas led off the decisive eighth with a single off of reliever Regis Stephens, and he advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch.  Bartholomew then punched a bloop single over the head of a drawn-in Wave infield for the go-ahead run.

Ford and Berry followed with back-to-back doubles for a 4-1 lead before Berry stole home on a throw to second for the final 5-1 count.

Ponchatoula left seven men in scoring position for the night, and the Greenies scored their only run of the night in the third to tie the game at 1-1.

With two out Tyler Nelson was hit by a pitch, and he moved to third when Laramie Pittman’s fly ball was dropped by the rightfielder.  Nelson then scored on a wild pitch to knot the score.

The Green Wave could manage only two hits against eight Brother Martin pitchers.  A sixth-inning single by B.J. Welch and a seventh-inning single by Jacob Griffin were the only safeties.

Meanwhile, five Ponchy hurlers limited the Crusaders to only two hits through the first seven innings before Brother Martin busted loose with four hits in the eighth.

For Ponchatoula, starter Wesley Fletcher retired all six batters he faced in two innings of work.  Dylan Hills, seeing his first mound work of the year after rehabilitating a shoulder injury, allowed only one run on two hits and a walk.

Rudy Townsend relieved Hills in the fourth and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up no hits and walking two.

Stephens took over for Townsend in the seventh and held the Crusaders without a run, walking one batter while striking out two.  With one out Stephens fell victim to four Crusader hits in the eighth and was saddled with the loss.

Elisha Settoon relieved Stephens in the eighth and retired the side without another run, striking out one batter.

Ponchatoula will find out at 10 am. tomorrow (Tuesday)  if they’ve received the wild card, and if so, who and where they will play this Thursday.

Tuesday, April 29
PONCHY MAKES 5A PLAYOFFS- ON TO SHREVEPORT, BABY!

The Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball team got the great news Tuesday that it’s been selected as one of only two wild card entries for the 32-team state 5A playoffs set to begin Thursday.

The 20th-seeded Wave will travel to Shreveport to play #13 Captain Shreve, a 4A state champion several years ago, in first round playoff action at 6 pm. Thursday at Shreveport.

Ponchatoula (18-11, 8-6) finished fourth in 7-5A and was selected for a wild card along with Destrehan, the fourth-place team from District 6-5A.

Regarding the playoff plans of other 7-5A teams, district champion Northshore (#8) will play Byrd (#25), #14 Slidell will play #19 St. Thomas More, and #16 Mandeville will play #17 South Terrebonne.

Other top-seeded Ponchatoula opponents from this season are #2 Acadiana, #6 Brother Martin, #7 Central and #10 Jesuit.  Nearly half of the Green Wave’s schedule this spring was played against state 5A playoff participants.

Friday, May 2
GREEN WAVE RALLIES PAST CAPTAIN SHREVE, SOARS INTO 5A REGIONALS

The Ponchatoula Green Wave wiped out an early 5-0 deficit, exploding for eight runs in the fourth inning to whip Captain Shreve, 9-6, Thursday night in the opening round of the 5A playoffs at Shreveport.

The Green Wave (19-11) now returns home to host 6-5A champ East Ascension in the 5A regionals Monday at Athletic Park.  Ponchatoula, whose win over Captain Shreve was the school’s first playoff victory in the past decade, is now one win away from qualifying for the state tournament beginning Friday in Denham Springs.

The Gators (21-14), District 1-5A co-champs with Airline and the 2006 4A state champions, got on the board first in the second inning off of Ponchy starter Torin Lucas.  Alex Garcia and Cody Mulholland rapped back-to-back singles before Casey Elkins’ two-run single made it 2-0.  Elkins later scored on an infield throwing error to make it 3-0.

Captain Shreve upped the lead to 5-0 in the third when Jacob Scarfiotti, Garcia doubled and Mulholland ripped an RBI single which was booted in the outfield, allowing a second run in the inning.

Meanwhile, Ponchy left two runners stranded in the first and retired in order in both the second and third by Garcia, the Gator starter.

But the Wave bats came alive in the fourth.  Dylan Hills led off with an infield single, moved to second when Lucas was hit by a pitch, and scored when Regis Stephens’ infield ground ball was booted.

Derek Gaudin followed with a pinch-hit, RBI single to make the score 5-2 before Jacob Griffin singled to load the bases.  Seth Bratton then crashed a two-run double down the left-field line that got through the left fielder, clearing the bases and tying the game at 5-all.

But the Greenies weren’t through in the fourth.  Tyler Nelson walked, and Laramie Pittman drove a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bratton with Ponchy’s first lead of the game at 6-5.

With two out Hills singled for the second time in the inning and scored from first on Lucas’s two-run double down the left field line.  When all was said and done, the Greenies had put up a back-breaking eight runs on six hits and two errors in the inning.

Captain Shreve threated in the fourth and fifth innings, but Lucas got out of both jams with inning-ending double plays courtesy of unassisted putouts and assists by Nelson, the second baseman.

The Gators cut the lead to 8-6 in the sixth when Allen Leonard doubled and Elkins singled him home.

But the Wave responded in the top of the seventh on a solo homer by Stephens, his fourth of the season, for a 9-6 lead.

Captain Shreve threatened in the last of the seventh when Scarfiotti reached third on a double and botched pickoff attempt at second.  But with one out Lucas bore down to force the final two batters into the ground outs to seal the victory.

Lucas (11-0) went the distance on the mound, allowing four earned runs and 12 hits while striking out three and walking none.

Nelson, Hills and Lucas each had two hits to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Stephens, Gaudin, Griffin and Bratton had the other hits for the Wave.

Ponchatoula will play at home for the final time Monday night against East Ascension (26-10).  Game time is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Saturday, May 3
BRING SOME FRIENDS– “PACK THE PARK” MONDAY
The Ponchatoula High baseball program and Grand Slam Booster Club would like to thank the nearly 100 Green Wave fans and supporters who made the trip to Shreveport for the Wave’s exciting bi-district playoff win over Captain Shreve Thursday.  The clapping, chanting, cheering and overall noise coming from the Ponchatoula side easily drowned out the homestanding Captain Shreve fans and clearly bothered and intimidated the Gator team and its players.  The Ponchy fans repeatedly boosted the Green Wave to big rallies and momentum surges.  Since this is the first time in at least a decade that Ponchatoula has had the chance to advance to the state 5A championship tournament, even more fans need to be in attendance Monday night cheering loudly for the Green Wave.  So spread the word and try to bring extra friends and family members to “Pack the Park” at Athletic Park- and make A LOT OF NOISE to spur the Green Wave players on to victory and a berth in the state 5A tournament.  Game time is 6:30 pm. Monday.  See you there. 

Tuesday, May 6
WAVE OUTLASTS SPARTANS, HEADED TO THE BIG DANCE!

Dylan Hills singled home Laramie Pittman with the deciding run in the fourth inning, and closer Regis Stephens struck out the final batter of the seventh  with the tying run on second as Ponchatoula edged East Ascension, 5-4, Monday night before a packed house at Athletic Park to win the regional championship and advance to the state 5A tournament for the first time in school history.

In beating the District 6-5A champion and fourth-seeded Spartans (26-12), the 20th-seeded Green Wave (20-11) earned a spot in the eight-team 5A state championship tourney set to begin Friday at Denham Springs’ North Park.  Ponchatoula’s opponent in the quarterfinal round will be fifth-seeded Barbe, the state 5A champs two years ago.  The Green Wave will square off with Barbe at 1 pm. Friday.

Playing before an electric home crowd and the largest fan turnout in years, Ponchatoula used a big four-run rally in the second inning and the combined five-hit pitching of Stephens and starter Torin Lucas to oust the Spartans.

Lucas (12-0), working with only three days rest after a complete game win over 13th-seeded Captain Shreve Thursday night, held the Spartans scoreless for the first two frames before the Greenies touched East Ascension ace Dane Amedee for four runs in the second.

B.J. Welch led off by reaching on a first base error before Stephens walked and Elisha Settoon bunted the runners to second and third.  Jacob Griffin then walked to load the bases, and Tyler Nelson was hit by a pitch to bring home the game’s first run.

Pittman then stroked a two-run single to left field, and  Hills’ infield single got past the shortstop to bring Nelson home for a 4-0 lead.

Lucas retired the side in order in the third, but the Spartans finally lit up the scoreboard in the top of the fourth.

Leadoff hitter Matt Richard walked, stole second and scored on a single by Dustin Wambsgans.  Dustin Lambert singled Wambsgans to third, and Adam Trahan walked to load the bases before Troy Gautreaux was hit by a pitch to bring home Wambsgans and chop Ponchatoula’s lead to 4-2.

But the Green Wave countered with what would turn out to be the deciding run in the last of the fourth.  Pittman cracked a one-out double before Hills smashed an RBI single down the left field line, driving home Pittman for a 5-2 lead.

The Spartans closed the gap to a single run with tallies in the fifth and sixth innings.

With Stephens taking the mound in relief of Lucas, Mark Waguespack led off the top of the fifth with a walk, reached second on a wild pitch, and took third when Stephens’ attempted pickoff throw to second sailed into centerfield.   Richard then scored on Marcus Bailey’s ground out to first base.

In the bottom of the fifth, Amedee got out of a jam, stranding runners on second and third, and East Ascension cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth.

Trahan and Ben Robinson received back-to-back walks, and Gautreaux singled Trahan home.  With nobody out, Stephens balked to move the runners to second and third, and he then issued his third walk of the inning to Bradley Day to load the bases.

But Stephens dug deep to strike out Brandon Smith before getting Richard to fly out to rightfielder Seth Bratton, whose strong throw home prevented Robinson from attempting to score the tying run from third.  Stephens then got Bailey to bounce a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop to escape the inning without further damage.

Ponchy went down in order in the last of the sixth, and East Ascension mounted one final threat in the seventh.

Wambsgans, who had three of the Spartans’ five hits on the night, singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.  But Stephens got Lambert, the cleanup hitter, to fly to centerfield and retired Trahan on a ground out back to the box.

Stephens then got behind Robinson 3-0 before reaching back to strike him out on the next three pitches to send the Spartans packing and the Green Wave on to the state 5A tournament.

Lucas moved his perfect record on the hill to 12-0 with the win, allowing two runs while striking out five, giving up two hits, walking three, and hitting two batters in four innings of work.

Stephens got the save with three innings on the mound.  He gave up two runs on three hits, striking out two and walking four.

Pittman and Hills had two hits each to lead the Green Wave while Settoon and Stephens had one hit apiece.

An overflow Ponchatoula crowd turned out to boost the Wave against the Spartans

Thursday, May 8
DIRECTIONS TO THE STATE 5A TOURNEY AT DENHAM SPRINGS

TAKE I-12 TOWARD BATON ROUGE, GO 25.5 MILES

TAKE EXIT 12 TO MERGE ONTO JUBAN RD./LA. 1026, GO 1.5 MI.

TURN LEFT AT FLORIDA BLVD. (US 190), GO 0.6 MI.

TURN RIGHT AT EDEN CHURCH ROAD, GO 0.8 MILES

NORTH PARK IS ON RIGHT

Thursday, May 8
IT’S “STATE IN 2008″! BACK THE WAVE AT DENHAM

Ponchatoula’s Green Wave will square off with the Barbe Buccaneers in the quarterfinals of the state 5A playoffs at 1 pm. Friday at Denham Springs’ North Park.

The Bucs, state 5A champs two years ago, were seeded 5th heading into the state playoffs and defeated Hahnville of District 6-5A, 3-0, Monday.  Ponchatoula, meanwhile, edged the 6-5A champ, fourth-seeded East Ascension, to move on to the state 5A tourney for the first time in school history.

The winner of the Ponchatoula-Barbe game will face the winner of the 10 am. Friday Mandeville-Airline game in the semifinals Saturday.

Two other quarterfinal matchups pit defending state champ Jesuit against second-seeded Acadiana at 4 pm.- and a pair of Baton Rouge area teams, Catholic High against Dutchtown, at 7 pm.

Semifinal games will be held at 11 am. and 2 pm. Saturday with the finals set for 7 pm. Saturday night.

Saturday, May 10
BARBE POWERS PAST WAVE IN QUARTERFINALS

Barbe’s Ryan Doiron shut down Ponchatoula on five hits while his Buccaneer teammates crashed 11 hits, including two home runs, to down the Green Wave, 10-2, in the state 5A quarterfinals Friday at Denham Springs.

The loss ended a great run by Ponchatoula (20-12), which qualified for the 5A state tournament for the first time in school history.  Barbe (33-7), a perennial 5A title favorite and visitor to the state tourney, advanced to the semifinal round against Airline (27-13) of Bossier City.

Doiron (10-0), who like Wave starter Torin Lucas (12-1) was working on three days rest, dominated Wave bats with his 90-plus fastball and a wicked slider through six innings.  He struck out out seven batters, walked one and hit two batsmen.

“He’s the best we’ve seen this year and maybe the best guy in the state,” Wave head coach Mark Gosnell said of Doiron. ”He’s not going to give up a whole lot.  We ran into a buzz saw with him on the mound today, and he really shut us down.”

Barbe got on the board in the top of the first when Garin Cecchini led off the game with a double into the left centerfield gap.  After Josh Lebert sacrificed him to third, Tanner Mathis brought Cecchini home with a sacrifice fly to left.

With Doiron fanning three of the first six batters he faced, the Bucs added two more in the top of the third.  Bubba Hoffpauer was hit by a pitch, and Cecchini walked before Lebert again bunted runners to second and third.  Mathis then sliced a double down the left field line to plate both runners which turned out to be all of the runs Barbe would need.

“They’re so tough to pitch to because they’re so disciplined at the plate, and when you make a mistake- any ball you leave up just a little bit- they hammer it,” Gosnell said.  “Even the outs they made, they hit the ball hard.”

Barbe added another run in the fourth on a solo shot by Daniel Zaunbrecher, and Doiron escaped Ponchy’s first threat in the bottom half with an inning-ending double play.  Laramie Pittman led off with a single, and Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch before Lucas lined back to Doiron, who doubled Hills off of first before he could get back to the bag.

The Buccaneers, who won the 5A title in 2006, made it 5-0 in the top of the fifth.  Lebert walked, moved to second on a Mathis single, and scored when an attempted pickoff at second was thrown wild into the outfield.

Ponchatoula finally got to Doiron for its first score in the bottom of the fifth.  Regis Stephens led off with a triple in the right centerfield gap and scored on an RBI single to left by Elisha Settoon.  But Settoon was left stranded to mark the third time the Greenies failed to drive home runners in scoring position.

Stephens replaced Lucas on the mound in the sixth and was greeted by Hommy Rosado’s solo homer.  Zaunbrecher singled, and Eric Cutrera sacrificed him to second before Cecchini was hit by a pitch.  Lebert and Mathis then delivered back-to-back RBI singles for an 8-0 lead.

In the seventh the Bucs added two more courtesy of RBI singles by Rosado and Zaunbrecher and a fielder’s choice grounder.

Ponchatoula scored its only other run in the last of the seventh when Derrick Gaudin walked and Stephens singled him to second.  Reliever Adam Guillon entered the game, and Settoon and Jacob Griffin rapped back-to-back singles for the final 10-2 margin.

In suffering his only loss in 13 starts this season, Lucas pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out three, walking two and hitting two batters.  In two innings of relief Stephens allowed three earned runs on six hits while hitting two batters and walking one.

Pittman, Stephens and Settoon all had two hits for the Green Wave while Griffin had one.

“We played hard today.  But they were the better baseball team today, and they may be the best team in the tournament,” Gosnell said.

Wednesday, January 7
WAVE OPENS PRESEASON PREP FOR 2009 SEASON

	Jr. Dylan Hills (P-IF-OF) is one of 2 returning full-time starters

The 2009 Ponchatoula Green Wave opened practice for the spring season Tuesday at Athletic Park, beginning preps for the Feb. 21 Jamboree and the Feb. 23 regular season opener at Comeaux in Lafayette.  The Wave returns two full-time starters from the 2008 state 5A quarterfinalists, All-District 7-5A Honorable Mention selections Dylan Hills (OF) and Elisha Settoon (3B), among seven seniors, six juniors and four sophomores.  Freshman tryouts for the 2009 Wave will also be conducted this week.  The Greenies will scrimmage Brother Martin at home Feb. 14th and Franklinton on the road Feb. 18th.  

Jr. 3B-P Elisha Settoon is one of 2 returning full-time starters

Senior Ethan Murray was a part-time starter at SS in 2008

Wednesday, January 7
2009 GREENIES RETURN SIX SENIORS

	Senior outfielder Joey LaMarca returns for 2009

The 2009 version of the Ponchatoula Green Wave varsity baseball team will sport six returning seniors, led by a returning part-time starter at shortstop, Ethan Murray.  Other Wave seniors are Joey LaMarca (OF), Dylan Posey (P-1B), Reeve Kirkland (P-OF), Ryan Daniels (P-IF) and Dakota Simoneaux (P-IF).

Senior Dylan Posey returns at P-1B

Junior Justin Crowell will help man the outfield

Wednesday, January 7
WAVE JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES TO ADD SPARK

Junior Randall Meyers will play IF-OF

In addition to All-District 7-5A Honorable Mention returning starters Elisha Settoon (P-3B) and Dylan Hills (P-IF-OF), the 2009 Green Wave will get a boost from four other returning juniors.  Those include Randall Meyers (IF-OF), Justin Crowell (OF), Kaleb Kraft (C) and Jake Ruiz (P-IF).

Returning sophomores include Darrin Bach (IF-OF), Brett Vampran (IF-OF), Hayden Hutches (P-OF) and Mark Traylor (IF).

Junior Kaleb Kraft will play catcher

Catcher Dylan Meyers is one of 12 frosh to join the Wave

Saturday, January 17
GREEN WAVE ADDS 13 TO ROSTER

One senior and 12 freshmen make up the new additions to the 2009 Green Wave baseball team after recent tryout sessions.  Daniel Sweetman, a senior, is the lone upperclassman while freshmen Dylan Meyers, Tyler Corbin, Brady Bass, Ryan Byers, Taylor Denham, Blake Falconello, Trey Foster, Jake Lipps, Jacob Mercante, Nathan Plauche, Zack Rock and Zack Traylor also made the team.

Friday, February 20
DEMONS TOP WAVE IN RAIN-SHORTENED SCRIMMAGE

Franklinton erupted for four runs in the first inning, including a pair of home runs, to upend Ponchatoula, 6-2, in a scrimmage shortened to three innings by rain Wednesday.

The Demons parlayed five hits and one Ponchatoula error into a 4-0 first inning lead, and the Wave made it 4-1 on a solo homer by Dylan Posey.

Franklinton added another run in the second on a pair of two-out errors and a single. Ethan Murray doubled home Ryan Byers for Ponchy’s final run before Franklinton added another in the third before the rains came on a pair of walks and a single.

Dylan Hills pitched the first inning for the Green Wave and was followed by Elisha Settoon and Posey with one inning apiece on the hill.

Posey, Murray, Byers and Randall Meyers all had one hit for Ponchatoula.

The Green Wave opens its season in the annual Jamboree at 11 am. Saturday against Loranger at Independence.

Friday, February 20
GREEN WAVE IMPRESSIVE IN SCRIMMAGE VS. LORANGER

Ponchatoula High provided a glimpse of its 2009 Green Wave baseball team Sunday at Athletic Park, and Ponchy fans liked what they saw.  In a two-game scrimmage with No. 6-ranked Brother Martin,  the Green Wave won the 9-inning varsity contest, 4-0, while losing the five-inning JV fray, 5-1.

In the varsity scrimmage, three Ponchatoula hurlers combined to shut out the Crusaders through nine innings on only one hit.  Dylan Hills, Elisha Settoon and Dylan Posey, backed by excellent defensive play, pitched three innings apiece to blank Brother Martin.

After a scoreless first four innings, Ponchy drew first blood when Dylan Meyers walked and pinch-runner Ryan Daniels moved to second on a wild pickoff attempt by the pitcher.  Daniels moved to third on Joey LaMarca’s bunt single and scored on Brett Vampran’s fielder’s choice grounder.

The Wave scored its second run in the eighth when Ethan Murray led off with a single, moved to second on a walk to Dakota Simoneaux, reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Daniels, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hills.

Ponchatoula added two more runs in the ninth when Justin Crowell reached second on a wild throw by the second baseman, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch.

Randall Meyers then walked, advanced all the way to third on a pair of wild pitches, and stole home on a catcher’s throw trying to nab a Wave runner stealing second.

Murray had two singles to lead the Wave while LaMarca, Crowell, and Randall Meyers had singles and Settoon had a double.

Ponchatoula’s defense twice halted Crusader rallies with double plays while Hills’ running grab of a centerfield liner robbed what would have been a run-scoring, extra base hit in the eighth.

In the second game, Daniel Sweetman, Simoneaux, Daniels and Vampran pitched for the Wave.  Ponchatoula scored its only run in the final inning when Hills tripled and Posey singled him home for the Wave’s only two hits in the five-inning contest.

The Green Wave travels to Franklinton for a 4 pm. scrimmage Wednesday.

Sunday, February 22
WOLVES BITE PONCHY IN JAMBOREE

The Loranger Wolves rallied for four runs in the third inning to break open a tight game and topple the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 9-2, Saturday in the annual jamboree game at Independence.

The Wolves used four hits, a sacrifice fly and a throwing error to break open a 3-1 game and take a commanding 7-1 lead.

Loranger, the defending 10-3A champions, added two more runs with a two-out rally in the fifth.  A pair of doubles, a walk and a single provided the final tallies.

The Wolves struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first when the leadoff batter reached on an outfield error and scored on a two-out single.  One walk and two wild pitches later, and Loranger had a 2-0 lead.

Ponchy got on the board in the top of the second when Dylan Meyers and Kaleb Kraft laced back-to-back singles and Dylan Hills ripped an RBI single to center, plating Meyers.

Loranger answered in the bottom of the second on two walks and a two-out single for a 3-1 lead.

Ponchatoula added its only other run in the sixth inning when Randall Meyers walked, Brett Vampran singled, Dylan Hills walked, and Ethan Murray drew a bases-loaded walk.

Dylan Meyers led Ponchatoula at the plate with two singles while Hills, Kraft, Vampran and Dylan Posey all  singled.

Posey started on the mound for Ponchy and pitched the first inning.  He was followed by Elisha Settoon, who pitched the second, and Darrin Bach, who threw the third and fourth.  Vampran pitched the final inning for the Wave.

Ponchatoula officially opens the season at 1 pm. Monday when the Wave travels to Lafayette to battle 3-5A Comeaux.

Tuesday, February 24
COMEAUX SWAMPS GREEN WAVE IN OPENER

Comeaux High of District 3-5A took advantage of eight  Ponchatoula errors, five walks and five hit batters en route to a 13-3 victory over the Green Wave in the season opener Monday in Lafayette.

Ponchatoula got on the scoreboard first when Dylan Hills walked, stole second and scored on Dylan Posey’s RBI single.

Comeaux responded in the last of the first with three runs on three hits and two walks off of Hills, the Ponchy starter, for a 3-1 lead.

The Green Wave tied the score in the top of the when back-to-back singles by Justin Crowell and Randall Meyers and a walk to Joey Lamarca loaded the bases.  Runs scored when Brett Vampran’s popup was dropped and Ethan Murray’s pop fly fell for a single.

That was all of the Ponchatoula scoring, however, as Comeaux took a 5-3 lead in the last of the third on two hit batters and a pair of singles.

Comeaux added one in the fourth on a hit batter, an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly.  The home team blew the game open with four runs in the fifth as five Ponchy errors contributed to the big inning.

Two walks, two hit batters and a fielder’s choice ended the game in the last of the sixth by the mercy rule.

Meyers and Ethan Murray led the Wave at the plate with two hits apiece while Posey and Crowell had the other two hits.

Hills threw 4.6 innings in suffering the loss, allowing six earned runs on five hits while walking four, striking out two and hitting three batters.

Reliever Elisha Settoon pitched a third of an inning, allowing no earned runs and one hit.  The Wave’s Ryan Daniels pitched the final inning, allowing one earned run on no hits while fanning two, walking two and hitting two batters.

The Wave returns home Wednesday for a 6:30 pm. meeting with Independence at Athletic Park in the opening game of the Parish Tournament.

Thursday, February 26
WAVE WHIPS INDY IN PARISH TOURNEY OPENER

Senior righthander Dylan Posey threw a five-inning no-hitter and led an 11-hit attack with three hits of his own as Ponchatoula mashed Independence, 11-1, in the opener of the Parish Tournament Wednesday night at Athletic Park.

Ponchatoula will now face St. Thomas Acquinas, a 13-3 winner over Sumner, at 4 pm. today in the winner’s bracket at Athletic Park.

Posey dominated the Tigers from the hill, striking out
eight while walking two and hitting one batter.

He also staked Ponchy to a 1-0 first-inning lead when he singled home Ethan Murray, who’d reached on a walk and stolen second.

Indy tied it briefly in the top of the third.  With two out, a pair of errors, a stolen base and a passed ball made it 1-1.

But the Greenies rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 they would never relinquish.  Posey led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Justin Crowell’s single. Crowell moved to second on a passed ball before Randall Meyers walked and Dylan Meyers singled to load the bases.  Three successive wild pitches resulted in three runs to cap the rally.

Ponchy scored four more in the fourth.  Dylan Hills led off with a single and stole second before moving to third on a booted grounder.  Crowell then cleaned the bases with a two-run double.  Dylan Meyers walked before Kaleb Kraft singled Crowell home.  Murray followed with a single that scored Meyers to wind up the scoring.

The Green Wave ended it by the mercy rule in the fifth. Hills reached on an error by the catcher, moved to second on a balk, and scored on Posey’s single.  Crowell then launched a double to deep left center that scored Posey to end the game.

Posey and Crowell had three hits each to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Dylan Meyers had two hits while Kraft, Murray and Hills had one hit each.

Thursday, February 26
ST. THOMAS EDGES GREEN WAVE, 8-3

St. Thomas Acquinas rapped out eight hits and took advantage of nine walks and five errors committed by the Ponchatoula Green Wave enroute to an 8-3 win Thursday night.

St. Thomas now advances in the winners’ bracket to face top-seeded Loranger at 6:30 pm. Friday at Athletic Park.  The Green Wave now falls into the loser’s bracket and will face the Hammond-Amite loser at 4 pm. at Athletic Park.

Ponchatoula touched St. Thomas starter Logan Shaver for nine hits, but left 10 runners on base to come up on the short end against the Falcons.

Shaver picked up the win, going 4.6 innings on the hill.  He gave up nine hits while striking out five batters, walking two, and hitting a batter.

With the Green Wave threatening to close a 3-run deficit in the fifth, the Falcons turned to reliever Ethan Bleakely, who closed the door on Ponchy the rest of the way.  In picking up the save, the submarine-style Bleakely gave up no runs and no hits, striking out three and walking one in the remaining 2.3 innings of action.

St. Thomas jumped to a 2-0 lead off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon in the top of the first when Gabe Woods reached on an infield error, stole second, and scored on J.T. Trapani’s RBI single.  Pinch-runner Blake Brooks then stole second, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on Shaver’s RBI single.

Ponchatoula sliced the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half with two out when Dylan Hills singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Dylan Posey’s RBI single.

St. Thomas boosted its lead to 4-1 in the top of the second when Brandon Loria reached on an error, Matt Carona walked, and Woods doubled to center, driving home Loria.  Woods later advanced to third on a fielder’s choice before scoring on a wild pitch.

The Wave scored a single run in the third when Settoon led off with a single and pinch-runner Darrin Bach moved to second on a single by Hills.  Justin Crowell then singled Bach home to cut the Falcon lead to 4-2.

With Settoon holding St. Thomas scoreless over the next two innings, Ponchy cut the lead to 4-3 when pinch-hitter Kaleb Kraft launched a solo homer over the left field wall in the fourth.

But St. Thomas responded with a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-3.  Russell Pellichino led off with a walk and stole second before Shaver singled him to third.  Pellichino then scored on Loria’s sacrifice fly to left field.

Ponchy threatened in the last of the fifth, placing runners on second and third with two out.  But the Falcons came with the submarine-throwing Bleakely at that point, and he promptly struck out a batter to squelch the Ponchatoula threat.

Meanwhile,  the Falcons added insurance in the sixth.  Woods led off with a double and advanced to third on an overthrown relay.  Trapani then lifted a fly to deep left which was dropped, plating Woods.

Settoon was relieved by Brett Vampran at that point, and after one strikeout Vampran issued a pair of walks and allowed pinch-runner Brooks to score on a wild pitch.

Bach then became the second Ponchy reliever of the inning.  He walked Bleakely to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Ross Pellichino delivered an infield single for an 8-3 lead.

Bleakely shut down Ponchatoula with no runs in its final two at-bats, allowing only two baserunners and striking out two more batters.

Woods led St. Thomas at the plate with three doubles while Shaver had a pair of singles.  Trapani, Cody Durham and  Ross Pellichino had one hit each.

Hills, Crowell and Dylan Meyers all had a pair of hits to lead the Ponchatoula bats.  Settoon, Posey and Kraft had one hit apiece, Kraft’s being a solo homer.

Settoon went 5.1 innings on the mound for Ponchy in recording the loss.  He gave up only three earned runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking six.

Bach pitched 1.6 innings of relief, giving up no earned runs while fanning two, walking one and allowing one  hit.

Friday, February 27
PONCHY UPENDS HAMMOND IN PARISH TOURNEY

Elisha Settoon’s grand slam keyed a five-run, third-inning rally as Ponchatoula wiped out a three-run deficit to whip Hammond, 9-5, Friday in the Parish Tournament at Athletic Park.

Ponchy (2-2) will now play the winner of the Amite-Sumner matchup at 10 am. Saturday in Amite.  The winner of that game will take on St. Thomas Acquinas in the semifinals at 2 pm. Saturday at Athletic Park.  By virtue of beating St.Thomas , 8-1, on Friday, Loranger now moves into the championship game  at 2 pm. Sunday at Athletic Park.

Settoon delivered three hits, the big one his game-changing grand slam in the fifth, while sophomore righty Darrin Bach pitched a seven-inning complete game for the win.

Ponchatoula got on the board first in the last of the first inning when Dylan Hills reached on an error, moved to second on a single by Settoon, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Crowell, and scored on Dylan Posey’s RBI single.

Hammond touched Bach for four runs in the second for a 4-1 lead.  A leadoff single by Chris Moran, a triple by Trevor Ragan, a single by Morgan Payne, a walk and a pair of throwing errors accounted for the four tallies.

Ponchy chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the second when Hills reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to second on the catcher’s wild throw to first, and scored on Settoon’s RBI single up the middle.

Bach escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the top of the third when an infield popup back to the pitcher was dropped in a collision with the first baseman.  As the infield fly rule was called, Hammond runners nevertheless tried to advance, and one was tagged out at third to end the inning.

The Green Wave staged its big rally with two out in the last of the third to turn the game around.  Randall Meyers singled, Brett Vampran walked, and pinch-hitter Jake Ruiz and Hills were both hit by pitches to chop the lead to 4-3.

On the next pitch Settoon launched a grand slam over the scoreboard in left field for a 7-4 lead that the Wave would never relinquish.

Ponchatoula added two insurance runs in the fifth on an infield single by Hills, an RBI double by Crowell, and Posey’s hard grounder that was booted by the third baseman.

Hammond added one more run in the top of the sixth when Morgan Payne singled, moved to third on a double by Young, and scored on Drago’s ground out.

Bach went the distance on the mound, allowing five runs, three of them earned, on six hits while striking out one and walking three.

Settoon, who had five RBI’s, and Crowell led the Wave at the plate with three hits apiece. Hills, Posey, Dylan Meyers and Randall Meyers had one hit each for Ponchy.

Saturday, February 28
PONCHATOULA SLAMS AMITE, 9-1

Starter Dylan Hills shut down Amite on four hits, and Ponchatoula laced eight hits to whack the Warriors, 9-1, Saturday morning in a quarterfinal game of the Parish Tournament at Amite.

The win boosted Ponchy into Saturday afternoon’s tourney semifinals against St. Thomas Acquinas, which lost to Loranger, 8-1, in the winner’s bracket Friday night.

Hills struck out eight, walked two, and hit two batters to silence the Warriors, who reached the quarterfinals with a win over Sumner.

Ponchy rallied for four runs in the top of the second to give Hills all of the cushion he needed.  Dylan Meyers led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Randall Meyers.  Blake Falconello bunted the runners to second and third before Brett Vampran walked to load the bases.

Ethan Murray then dropped a single into shallow centerfield, scoring pinch-runner Darrin Bach with the game’s first run.  Hills then singled home Randall Meyers for a 2-0 lead, and Settoon walked to drive in another run.  Justin Crowell’s sacrifice fly scored Murray to round out the inning’s scoring.

Amite added its only run in the top of the third on a single, walk and shortstop error.

Ponchatoula scored all five of its remaining runs with a big sixth-inning rally. Randall Meyers led off with a single and moved to second on Falconello’s single.  Vampran was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Hills’ popup to short right was dropped, scoring Meyers to make it 5-1.

Settoon was hit by a pitch to bring home Falconello with another run, and Posey’s single plated both Vampran and Hills.  Settoon scored while trying for third on the hit as the catcher’s throw sailed into left field.

Hills, Randall Meyers and Falconello, a freshman, each had two hits to lead Ponchy.  Posey and Murray had one hit apiece.

Saturday, February 28
PONCHY NIPS ST. THOMAS TO ADVANCE TO FINALS

Dylan Meyers’ sacrifice fly to right field scored Elisha Settoon from third with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as Ponchatoula came from behind to beat St. Thomas Acquinas, 4-3, Saturday in the semifinal game of the 2009 Parish Tournament at Ponchatoula’s Athletic Park.

Ponchy (4-2) now advances to the championship game against top-seeded Loranger at 2 pm. Sunday at Athletic Park.  Earlier in the day, the Green Wave rode a four-hitter by Dylan Hills en route to a 9-1 quarterfinal win over Amite.

Shortstop Ethan Murray’s clutch, diving catch of a short outfield popup with the go-ahead run on second with two out in the top of the seventh preserved a 3-3 tie and set the stage for heroics from Ponchy bats in the bottom of the last inning.

With one out and reliever Jacob Magliolo taking the mound for Ethan Bleakely, Settoon ripped a single down the left field line and advanced to second on Justin Crowell’s single to right.  Dylan Posey  dropped a single into shallow right-center to load the bases.  Dylan Meyers, a freshman, then lofted a fly to medium right field, and Settoon beat the throw home just ahead of the tag for the game-winner.

In eliminating the Falcons, Ponchatoula avenged an earlier 8-3 setback to St. Thomas in the tourney’s second round on Thursday.  Similar to the first meeting, the Falcons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but this time couldn’t put the Wave away as Ponchy hurler Dakota Simoneaux stranded nine STA baserunners.

Gabe Woods started the first-inning Falcon rally with a walk and then advanced to second on a single by Ryan Downing.  Russell Pellichino then singled to drive Woods home, and Downing scored on a wild throw to third for a 2-0 lead.

But the Green Wave countered in the bottom of the first.  Hills was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a walk to Settoon.  Posey then singled to left, driving Hills home and making the score 2-1.

With Simoneaux and STA’s Bleakely locked in a pitcher’s duel, no more runs were scored until the top of the fifth when J.T. Trapani walked, moved to second on a walk to Downing, and advanced to third when Pellichino’s single loaded the bases.  Logan Shaver’s sacrifice fly to deep center plated Trapani and upped the Falcon lead to 3-1.

Ponchatoula, which had only one hit against Bleakely for the first five innings, left two runners in scoring position in the last of the fifth.  But the Green Wave bats woke up in the last of the sixth as Ponchy rallied to tie the score at 3-all.

Crowell led off with a single and moved to third on Posey’s double to deep right field.  Dylan Meyers then singled home Crowell before Randall Meyers’ sacrifice fly to deep center scored pinch-runner Darrin Bach to knot the score at 3-3.

Pellichino again singled for STA in the top of the seventh and stole second base.  But he was left stranded in scoring position by Murray’s diving catch in short left field, setting the table for Ponchy’s game-winning rally in the last of the seventh.

Posey led Ponchatoula at the plate with three hits while Crowell had two.  Settoon and Dylan Meyers each had one hit for the winners.

Simoneaux, starting his first game of the season, went all seven innings on the hill, holding St. Thomas to three runs, only two of them earned.  He gave up six hits, four of them singles by Pellichino, while Trapani and Downing had the other singles.

Simoneaux struck out five, walked six, and hit one batter in picking up the win.

In six innings of work, the submarine-pitching Bleakely held Ponchatoula to three runs on four hits, striking out five, walking two, and hitting two batters.

Sunday, March 1
WAVE FALLS TO LORANGER IN TITLE GAME

Shea Edwards tossed a complete game five-hitter, and his Loranger teammates belted 12 hits as the Wolves mashed Ponchatoula, 18-4, Sunday for the Parish Tournament title at Athletic Park.

The top-seeded Wolves, who received a first-round bye and needed only two wins to reach the title game, took advantage of four Green Wave errors and 10 walks and two hit batsmen issued by five Ponchatoula pitchers in the finale.

The Wave, which had to play through the losers’ bracket, played its sixth game in five days against the Wolves for the crown.

Edwards allowed just two earned runs while striking out three and walking two to pick up the victory.

The Wolves jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first against Wave freshman starter Branden Lessard, pitching in his first varsity game.

Brice Himel led off by reaching on an infield error, and after Taylor Abdalla was hit by a pitch, scored on a dropped fly in the outfield. Abdalla also scored on the play when the resulting throw went into the third base dugout.  Edwards added a sacrifice fly for another run before Tyler Kendrick tripled and scored on a double by Zack Serigny.

Himel sparked a two-run rally in the second with a one-out triple.  He later scored on Kyle Wheeler’s double, and Kendrick brought Wheeler home with a single.

The Wolves scored two more in the third when Brennan Catalano singled, moved to second on a walk to Trent Lott, and scored as the catcher’s throw attempting to catch Lott stealing sailed into centerfield.  Himel then singled home Lott for an 8-0 lead.

Loranger added five runs in the fourth, facing a parade of Green Wave relief pitchers.  Kendrick doubled and scored on Lott’s single.  Zach Serigny and Lott scored on bases-loaded walks.  Gilbert Boudreaux scored on a hit batsman with the bases full, and Himel scored on a passed ball to make it 13-0.

Ponchatoula finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth.  Dylan Posey doubled to deep center and moved to third on a single by Dylan Meyers.  Randall Meyers then unloaded a two-run triple to make the score 13-2.

The Wolves used four walks and three singles to make it 18-2 in the top of the fifth, and Ponchy put up two more runs in the last of the fifth before the game ended due to the mercy rule.  A single by Joey Lamarca, a fielder’s choice by Zack Traylor, and a pair of errors, one on a grounder by Mark Traylor, provided the last Green Wave runs.

Lessard went three innings on the hill for the Wave before giving way to relievers Brett Vampran, Jake Ruiz, Hayden Hutches and Chris Bass.

Lamarca, Posey, Kaleb Kraft, Dylan Meyers and Randall Meyers had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

“Congratulations to Loranger,” said Ponchy head coach Mark Gosnell.  “We did a great job of coming out of the loser’s bracket to make it to the finals.  We just kind of ran out of gas on Sunday.  I’m proud of our team– it’s tough to play six games in five days.”

The Wave next hosts fifth-ranked Central at 5 pm. Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Monday, March 9
PONCHATOULA STUNS 5TH-RANKED CENTRAL

Dylan Posey strangled Central on four hits and drove in what proved to be the winning run with a third-inning double as Ponchatoula stunned the 5th-ranked Wildcats, 4-1, Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Central (4-1-1), currently ranked 5th in the latest state 5A baseball poll released by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association, suffered its first loss of the season against the Green Wave.  Last weekend the Wildcats defeated top-ranked and defending 5A champion Barbe in the Dutchtown tournament.

Posey, who threw a five-inning no-hitter last week against Independence in the Parish Tournament, dominated  the fifth-ranked Wildcats by pitching all seven innings, striking out four and walking seven.

He averted serious Central rallies in both the first  and  second innings.  His successful infield pickoff of a runner at second base stymied a bases-loaded threat in the first.  And freshman catcher Dylan Meyers’ pickoff of a runner leaning off second base stopped a second-inning rally with two runners on.

But the last of the third proved pivotal for the Wave.  Ethan Murray led off with a walk ,and Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch.  Elisha Settoon then sacrificed both runners ahead one base before an RBI single by Justin Crowell, a double off the centerfield wall by Posey, and a single by Kaleb Kraft accounted for three runs and all of the cushion Posey would need.

The Wave (5-3) pushed its lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Hills singled with one out and advanced to second on a wild throw into the dugout.  Settoon followed with a single to center to drive Hills home.

Central mounted another threat in the top of the sixth.  Consecutive singles by Kory Keowen and Zack Pourciau and a walk to Corey Ball loaded the bases with one out.

Jacob LeSage then brought home Keowen with a ground out to first.  But Posey snuffed out the rally by fanning the next batter.

The Green Wave backed Posey with errorless defense the entire night.

Hills, Settoon, Crowell, Posey, Kraft and Dylan Meyers all had one hit to lead Ponchatoula at the plate.

Ponchatoula hosts the Gateway Ford Classic Friday and Saturday at Athletic Park.  Visiting teams include South Lafourche, Belle Chasse and Franklinton.  Ponchy hosts South Lafourche in the first game at 6:30pm. Friday..

Monday, March 9
WAVE SINKS TARPONS, 13-3

Dylan Hills fired a four-hitter, and Ponchatoula batters drilled 10 hits to rip South Lafourche by the ten-run rule, 13-3, in the nightcap of opening day action of the Owen Rigdell Gateway Ford Classic at Athletic Park.

Belle Chasse outslugged Franklinton, 11-7, to win the opener.  Belle Chasse faces Ponchatoula at 10 am. Saturday morning while the Greenies play Franklinton at 5:30 pm.

Hills allowed no earned runs and struck out seven in six innings of work, walking two and hitting a batter.  It was his second straight dominant performance on the mound, having tossed a complete game four-hitter last week against Amite.

The only runs Hills allowed were a trifecta in the fourth, but they were all unearned as a result of three errors.

After a scoreless first inning, Ponchatoula broke the ice in the second.  Dylan Posey singled, and with two out Blake Falconello and Brett Vampran drew walks to load the bases.  Ethan Murray then delivered a two-run single.  Hills was hit by a pitch, and Dylan Meyers drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0.

After South Lafourche tied it with its three-run uprising in the top of the fourth, Ponchatoula regained the lead with four more in the bottom of the fourth.

Murray reached on an error by the shortstop before Hills reached on a fielder’s choice.  A walk to Dylan Meyers loaded the bases for Justin Crowell, whose popup to shallow left resulted in a fielder’s choice but plated Murray for a 4-3 lead.  Kraft then followed with a two-run double for a 6-3 cushion and all of the runs that Hills would need.

Ponchatoula added three more with a two-out rally in the fifth.  Hills was hit by a pitch, and Dylan Meyers doubled him home.  Crowell singled to center, and the catcher mishandled the throw home as pinch-runner Darrin Bach scored for an 8-3 lead.  Posey then doubled Crowell home for the final run of the inning.

The Wave ended the game by the mercy rule in the sixth.  Randall Meyers led off with a triple and scored on Vampran’s single. Ethan Murray then reached on an error by the shortstop before Hills cleaned the bases with a double to left center for the final 13-3 score.

Leading hitters for Ponchatoula were Posey and Kraft with two hits each and Hills, Dylan Meyers, Crowell, Randall Meyers, Vampran and Murray with one each.

Monday, March 9
BELLE CHASSE SLAPS WAVE, 11-6

Belle Chasse erupted for five runs in the first inning en route to an 11-6 victory over Ponchatoula Saturday morning in second-day action of the Owen Rigdell Gateway Ford Classic at Athletic Park.

The District 8-4A Cardinals, who remained unbeaten at 8-0 on the season, used two hits and three Ponchatoula errors to jump to a 5-0 first-inning lead off of Green Wave starter Elisha Settoon.

The Wave added a run in the third when Dylan Hills doubled and Settoon singled him to third.  Hills then scored when Justin Crowell’s grounder was booted by the shortstop.

Belle Chasse answered with a run in the bottom half on back-to-back doubles by Nick Flair and Adam Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals made it 9-1 in the fourth on a double by Matt Tesvich, a single by Keith Hedrick, and a three-run homer by Chris Guidry, his second of the tournament.

Ponchy scored two runs in the last of the fifth when Hills singled, Settoon walked, Crowell singled and Dylan Posey had an RBI single.  Dylan Meyers later walked with the bases loaded to drive in another run.

The Cardinals added two more runs against Ponchy reliever Branden Lessard in the fifth on two walks, a hit batsman, a single and a wild pitch.

The Wave put up three more in the seventh.  Crowell slammed a solo homer, Posey singled, Kraft walked, and Dylan Meyers brought home two more with a double.

Dakota Simoneaux relieved the final inning for the Wave and didn’t allow a run.

Settoon went five innings on the hill for Ponchy, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking two.

Posey, Hills and Crowell each had two hits to lead Ponchatoula while Settoon and Dylan Meyers also had a hit.

Monday, March 9
FRANKLINTON BLANKS WAVE, 6-0

Franklinton pitchers Terrence Magee and B.J. Martin shut out Ponchatoula on two hits and continued a home run assault of their own as the Demons stopped the Green Wave, 6-0, in the finale of the Owen Rigdell Gateway Ford Classic Saturday night at Ponchy’s Athletic Park.

The Demons, who beat South Lafourche 15-5 in an earlier game, finished the tournament with a 2-1 record, having lost to Belle Chasse, 11-7, on Saturday.

Belle Chasse drubbed Ponchatoula, 11-5, and South Lafourche, 5-2, Saturday to finish the tourney unbeaten.

Ponchatoula, which beat South Lafourche, 13-3, Friday, finished 1-2 in the tournament.  South Lafourche lost all three games.

A sixth-inning double by Dylan Meyers and a seventh-inning single by Dylan Posey were the only hits that the Green Wave could register off of Franklinton pitchers, who also registered nine walks and one hit batter.  The Greenies left 11 baserunners stranded in the losss.

Starter Magee pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit ball before Dylan Meyers’ s sixth-inning double down the left field line.  He struck out eight and walked eight before giving way to Martin with the bases loaded in the fifth.

Martin, who got out of the jam with a double play and ground out, picked up the save, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out one batter.

Franklinton, meanwhile, continued its home run binge begun earlier in the tournament with two dingers, a first-inning solo shot by Evan Tageant and a sixth-inning two-run homer by Martin. The Demons hit seven roundtrippers in three games in the tourney.

Franklinton jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Tageant’s solo homer off of Ponchy starter Darrin Bach.

Ponchy threatened in the bottom half when Magee walked the first three batters before settling down to fan three in a row.

Jade Dillon led off the Franklinton second with a double and scored on Clay Tageant’s single.

Ponchy didn’t threaten again until the fourth.  With runners on second and third with two out, Magee got a key strikeout to end the inning.

After Chris Gill singled, Martin upped Franklinton’s lead in the sixth to 4-0 with a two-run homer.

And in the bottom of the inning he relieved Magee and got the Demons out of a bases-loaded jam with no runs allowed.

The Demons added two more in the seventh. A double by Alex Billings and Bryan Breland’s sacrifice fly produced one run before B.J. Dykes walked and scored on Chris Gill’s single and the subsequent outfield error.

Bach pitched all seven innings for Ponchatoula, allowing six runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one.

The Green Wave returns to action on the road Tuesday at 5 pm. against Walker.

Tuesday, March 10
PONCHY RIPS WALKER, 10-4

Dylan Posey threw a complete game five-hitter, and his Ponchatoula teammates blasted 13 hits as the Green Wave whipped Walker, 10-4, Tuesday at Walker.

Posey (3-0) allowed only two earned runs as he struck out seven, walked one and hit two batters for his third straight complete game victory.  The big righthander shut down 5th-ranked Central on a four-hitter last week and no-hit Independence in five innings the previous week.

Ponchatoula (7-5) showed it would give Posey all the support he needed from the top, jumping out to a 2-0 first inning lead on the District 5-5A Wildcats.

Dylan Hills led off the frame with a double to left center and scored on Elisha Settoon’s single to right field.  Settoon moved to second on an infield error and third on a fielder’s choice before scoring when Kaleb Kraft’s grounder was booted by the third baseman toward the shortstop, who then threw out the runner headed for third.  Settoon scored before the out occurred, making it 2-0 Ponchatoula.

The Wave made it 3-0 in the top of the second when Randall Meyers led off with a double down the right field line.  Meyers moved to third on a single by Brett Vampran and scored on another double by Hills to left field.

Ponchy went up 4-0 with a two-out rally in the top of the third.  Kraft singled to left, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Randall Meyers’ double off the centerfield wall.

The Wildcats staged their biggest threat in the bottom of the third.  A hit batsman, a stolen base, a single, two errors and an RBI ground out cut the lead to 4-3.

But Ponchy came back to add some cushion in the top of the fourth.  After Hills was hit by a pitch and Settoon walked, Justin Crowell cleaned the bases with a double to right center.  Dylan Meyers then plated Crowell with a single to centerfield for a 7-3 lead.

Walker added its final run in the bottom half on a walk, a balk and an RBI single.

The Green Wave added three more runs in the top of the fifth in almost identical fashion to the fourth.  Vampran singled to left before Hills was again hit by a pitch and Settoon again walked.  Crowell once again cleaned the bases with a big blast, a three-run double to center.

Hills, Crowell, Kraft, Vampran and Randall Meyers all had two hits to lead Ponchatoula at the plate.  Settoon, Posey and Dylan Meyers each had one hit.

Ponchatoula plays again at 3:30 pm. Thursday in its opening game of the Parkview Baptist Tournament in Baton Rouge against host and defending 3A champion Parkview Baptist.

The Wave’s second round game will be a rematch with 5-5A Central at 9 am. Saturday.  The Wave will play a second game Saturday depending on seeding after the first two games.

Thursday, March 12
PARKVIEW HAMMERS PONCHY, 13-3

Defending 3-A state champion Parkview Baptist flexed its muscles at the plate, drilling 14 hits and blowing open a one-run game with a seven-run fifth, as the Eagles walloped Ponchatoula, 13-3, Thursday in the opener of Parkview’s annual tourney in Baton Rouge.

Ponchatoula (7-6) will play the Central Wildcats at 9 am. Saturday in their second game of the tournament.  Last week the Green Wave handed the 5th-ranked Wildcats a 4-1 loss.

Ponchy battled neck-and-neck with the perennial Baton Rouge powerhouse, trailing only 4-3 until the last of the fifth when the Eagles plated seven runs on five hits, capped by a two-run homer from LSU signee and preseason All-American Alex Edwards.

The Eagles (9-2), winners of four straight state 3A titles and the preseason pick to repeat this year, drew first blood in the bottom of the first off of Wave starter Dylan Hills.  A single by Brant Legendre, a double by Edwards, and a single by Tanner Schafer made it 2-0 Parkview.

With starter Stephen Poche holding Ponchy scoreless over the first two frames, Parkview stretched the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second.  UNO signee Alex Byo singled up the middle and advanced to second on an outfield error.  He then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.

Ponchy finally touched Poche for a couple of runs in the top of the third.  Ethan Murray reached on a shortstop error and advanced to second when Justin Crowell was hit by a pitch.  Murray then scored on Dylan Posey’s RBI single to center, and Crowell scored on a passed ball to make it 3-2.

Parkview upped the lead to 4-2 when Edwards led off the bottom of the third with a double to deep right.  He moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a squeeze bunt with nobody out.

After a scoreless fourth, Ponchatoula cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fifth.  With one out, Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch, and Elisha Settoon lined a single to center.  Crowell then grounded a single up the middle to load the bases, and one out later Kaleb Kraft’s grounder to the shortstop was booted, allowing Hills to score.

But in the last of the fifth the floodgates opened for Parkview to put the game away.  A walk, a hit batsman, two doubles and a single brought on reliever Darrin Bach, who was greeted by a double and Edwards’ two-run smash, making the score 11-3.

The Eagles ended the game by the mercy rule against reliever Dakota Simoneaux in the last of the sixth.  Two walks, an error, a single and a sacrifice fly brought home the final two runs.

Poche allowed three runs on only three Ponchatoula hits, singles by Settoon, Crowell and Posey, while striking out nine and walking two.

Starter Hills threw 4.3 innings for the Wave, allowing eight earned runs on five hits while striking out four and walking just two.

Bach relieved in the fifth and allowed two runs on two hits.

Simoneaux pitched the final inning for Ponchy, allowing no runs and no hits.

Edwards led Parkview at the plate with two doubles and a two-run homer.

Sunday, March 15
CENTRAL BOMBS GREEN WAVE, 11-0

The Central Wildcats avenged an earlier loss to Ponchatoula, blasting three home runs and riding a four-hit shutout by Kory Keowen enroute to an 11-0 whitewashing of the Green Wave Saturday in a second round game of the Parkview Baptist Tournament at Baton Rouge.

Ponchatoula’s third game of the tournament was rained out.

The Wildcats lined out nine hits for a pair of four-run rallies to snap a five-game losing streak begun with a 4-1 loss to the Wave two weeks ago.

Central touched Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon for one run in the top of the first.  Cade LeBlanc doubled, and with two out Justin Creel brought him home with a double.

Ponchatoula (7-7) threatened in the bottom half when Settoon doubled to right center and Justin Crowell and Dylan Meyers walked to load the bases with two out.  But Keowen got the next batter on a fly out to center to escape the inning.

In the top of the second Central rallied for four runs on a pair of two-run homers by Cody Milton and LeBlanc to stretch its lead to 5-0.

The Wildcats made it 6-0 in the top of the fourth on a hit batsman, a stolen base, a fielder’s choice and a two-out RBI single.

With Keowen holding Ponchy scoreless, Central added another run in the top of the fifth on a solo shot to left by Creel.

Daniel Sweetman took over for Settoon in the sixth and issued three walks and a single before giving way to Darrin Bach, who finally got out of the inning after a single, sacrifice fly and infield throwing error rounded out the four-run rally by Central for an 11-0 lead.

Ponchatoula was held scoreless in the last of the sixth to end the game by the mercy rule.

Keowen went all six innings on the mound for the shutout, striking out eight and walking two.

The only hits for the Green Wave were Settoon’s double and singles by Crowell, Randall Meyers and Joey Lamarca.

Settoon gave up seven runs on seven hits, three of which were home runs, to absorb the loss.  He walked one and hit two batsmen.

Ponchy returns to action at 5 pm. Tuesday, taking on 10th-ranked Acadiana at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Wednesday, March 18
ACADIANA NIPS PONCHATOULA, 2-1, IN NINE INNINGS
 

Stryker Trahan’s pop fly ball to centerfield dropped for a single, driving home Dylan Berteau with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the 10th-ranked Acadiana Rams edged Ponchatoula, 2-1, in a hard-fought tussle Tuesday night at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.

Ponchatoula’s overall record dropped to 7-8 on the season while the Rams, ranked 10th in the latest state 5A poll conducted by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, moved to 9-3 overall.

Ponchy’s Dylan Posey and Acadiana’s Colton Daigle, a ULL signee, locked up in a scoreless pitcher’s duel for the first five innings.  For the game the Rams left 13 runners stranded, thanks mainly to two sparkling Ponchatoula inning-ending double plays, while the Green Wave left the bases loaded twice.

The Greenies loaded the bases in the top of the first when Dylan Hills reached on an error, Justin Crowell singled him to third, and Dylan Meyers walked.  But with two out a fielder’s choice ground ball ended the inning.

Posey got out of a big one-out jam in the bottom half.  Acadiana loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but Hills fielded a ground ball at third base and flipped to first to end the inning.

Acadiana got on the board first in the bottom of the sixth with a single and a stolen base followed by back-to-back singles.

The 1-0 deficit loomed large in Ponchy’s final at-bat in the seventh.  With one out, catcher Dylan Meyers walked and moved to second on a wild pitch.  One out later, Randall Meyers dropped a single into shallow center which scored Dylan Meyers to tie the game.

Posey walked the leadoff batter in the last of the seventh, and the big righty was replaced on the mound by Hills, who proceeded to retire the side in order.

In the top of the eighth Ponchatoula threatened to take the lead. With two out Elisha Settoon and Justin Crowell rapped back-to-back singles with Settoon moving into scoring position.  But a fielder’s choice grounder ended the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth Acadiana placed runners at first and second with one out, but Settoon turned an inning-ending double play by fielding a grounder, stepping on third and firing to first to kill the threat.

In the top of the ninth Ponchy’s Kaleb Kraft singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pickoff attempt by the pitcher.  But the next two Ponchy batters struck out to end the threat.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Berteau reached on an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  The next Ram batter walked before Stryker lifted a high fly to medium centerfield which Ponchy’s centerfielder lost in the lights, allowing Berteau to score to end the game.

Even in defeat Posey and Hills turned in strong pitching efforts for the Green Wave.  Posey threw 6.3 innings, allowing only one run on five hits with three strikeouts and six walks.  Hills twirled 2.6 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Ponchatoula had only five hits in the nine-inning game.  Crowell led with two safeties followed by Settoon, Kraft and Randall Meyers with one each.

The Green Wave next travels to Gonzales to play in the St. Amant tournament, facing East Ascension in the opener at 5:30 pm. Thursday at East Ascension.

Friday, March 20
ASSUMPTION CLIPS PONCHY, 4-3

Jordan Bergeron’s bloop single to left drove home Vance Boudreaux with the winning run in the last of the seventh as Assumption clipped Ponchatoula, 4-3, Friday in the St. Amant Gator Tournament at East Ascension.

The victory by the District 5-5A Mustangs (4-7) handed Ponchy (7-10) its third straight one-run loss.  The Greenies fell to Acadiana, 2-1, and East Ascension, 5-4, earlier in the week.

Bo LeBlanc led off the decisive frame with a walk, and he moved to second when Boudreaux’s bunt was mishandled by the catcher.  With one out Ponchy reliever Darrin Bach picked LeBlanc off of second.  Moments later, Boudreaux stole second, and Bergeron blooped the game-winner to left field, scoring Boudreaux.

The Mustang heroics came after Ponchy rallied to tie the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh.  Kaleb Kraft reached on a fielder’s choice attempting to bunt, and later in the inning with two out, pinch-runner Brett Vampran scored when Dylan Posey’s grounder was thrown wild into the dugout.

In what would be a recurring theme throughout the night, Ponchatoula threatened in the top of the first, but came away with no runs.  Elisha Settoon ripped a one-out double over the centerfielder’s head, but a pair of fly ball outs ended the uprising.

The Wave also had men on second and third in the second courtesy of a pair of singles by Dylan Meyers and Posey, but again the Wave came away with a goose-egg.

Ponchatoula stranded 14 men on base for the evening, including bases loaded opportunities in the third and fourth innings.

With Ponchy starter Dylan Hills and Mustang starter Brady Andres locked in a scoreless pitching duel, the Assumption broke the ice in the bottom of the third.

Bo LeBlanc walked before Boudreaux bunted him to second.  Andrew Gianellani and Bergeron then slapped back-to-back singles for a 3-0 lead.

The Green Wave scored its first run in the top of the fourth.  Posey, Joey Lamarca and pinch-hitter Jake Ruiz walked before Settoon’s hard grounder to third resulted in a fielder’s choice, scoring pinch-runner Jake Lipps to make the score 3-1.

Ponchatoula made the score 3-2 in the top of the sixth when Joey Lamarca walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, and Hills singled him home.

After Ponchy rallied to tie it up in the seventh, Bergeron came through with his game-winner in the last of the frame.

The loss marred a good pitching effort by Hills, who  pitched five innings, giving up six hits while walking three.  Bach threw 1.6 innings, allowing no earned runs on one hit and one walk.

Andres was effective on the mound for the Mustangs, striking out three and walking five in five innings of work.  Bergeron picked up the win with one inning of relief work.

Settoon led the Green Wave batters with two hits, a double and a single. Hills, Kraft, Randall Meyers and Posey had the other hits for Ponchy.

Ponchatoula will finish play in the St. Amant tourney on Saturday, facing Walker at 4 pm. and host St. Amant at 7pm.  Both games will be played at St. Amant  High School.

Saturday, March 28
TOP-RANKED NORTHSHORE STOPS PONCHY, 10-2

Sean Kennel pitched five innings of three-hit baseball, and his Northshore Panther teammates slugged a pair of homeruns to oust Ponchatoula, 10-2, Tuesday night in the District 7-5A opener at Athletic Park.

Unbeaten Northshore (18-0, 1-0), which entered the game ranked first in state 5-A polls by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, took advantage of six walks, one hit batsman and four hits to build an 8-0 lead through the first three innings off of Ponchatoula starter Dylan Posey.

The Panthers, the defending 7-5A champions, got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Chad Gough-Fortenberry singled, Taylor Eads walked, Ryan Eades was hit by a pitch and Breck Kline walked, driving home Fortenberry.  Northshore then made it 2-0 when Eads scored on a wild pitch.

After nearly a one-hour rain delay,  Northshore added two more runs in the second.  Kennel and Andrew Cosse walked before an infield error brought home Kennel. Cosse then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

Ponchatoula threatened for a moment in the second when Elisha Settoon led off with a double to right-center.  But Kennel settled down to strike out the side and send the Wave back scoreless.

The Panthers put the game out of reach in the third inning.  A leadoff homer by Kline followed by a walk, a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice bunt set the stage for a two-run double by Chase Compton and an RBI double by Fortenberry to make it 8-0, Northshore.

Settoon relieved Posey on the hill in the fourth and held Northshore to two runs over the remaining four innings.  He walked two, struck out one and hit one batter while giving up three hits the rest of the way.

In the fourth the Green Wave finally got on the scoreboard .  Dylan Meyers led off with a walk before Settoon sent a screaming double toward the wall in left center that drove in Meyers.  A line drive double by Posey then plated Settoon to cut the deficit to 8-2.

In the fifth, the heavy-hitting Panthers added their final two runs.  With one out Cosse walked before Compton cracked a two-run homer over the left centerfield wall.

Compton and Kline each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Northshore to preserve the victory.

Settoon had a pair of doubles to lead the Wave hitters while Posey had the only other Ponchy hit, an RBI double.

Compton and Gough-Fortenberry both had two hits to lead Northshore while Eads and Trey Rickrode had the other hits.

Ponchatoula (8-13, 0-1) will travel to Covington to meet the Lions  at 6:30 pm. Friday in their second district game.  The Wave JV will face Covington in a 4 pm. game just prior to that.

Saturday, March 28
GREEN WAVE TOPS WALKER IN NINE INNINGS, 6-5

Justin Crowell singled home Dylan Meyers with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Ponchatoula edged Walker, 6-5, Saturday in the St. Amant Gator Invitational at St. Amant.

The win gave Ponchatoula (8-10) its second victory over Walker this season.  Earlier the Wave topped the Wildcats, 10-4, at Walker.

After jumping out to a commanding 5-0 lead in the second inning, Ponchy saw Walker chip away until the Wildcats tied it at 5-all in the top of the seventh.

With the Wave leaving the potential winning run stranded in the last of the seventh, Ponchatoula was forced to play its second extra-inning game of the week.  Ponchy lost to Acadiana, 2-1, in nine innings earlier in the week.

After neither team posted a scoring threat in the eighth, Elisha Settoon relieved Dylan Posey in the top of the ninth and set the Wildcats down in order.  That set the stage for ninth-inning heroics from Dylan Meyers and Crowell.

Facing Walker ace Darrel Westmoreland with two out in the ninth, Meyers blasted a long drive off the wall in left field, but he was limited to a single due to an obstruction by Walker’s first baseman.

Though no interference was called, Meyers made it up  one pitch later by stealing second base.  Crowell then slapped a line drive single to right center to bring Meyers home with the winning run.

The decisive ninth capped off outstanding games at the plate for both Crowell and Meyers.  Crowell had three hits, including a three-run double, along with four RBI.  Meanwhile, Meyers delivered a two-run homer in the first inning to stake Ponchy to a 2-0 lead.

The Green Wave stretched its lead to 5-0 in the second when consecutive singles by Joey Lamarca, Ethan Murray and Dylan Hills set the table for Crowell’s bases-clearing double with two out.

Dakota Simoneaux started on the hill for Ponchy and held Walker scoreless through the first two frames, striking out four batters.   But he ran into trouble in the third, allowing two runs on a hit batsman, a walk and two singles.

Darrin Bach relieved Simoneaux at that point and got out of the jam with a ground out to third.

Bach then held Walker scoreless on no hits until the seventh when a walk, an infield error and two singles plated two runs.

Posey took over for Bach at that point, and after an infield error tied the game at 5-all, he got out of the inning on a pair of infield outs.  He then held Walker scoreless in the eighth, his last inning of work after having pitched seven innings against Acadiana on Tuesday.

Settoon, who threw six innings against East Ascension on Thursday, took over for Posey and held the Wildcats scoreless in the ninth to pick up the win.

Along with Crowell and Dylan Meyers, Hills had two hits for Ponchy while Settoon, Posey, Lamarca and Murray had one hit apiece.

Saturday, March 28
ST. AMANT WHACKS WAVE, 18-8

The seventh-ranked St. Amant Gators rallied for 10 runs in the second inning to blow open a close game and rout the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 18-8, Saturday in the finale of the St. Amant Gator Invitational at St. Amant.

The Green Wave fell to 8-11 on the season while the District 6-5A Gators, ranked seventh in the latest state 5A poll by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, improved to 13-5.

Ponchatoula took the lead in the top of the first when Dylan Meyers and Justin Crowell walked before Elisha Settoon slammed an RBI double to deep right center.

St. Amant countered with three runs in the bottom half by way of three walks, two hit batsmen and a pair of singles.

The Wave cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the second when Randall Meyers walked, moved to second on a single by Joey Lamarca and scored on a single by Dylan Hills.

But the Gators took advantage of five walks, five singles and two errors to blow the game open with its 10-run second inning.

The Wave didn’t give up, however.  In the top of the third Dylan Posey and Kaleb Kraft singled before Randall Meyers crushed a three-run homer over the left field scoreboard to make it 13-5.

Freshman Branden Lessard then followed Dakota Simoneaux, Brett Vampran and Daniel Sweetman on the mound and proceeded to silence St. Amant bats for the next three innings.

Ponchatoula chopped the lead to 13-8 in the top of the fifth.  Kraft and Jake Ruiz walked, and with two out Hills smashed a three-run homer over the left centerfield wall.

But that would end Ponchatoula’s scoring as St. Amant picked up a run in the fifth on a walk, a throwing error and a pair of singles.

The Gators ended the fray by the mercy rule in the sixth on two walks, a single, an infield error and a grand slam home run.

Hills led Ponchy with two hits while Settoon, Posey, Kraft, Lamarca and Randall Meyers all had one.

Ponchatoula opens District 7-5A play Tuesday at home against Northshore, the top-ranked team in the latest state 5A poll, at 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Thursday, April 2
ESPN RANKS NORTHSHORE #5 IN THE COUNTRY

The Northshore Panthers of District 7-5A, now 20-0 on the season, have received another huge feather in their collective team cap.

The defending 7-5A champs are ranked No. 5 in the nation in ESPN’s Fab 50 national poll.  http://proxy.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/fab50?sportId=10020000&seasonType=1.

Northshore also rose to #14 in this week’s MaxPreps national poll. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=19cc8378-fb1d-de11-a973-001cc494dda6

For the fourth straight week, the Panthers were tabbed as the top 5-A team in Louisiana.  http://www.eteamz.com/lbca/news/index.cfm?cat=24942

Thursday, April 2
SLIDELL AND ST. PAUL RANKED IN STATE’S TOP TEN 5A POLL

The next two opponents for the Ponchatoula High Green Wave, the Slidell Tigers and the St. Paul Wolves, have joined top-ranked Northshore in the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association state 5A Top Ten Poll. http://www.eteamz.com/lbca/news/index.cfm?cat=24942

Slidell (17-1-1 overall, 3-0 in District 7-5A) is ranked #6 in the state while St. Paul (13-2, 2-1) is ranked right behind at #7.  With the #1 ranking for Northshore (20-0,3-0), it gives Ponchatoula district rivals three spots in the top seven in the state.

Ponchy takes on the Tigers at 6:30 pm. Friday in Slidell and the Wolves at 7 pm. Saturday night in Covington.

In addition, listed under “Others Receiving Votes” in the poll are District 7-5A opponent Fountainebleau (10-7-1) along with three teams that the Green Wave has already beaten this year- South Lafourche (11-8-1),  Central (13-8-1), and Brother Martin (11-7-1).  Ponchy beat Brother Martin in a scrimmage, 4-0.

Thursday, April 2
GREEN WAVE THROTTLES MANDEVILLE, 3-0

Dylan Hills shut out Mandeville on five hits, and Elisha Settoon’s third-inning sacrifice fly provided the only run he needed as Ponchatoula blanked the Skippers, 3-0, Tuesday night in a key District 7-5A matchup at Athletic Park.

The win improved Ponchy’s (9-13) district record to 1-2 while Mandeville (7-7-1) dropped to 0-3.

“I’m very, very proud of the way our kids played tonight,” said Wave head coach Mark Gosnell.  “Needless to say, we had a tough loss last night (3-2 to Covington) where we couldn’t drive in runs when we needed to, and we just didn’t get it done.”  “

“So tonight, our kids could have really let it affect them, but they didn’t.  They really played hard, and they beat a very good team.  Of course, Dylan had an outstanding night on the mound.  He deserved the shutout, and he stopped the bleeding for us.”

Hills faced only 26 Mandeville batters  in his complete game shutout.  The junior righthander allowed only eight baserunners, striking out five batters, hitting one batsman and walking none.

“He was able to get his curveball over for a strike which makes his fastball that much more effective,” Gosnell said.  “His control was just outstanding tonight, and he got some very good hitters out.  If he pitches like that the rest of the way, we’ll have a chance to win.”

Hills also helped himself at the plate by scoring two of his team’s three runs to go along with two hits.

Despite three infield errors in the first three innings, Ponchatoula’s defense clamped down the rest of the way, twice killing potential Mandeville rallies with double plays.

After two scoreless innings to open the game, Ponchatoula got the only runs it needed in the bottom of the third off of Mandeville starter Garrett Cannizaro.

Hills led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a walk to Dylan Meyers.  Justin Crowell then bunted the runners to second and third before Settoon drove home Hills with the game’s first run on a line drive sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Dylan Posey then singled home pinch-runner Darrin Bach for a 2-0 lead that Hills would make stand up the rest of the way.

The Green Wave added a third run in the last of the fifth when Hills singled up the middle, moved to second on a passed ball, and advanced to third on Dylan Meyers’ single to left field. After Crowell walked, Cannizaro walked Settoon with the bases loaded to drive home Hills to make it 3-0.

Mandeville mounted its only serious threat in the top of the seventh.  Hills hit leadoff batter James Winget before Blake Butera’s fly to shallow right dropped for a hit and Mike Pustanio beat out an infield single.

But with nobody out and the bases loaded, Ponchy benefitted from a baserunning miscue to get out of the jam.  After Hills threw a wild pitch, Winget made a dash for home, but stopped just short of the plate when Hills beat him home to receive the flip from catcher Dylan Meyers.

Hills then ran down Winget to tag him out and threw to second base in an attempt to nab a pair of confused Mandeville baserunners who were standing on the same base.

Second baseman Blake Falconello then threw to first baseman Posey who tagged out a retreating Pustanio with the second out of a back-breaking double play.  Hills then struck the next batter out to end the game.

“The way things have been going, not a lot of breaks have gone our way,” Gosnell said.  “But we told the kids to hang in there and good things will eventually happen- like their big baserunning mistake at the end.  We have a very young team, and hopefully this will be a confidence builder for us.”

Hills led Ponchy at the plate with two hits.  Posey, Dylan Meyers and Kaleb Kraft had the other Green Wave hits.  Settoon had two RBI for the Wave.

Pustanio had two hits to lead the Skippers.  Cannizaro, Butera and Cody Keowen had one hit each for Mandeville.

Cannizaro gave up three runs on five hits in five innings of work.  He struck out four and walked five before giving way to reliever Chris Brady in the sixth.

The Wave travels to face Slidell (16-1, 3-0) at 6:30 pm. Thursday.

Thursday, April 2
COVINGTON SNEAKS BY WAVE, 3-2
David Dawsey doubled home Trey Fortner with two out in the bottom of the fourth to give Covington a lead that pitcher Randy LeBlanc made stand up the rest of the game as the Lions eaked out a 3-2 win over Ponchatoula Monday night in Covington.

The win gave Covington (11-9) a 1-1 record in District 7-5A while Ponchatoula (8-13) dropped to 0-2 in league play.

Dawsey’s hit was one of only five registered against Ponchatoula starter Dylan Posey and gave Covington a 3-2 lead as the Lions battled back from a 2-0 first-inning deficit.

LeBlanc scattered eight hits in picking up the complete game victory on the mound, striking out eight and shutting Ponchatoula out after its first-inning rally.

Ponchatoula went up 2-0 in the top of the first when Dylan Hills opened the game with a single up the middle, moved to second on Dylan Meyers line drive single to right, and advanced to third on a walk to Justin Crowell.

With nobody out Elisha Settoon drove in the game’s first run with a hard ground ball off the pitcher’s glove which the shortstop fielded to make the putout at first base. Posey then followed with another RBI ground out to short for the 2-0 lead.

It would be all of the Green Wave’s scoring as Ponchy would leave runners in scoring position for four of the next six innings.

Covington got one run back in the bottom of the first when Brady King walked, moved to third on Jeffrey Joiner’s bloop single to right, and scored on Payden Lynch’s sacrifice fly to shallow centerfield.

The Lions tied the score with a two-out rally in the last of the second. Dawsey walked, moved to third on Bo Tedesco’s single, and scored on a double steal.

With LeBlanc holding the Green Wave scoreless, Trey Fortner opened the decisive fourth with a single and moved to second on Dexter Thompson’s sacrifice bunt.  Dawsey then doubled over the leftfielder’s head to put Covington up for the rest of the game.

LeBlanc walked only four in his pitcher’s duel with Posey while the Ponchy righthander walked three and hit one batter.  Posey struck out six Lions in his complete game effort.

Dawsey had two hits to lead Covington while Fortner, Joiner and Tedesco had one hit each.

Posey and Ethan Murray both had a pair of hits to lead Ponchatoula at the plate.  Hills, Crowell, Dylan Meyers and pinch-hitter Jake Ruiz all had one hit.

Ponchatoula returns to District 7-5A action Tuesday at home against Mandeville.  Starting time is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Sunday, April 5
7TH-RANKED ST. PAUL BLITZES WAVE, 10-1

Christian Trent pitched four innings of no-hit baseball, and his St. Paul teammates machine-gunned 12 hits as the seventh-ranked Wolves smacked Ponchatoula, 10-1, Saturday in District 7-5A action at Covington.

The loss moves Ponchatoula’s record to 10-14 overall and 2-3 in district.  The Wolves, ranked No. 7 in the latest state 5-A poll conducted by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association, upped their mark to 15-2 overall and 3-1 in league play.  St. Paul tackles top-ranked Northshore Monday in a headlining 7-5A showdown.

Trent silenced Ponchatoula bats by yielding just one run, an unearned one, during his four innings on the mound, striking out six and walking five.

In the fifth inning Trent gave way to reliever Kory Stephens, who finished the shutout but allowed Ponchy’s only hit, a sixth-inning single to center by Kaleb Kraft.  Stephens struck out three and walked one in picking up the save.

The Green Wave drew first blood with their only run of the game.  With one out Dylan Meyers and Justin Crowell drew back-to-back walks from Trent.

Elisha Settoon then grounded to the first baseman, who threw wildly to second in an attempted double play, scoring courtesy runner Darrin Bach on the play.  But Trent got the next two batters to ground out to end the threat.

Ponchy starter Dylan Posey held St. Paul scoreless in the first, but in the bottom of the second the Wolves erupted for five runs.  A single by Beau Trist, a walk to Christian Spansel, and Nick Hummel’s grounder to first which was thrown wildly into left field scored St. Paul’s first run.

Spansel then scored on a catcher’s throw into centerfield on an attempted steal of second before Patrick Donnelley singled to place men on first and second.  Nick Bowers then cranked a three-run homer to left to make the score 5-1.

The Wolves added three more in the third.  Patrick Huval singled, and with two out, an outfield error and a walk loaded the bases.  Donnelley then delivered a two-run double before Hummel scored on a passed ball to make it 8-1.

Bach replaced Posey on the mound in the fourth and allowed only two runs over the next three innings.  With one out in the fourth, Huval reached on an infield error and scored on a single by Drew Francis.

In the last of the sixth, Trist singled and later scored on an infield double play.

In three innings of work, Posey gave up eight runs, only three of them earned, on six hits.  He struck out five, walked four, and was victimized by three Green Wave errors.

Bach gave up two runs, one unearned, in three innings on the hill, allowing five hits while fanning two and walking one.

The Green Wave returns home Tuesday for a huge District 7-5A clash with the Fontainebleau Bulldogs (12-8, 3-2).  Gametime is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Sunday, April 5
GREEN WAVE WHIPS NO. 6 SLIDELL, 5-2

Elisha Settoon fired a five-hitter, and Dylan Hills and Dylan Meyers slammed three hits apiece as Ponchatoula spanked 6th-ranked Slidell, 5-2, Friday night in a key 7-5A matchup at Slidell.

The win boosted Ponchatoula (10-13 overall) to 2-2 in District 7-5A.  Slidell (17-2 overall), which entered the game ranked the state’s No. 6 team in the 5-A classification by the Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, lost its first district game, falling to to 3-1 and out of a first-place tie with top-ranked Northshore.

Settoon stopped the Tigers with a complete game effort on the mound, striking out six, walking two– one intentionally, and hitting a batsman.  He had great support from the Green Wave defense which played error-less baseball.

“We played great tonight,” said Ponchatoula coach Mark Gosnell.  “Elisha Settoon was outstanding.  He had great stuff tonight, and he handcuffed an outstanding hitting team.”

Hills and Meyers provided plenty of support for Settoon at the plate, accounting for six of the team’s eight hits.  Justin Crowell and Dylan Posey had the other hits for Ponchy.

“We put a lot of pressure on them tonight,” Gosnell said. “We swung the bats very well.  Dylan Hills and Dylan Meyers really set the tone for us to drive in some runs.”

Hills, who scored three runs from his leadoff position, helped put the Wave on top from the outset, opening the game with a single to left field.  He moved to second on Meyers’ ground out to first, and he scored when Crowell clouted a double to deep left center for a 1-0 lead.

With Settoon holding the Tigers scoreless through the first two innings, the Wave rallied for three more big runs in the third.  Ethan Murray led off with a walk and scored when Hills blasted a double over the centerfielder’s head.

Dylan Meyers followed with a double to plate Hills, and courtesy runner Darrin Bach scored with two out when the first baseman muffed the catcher’s throw after a dropped third strike for a 4-0 Green Wave lead.

Slidell rallied for its only runs off of Settoon in the bottom of the third.  Adam Lagarde led off with a walk, and Nathan Reis singled him to third.  With two outs the Wave intentionally walked Chad Livingston, and on a 3-2 count Slidell’s Randall Meyer singled up the middle to cut Ponchy’s lead to 4-2.

But the Wave answered with another run in the top of the fifth.  Hills again led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Dylan Meyers.  Two outs later, Hills and courtesy runner Bach advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.

Posey then laced a single to centerfield that scored Hills before Bach was gunned out at the plate to end the inning with Ponchy ahead 5-2.

Slidell mounted its most serious threat for the remainder of the game in the last of the fifth.  With one out Dylan Aymond singled to right and then stole second.

But Settoon got Livingston on a popup to the shortstop and Randall Meyer on a fly out to centerfield to kill the rally and preserve the win.

“I’m proud of the way we played,” Gosnell said.  “If we play like that we can beat anyone in this district.”

The Green Wave will tackle 7th-ranked St. Paul (14-2 overall, 2-1 in district) at 7 pm. tonight in Covington.

Saturday, April 11
BULLDOGS CLIP WAVE IN 7TH, 4-3

Scott Malaschak capped a three-run, seventh-inning rally with a bases-loaded walk, and Derek Acosta finished off a four-hitter in Ponchatoula’s final at-bat as Fontainebleau came-from-behind to edge the Green Wave, 4-3, in a District 7-5A clash at Athletic Park Tuesday night.

The win pushed the Bulldogs record to 13-8 overall and 4-2 in district. Ponchatoula fell to 10-15 and 2-4.

Fontainebleau’s final rally tainted an otherwise dominant performance by Ponchatoula pitcher Dylan Hills, who carried a 3-1 lead into the final inning.

Hills, who locked up with Acosta in a pitcher’s duel for the entire game, gave up only five hits on the evening and struck out seven.  He walked no batters until the final inning when he surrendered three in the Bulldogs’ big rally.

Ponchatoula struck for three runs in the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead.  Elisha Settoon led off the inning by reaching on an infield error, and he moved to second on Dylan Posey’s single to right field.

Kaleb Kraft bunted both runners up a base, and with two out Joey Lamarca slammed a two-run double to left field for a 2-0 lead.  Lamarca then scored on Ethan Murray’s single for a three-run lead.

Fontainebleau couldn’t touch Hills until the third inning when Anthony LaGuardia stroked a one-out double and moved to third when Jake Palmisano reached on an error.  Daniel Brockhoeft then lined a single to left, plating LaGuardia to cut the deficit to 3-1.

There the score stood until the decisive seventh as the big lefty Acosta dodged a major Ponchatoula bullet in the fifth by picking two Green Wave baserunners off of first base.

Addison Melancon led off the game-winning rally in the seventh with a walk.  One out later, David Fiegel reached on an infield single, and LaGuardia walked to load the bases.

Palmisano then dropped a pop fly double down the right field line to tie the game at 3-3.  After an intentional walk to Brockhoeft to load the bases, Malaschak drew a base-on-balls to give the Bulldogs their only lead of the game.

Acosta, who finished with one strikeout and two walks, set the Wave down in order in the seventh to preserve the win.

Lamarca, Murray, Posey and Randall Meyers had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

Ponchatoula visits rival Hammond at 6:30 pm. Thursday.  The Wave and Tor JV will square off at 4pm.

Saturday, April 11
PONCHATOULA HANDCUFFS HAMMOND, 6-3

Elisha Settoon twirled his second straight complete game five-hitter, and Ponchatoula scored all six runs on seven hits in the first three innings to down Hammond, 6-3, Thursday night in a District 7-5A meeting at Hammond.

The Green Wave moved its record to 11-15 overall and 3-4 in district, only one game out of second place.  Hammond fell to 4-17 overall and 0-7 in district.

Settoon, who pitched a complete game five-hitter last Friday against sixth-ranked Slidell, stopped the Tornados on no earned runs, striking out six and walking one.  He was aided by several sterling Ponchatoula defensive plays which thwarted potential Hammond rallies.

Leadoff batter Dylan Hills staked Ponchy to a 1-0 lead right off the bat with a line drive solo homer, his second of the year, over the left field fence.

The Green Wave added another run in the top of the first when Dylan Meyers walked and courtesy runner Ryan Daniels was bunted to second by Justin Crowell.  Settoon singled Daniels to third before Dylan Posey drove him home with a single to center.

Hammond pitcher Lucas Quebedeaux led off the last of the first with a double for Hammond.  He moved to third on Trevor Ragan’s ground out to second base and scored on Shelby Payne’s slow infield chopper which was thrown wildly to first.

Ponchy upped its lead to 3-1 in the second when Joey Lamarca singled and reached second when the ball got by the left fielder.  After a walk to Ethan Murray, Dylan Meyers laced an RBI double that plated Lamarca.

The Green Wave broke loose for three runs in the top of the third.  Posey reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second when Kaleb Kraft was hit by a pitch.  Randall Meyers then singled, and Posey scored when the left fielder booted the ball around.  Lamarca  followed with a two-run single, driving home Kraft and Meyers for a 6-1 lead.

Hammond added a run in the third when Morgan Payne singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild throw to third attempting to nab Payne after a fielder’s choice.

The Tors made it 6-3 in the last of the third.  Ragan singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and to third when Payne reached on a dropped third strike.

Ragan scored on Jacob Drago’s grounder to second, but the Green Wave averted even more runs when Murray backhanded Chris Moran’s sharp shot in the hole and made the long throw to first just ahead of the hustling Moran to end the inning.

Settoon coasted from the fifth inning on with his Wave teammates helping to dodge a sixth-inning Hammond threat with a pair of great defensive plays.

With one out Trevor Ragan singled.  Shelby Payne then lined to third, but Hills made an excellent stab for the second out.  Austin Davis then singled to right, but right fielder Randall Meyers gunned down Ragan attempting to take third to end the frame.

Randall Meyers, Lamarca and Settoon led the 11-hit Ponchy attack with two hits apiece.  Hills, who homered, had one hit along with Posey, Kraft, Murray and Dylan Meyers.

The Green Wave will open the second round of District 7-5A play Tuesday at top-ranked Northshore in Slidell.  Game time is 6:30 pm. for the varsity and 4 pm. for the junior varsity.

Sunday, April 12
WAVE RANKED #32 IN POWER RATINGS; NORTHSHORE REMAINS ON TOP

If the state power ranking system would have the say-so in who makes the state 5A playoffs this year like it will next year, the Ponchatoula Green Wave currently stand in the group that would qualify.

The Wave is currently ranked #32 in the state power rankings just released which would be good enough to qualify if the power system would’ve been used this season to determine playoff teams.  The Wave’s average opponent record of 13-9 (all classifications) is the second-best in the state.  Wave opponents Northshore, Slidell, St. Paul, Fontainebleau, Covington, Mandeville, Comeaux, Acadiana, Central, East Ascension, St. Amant, South Lafourche and Brother Martin are all ranked in the Top 32.  The power rankings can be found at http://www.excaliburfun.com/BBPOWERRATING.PDF.

Meanwhile, Northshore remains the top 5A team in the state according to the latest LBCA poll, which has Slidell ranked #7 and St. Paul ranked #8.  The Wave defeated Slidell a week ago, 5-2, in Slidell.

The Panthers continue to make noise on a national scale.  Northshore is ranked #5 in the country by ESPN, #7 in the nation by USA Today, and #9 in the country by MaxPreps.

The Green Wave travels to Northshore Tuesday to open the second round of district action.  The Panthers topped Ponchy, 10-2, earlier at Athletic Park.  Game time Tuesday is 3 pm. for the varsity and 12 noon for the JV.

Tuesday, April 14
TOP-RANKED NORTHSHORE DEFEATS WAVE, 7-1

	Justin Crowell singled in the Wave’s only run

Top-ranked Northshore rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game and down the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 7-1, Tuesday in Slidell.

The Panthers, ranked 5th in the country by ESPN and 7th by the USA Today, upped their overall record to 23-1 and their District 7-5A league-leading mark to 7-1.  Ponchatoula dropped to 10-16 overall and 3-5 in league play.

Northshore, which has remained the top-ranked 5A team in the state by the LBCA for six straight weeks, got on the board first in the bottom of the first when Chad Fortenberry hit a solo homer off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon.

Ponchy tied the score in the top of the third off of Panther starter Cody Deckwa when Ethan Murray walked, moved to second on a walk to Dylan Meyers, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Justin Crowell.

But that was all of the scoring the Green Wave could muster off of Deckwa, who gave up only three hits in six innings of work while striking out eight and walking four.

The Panthers took the lead in the bottom of the third off of Settoon, who allowed just two runs on five hits through the first four innings.

Andrew Cosse led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Trey Rickrode.  After Chase Compton’s sacrifice fly moved Cosse to third, Fortenberry got his second RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Northshore then broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth.  Compton led off with a double, and after a walk to Fortenberry and a wild pitch, Taylor Eads laced a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.

Ryan Eades followed with an RBI single, and Taylor Campbell drove home a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-1, Northshore.

The Panthers added one more run in the bottom of the sixth off of reliever Darrin Bach.  Rickrode was hit by a pitch, and with two out Taylor Eads walked before Ryan Eades delivered his second RBI single of the game.

Brett Kline relieved Deckwa in the seventh, striking out three while allowing one hit, one walk and a hit batsman.

Joey Lamarca led the Wave at the plate with two hits while Crowell and Dylan Posey had the only other hits for Ponchatoula.

The Green Wave returns home Thursday for a key 7-5A clash with Covington.  Game time is 6:30 pm.

 

Joey Lamarca had 2 hits to lead Ponchy

Dylan Hills fired a 2-hit shutout and homered vs. Covington (LeSaicherre photo)

Saturday, April 18
PONCHATOULA STIFLES COVINGTON, 2-0

Dylan Hills shut out Covington on two hits and provided his own insurance with a solo homer to lead Ponchatoula to a 2-0 victory over the Lions in a key District 7-5A clash Thursday at Athletic Park.

The win improved the Green Wave’s record to 12-16 overall and 4-5 in District 7-5A, just one game out of third place.  Covington’s record fell to 15-12 overall and 5-4 in district.

Hills dominated Covington from start to finish with his complete game effort and his second shutout in his last three starts.  He allowed only 23 baserunners in seven innings of work, yielding only a weak infield single to Payden Lynch and a bloop single to Brady King.  He struck out five, walked none and hit one batsman.

Hills also provided the difference at the plate with two hits, including his sixth-inning home run, and scored both runs.He got things going with a leadoff double in the bottom of the first to stake the Greenies to a 1-0 lead.  Hills moved to third on Dylan Meyers’ infield ground out before scoring on Justin Crowell’s single to left.

Ponchatoula didn’t threaten again until the bottom of the fourth when Elisha Settoon ripped a one-out double.  However, Covington starter Billy Johnson got the next two batters to ground out to end the threat.

Covington mounted its most serious threat in the top of the fifth when Lynch was hit by a pitch and stole second base.  But on Trey Fortner’s grounder back to the pitcher, Hills gunned out Lynch trying to take third.  He retired the next two batters on a strikeout and popup to end the Lions’ last threat.

Hills leadoff homer in the top of the sixth, a high shot over the left centerfield wall, provided all of the insurance he would need.

Hills and Settoon had two hits to lead Ponchy at the plate while Crowell added one hit.  Ponchatoula played errorless defense in the game.

Billy Johnson also pitched an outstanding game for Covington, going the distance and allowing two runs on five hits, fanning six and walking two.

Saturday, April 18
SKIPPERS OVERCOME PONCHATOULA, 7-2

	Dylan Hills slammed his fourth HR vs. Mandy

Mandeville overcame a 2-1 deficit with a big four-run third inning to down Ponchatoula, 7-2, Saturday at Mandeville in a District 7-5A contest.

The win improved the Skippers to 12-10-1 overall and 5-5 in district while Ponchy fell to 12-17 overall and 4-6 in District 7-5A.

The Green Wave actually outhit the Skippers, 9-7, but couldn’t produce any runs after the second inning.

For the second time this season, Dylan Hills staked Ponchatoula to a 1-0 lead right off the bat with a towering leadoff homer to centerfield in the top of the first inning.  It was Hills’ fourth blast of the season and third in the last four games.

Dylan Posey built the lead to 2-0 with a solo roundtripper, his first homer of the season, off of Skipper starter Lee Batchelder in the top of the second.

The inning had the makings of a big one for Ponchatoula as Kaleb Kraft followed Posey’s blast with a single.  A sacrifice bunt by Randall Meyers and   Ethan Murray’s check-swing single to right placed runners on first and third with one out.

Hills followed with another deep drive to center that was hauled in at the fence, but the runner on third failed to tag up, and the next batter for the Wave flied out to end Ponchatoula’s best scoring opportunity for the remainder of the game.

Meanwhile, Mandeville chipped away at Ponchatoula’s 2-0 lead, tallying its first run off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon in the bottom of the second when Joey Pajares doubled and scored on Blake Butera’s single.

The Skippers then took charge in the last of the third with their four-run outburst on three hits, a walk and a pair of infield errors.

Kody Keowen led off with a double, and with one out Garrett Cannizaro’s grounder to third was booted, allowing Keowen to score the tying run.

James Winget singled and Pajares walked to load the bases before Butera plated both Cannizaro and Winget with a single.  Anderson reached on another infield error before Batchelder’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Pajares to give Mandeville a 5-2 lead.

Mandeville added some insurance in the fourth when Mike Pustanio walked and Cannizaro, a Tulane signee, lined a two-run homer over the left centerfield fence for the final 7-2 score.

Batchelder went six innings on the hill for Mandeville, scattering nine hits while striking out six and walking one.

He gave way to Pajares in the seventh, who allowed no runs and no hits to seal the game for Mandeville.

Hills and Settoon led Ponchatoula at the plate with two hits apiece while Posey, Kraft, Murray, Justin Crowell and Joey Lamarca had one hit each.

Settoon pitched five innings for the Wave on three days rest, allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out one, walking two and hitting one batsman.

Posey pitched the sixth inning for Ponchatoula, allowing no runs and no hits while walking two.

Ponchatoula returns home Tuesday night in a must-win situation for District 7-5A playoff contention against the Slidell Tigers, the No. 6-ranked 5A team in Louisiana according to the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association.  The Green Wave upended the Tigers, 5-2, in the first round of district play.

Game time is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.

Dylan Posey cracked a solo homer vs. the Skippers (LeSaicherre photo)

Thursday, April 23
SLIDELL RALLIES OVER WAVE IN 8TH, 9-5

Dylan Hills pitched all 8 innings, fanning 11 batters (LeSaicherre photo)

The Slidell Tigers clawed back from a 4-0 first-inning deficit and rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to dump the Ponchatoula Green Wave, 9-5, Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The loss dropped Ponchatoula to 12-18 overall and 4-7 in District 7-5A, meaning the Wave must win their three remaining district games to have an outside shot at the state playoffs.

The Tigers, who were ranked as high as No. 6 in state 5-A polls prior to losing to Ponchy, 5-2, in their earlier meeting, ran their overall record to 19-7-1 and their district mark to 5-6.

Two Green Wave infield errors climaxed the decisive eighth-inning rally for the Tigers, who scored four runs in the frame on no earned runs off of Ponchy starter Dylan Hills.

With one out Chad Livingston singled and moved to third on a double by Randall Meyer.  After a walk to Matt Conn, Trey Wiebelt grounded to shortstop, but the throw home was in the dirt to put Slidell up, 6-5.

Dylan Aymond hit into a fielder’s choice when his ground ball to short was fielded and thrown home to cut down Meyer at the plate.

Dixon Facienne then walked to drive home Conn before Adam Lagarde’s grounder was booted, allowing two more runs to score.

Livingston, the second Tiger reliever for the evening,  faced only four batters in the last of the eighth, allowing no runs and no hits to finish off Ponchatoula.

The Green Wave jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first on consecutive singles by Hills, Dylan Meyers and Justin Crowell, the later plating Hills with the game’s first run.

Elisha Settoon’s fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop moved Dylan Meyers to third before Joey Lamarca brought him home with an RBI single.

Dylan Posey then ripped a line drive single to left, but Settoon was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.  Lamarca followed with an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead off of Meyer, the starter.

Consecutive walks to Kaleb Kraft, Randall Meyers and Ethan Murray pushed the lead to 4-0 and chased Meyer from the hill.

Slidell got back in the game with a three-run second inning, thanks mainly to three Green Wave errors.  Meyer opened up with a single, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Aymond. Facienne reached on an infield error, moving Aymond to second.

After a double steal placed runners on first and third with two out, Ponchy tried the pickoff play at third, but the catcher’s throw sailed wide into left field where the leftfielder booted the ball, allowing both runners to score and chopping the Ponchy lead to 4-3.

Livingston tied the game at 4-all in the top of the third with a solo shot over the centerfield wall.

But Ponchatoula regained the lead in the last of the fourth when Dylan Meyers walked, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, and scored on Elisha Settoon’s RBI double.

There the score stood until the top of the sixth.  Meyer singled and gained second when his base hit was booted in left field.  Conn sacrificed Meyer to third, and Wiebelt squeezed Meyer home with one out to tie the game.

The Green Wave had a chance to win in the last of the seventh, but left runners stranded on first and second to force an eighth inning.

Settoon, Crowell and Lamarca led Ponchy with two hits apiece while Hills, Posey, Dylan Meyers and Randall Meyers had one hit apiece.

Despite the loss, Hills had a strong effort on the mound, pitching all eight innings and allowing only three earned runs on only six hits.  He struck out 12 batters while walking four, but was victimized by six Greenie errors.

Ponchatoula hosts eighth-ranked St. Paul Friday in a must-win District 7-5A game for the Green Wave.  Game time is 6:30 pm. at Athletic Park.  The junior varsity will play at 4 pm.

Friday, April 24
ST. PAUL SHUTS DOWN PONCHY, 6-0

Freshman Dylan Meyers had 2 of 3 Wave hits

St. Paul’s Jason Greenleaf tossed a three-hit shutout, and his teammates pounded out 12 hits as the 8th-ranked Wolves eliminated Ponchatoula from District 7-5A playoff contention, 6-0, Friday night at Athletic Park.

St. Paul, ranked as the 8th-best state 5A team by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association and as the No. 3 team in LHSAA power rankings, ran its record to 20-4 overall and 9-3 in District 7-5A, one game behind first place Northshore which fell to the Wolves 5-4 earlier in the week.

The Green Wave dropped to 12-19 overall and 4-8 in league play with two district games remaining.

Greenleaf was nearly unhittable in throwing only 87 pitches over seven innings of work, allowing only five baserunners.  He gave up only a single to Dylan Hills and a single and double to Dylan Meyers, whose two-bagger was the only time Ponchy reached second base on the evening.  Greenleaf struck out eight and walked only one.

The Wolves got on the board first in the top of the second.  With one out, consecutive singles by Beau Trist, Tanner Rainey and Eric Guidry loaded the bases.  Nick Hummel then lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield which scored Trist with the game’s first run off of Ponchy starter Elisha Settoon.

St. Paul stretched the lead in the top of the third when Patrick Donnelly walked, Nick Bowers doubled, and Brandon Boudreaux singled home both runners.  After advancing on a fielder’s choice and Patrick Huval’s single, Boudreaux scored to make it 4-0 when Trist’s grounder was muffed by the first baseman.

St. Paul scored again in the top of the fourth when Nick Hummel singled and moved all the way to third on a passed ball. Bowers then singled home Hummel to make it 5-0 St. Paul.

The Wolves tallied their final run in the seventh when Christian Spansel singled and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches.  Alex Koonce then plated Spansel with a sacrifice fly to left for the final 6-0 score.

Bowers, Boudreaux, Spansel and Hummel had two hits apiece for St. Paul while Huval, Trist, Rainey and Guidry all had one hit.

Settoon went the distance in absorbing the loss for Ponchy. He allowed five earned runs on 12 hits, striking out two and walking two.

The Wave travels to South Lafourche for a non-district game Saturday before going on the road to Fontainebleau Tuesday and hosting Hammond Thursday to wrap up the season.

CF Joey Lamarca had some nice grabs in the outfield

Saturday, April 25
TARPONS RIDE WAVE, 9-6

SS Ethan Murray jacked a 3-run HR vs. S. Lafourche

South Lafourche rallied for five runs in the first inning and never looked back to defeat Ponchatoula, 9-6, in a non-district game Saturday at Galliano.

The Green Wave slid to 12-20 overall with the loss while the Tarpons, still in playoff contention in District 8-5A, moved to 15-12-1.  The Wave defeated the Tarpons, 13-3, earlier this year in Ponchatoula’s Gateway Ford Classic.

South Lafourche took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first off of Ponchy starter Dakota Simoneaux.  Two singles, a walk, an infield error, a sacrifice fly and four hit batsmen paved the way for the big Tarpon rally.

A solo homer by Trey Danos off of Wave reliever Darrin Bach made the lead 6-0 in the bottom of the second.

Meanwhile, South Lafourche starter Peter Schwertz held Ponchy scoreless through the first three innings.

The Greenies finally broke into the scoring column in the top of the fourth.  A single by Kaleb Kraft, a walk to Ryan Daniels, and Ethan Murray’s three-run homer over the right centerfield wall made it 6-3.

Dylan Meyers followed Murray’s shot with a solo clout over the centerfield wall for the first Ponchy back-to-back homers of the season.

Elisha Settoon singled and advanced all the way to third on walks to Dylan Hills and Justin Crowell.  Dylan Posey then dropped an RBI single to right field to score Settoon and cut the deficit to 6-5.

But the Tarpons answered in the last of the fifth to take a 9-5 lead.  Three singles, a sacrifice bunt, a double and a sacrifice fly accounted for the South Lafourche scoring in the inning.

Ponchatoula scored its final run in the top of the sixth when Hills doubled to left, moved to third on a balk, and scored on an RBI single by Posey.

It was the only run Ponchatoula could score in 3 and 2/3 innings off of reliever James Mayberry, who relieved Schwertz in the fourth and struck out six batters in his short mound stint.

Hills, Kraft, Posey and Settoon each had two hits for Ponchatoula.  Meyers and Murray both had one hit.

Bach pitched 5 and 1/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs on seven hits.  He struck out three, hit one batsman, and walked none.

Ponchatoula, which has been eliminated from the District 7-5A playoff race, travels to Fontainebleau for a 6 pm. clash Tuesday.  The Bulldogs are currently tied with Covington and Slidell for fourth place with 6-6 district records.

The junior varsity game begins at 4 pm.

Kaleb Kraft had 2 hits vs. the Tarpons

Elisha Settoon had one of two hits for Ponchy (LeSaicherre photo)

Wednesday, April 29
DAWGS PUT THE BITE ON WAVE, 12-0

Randall Meyers singled to right and went to 3rd on an error

Derek Acosta hurled a two-hit shutout, and his Fontainebleau teammates blasted 12 hits to blank Ponchatoula, 12-0, Tuesday in Mandeville.

The Dawgs remained in the hunt for the 7-5A playoffs, managing a 3-way tie for third with a 7-6 league record along with Mandeville and Slidell.  Fontainebleau (17-12 overall) plays St. Paul Thursday in its final regular season game.

The Wave dropped to 12-21 on the year and 4-9 in district.

A first-inning single by Elisha Settoon and a fifth-inning single by Randall Meyers were all Ponchatoula could manage off of Acosta, who held the Wave to four hits earlier this year in a 4-3 Bulldog win at Athletic Park.

After Settoon singled to left with one out in the top of the first, Justin Crowell moved him to second on a ground out.  But Settoon was left stranded as one of only five Ponchy baserunners and one of three to advance into scoring position for the evening off of Acosta.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs broke a scoreless deadlock in the last of the second with David Fiegel’s two-run triple off of Ponchy starter Dylan Hills.

Fontainebleau added four more runs in the third with big blow coming on a two-run double by Scott Malaschak.  The game was called after the top of the fifth due to the mercy rule.

Two-run singles by both Daniel Brockhoeft and Anthony LaGuardia sparked a six-run Bulldog rally in the fourth to put the game away.  The Green Wave almost got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth.  Meyers singled to right, and the ball got by the rightfielder, sending Meyers all of the way to third.

Hills was hit by a pitch with two out, but Settoon’s fly to shallow center was controversially ruled caught by a diving Fiegel, the centerfielder.

Hills gave up nine earned runs in three and one-third innings of work.  He allowed 10 hits while striking out one and walking three.

He was relieved in the fourth by Darrin Bach, who gave up a pair of singles before retiring the side.

Elisha Settoon threw a complete game 3-hitter vs. the Tors (LeSaicherre photo)

Saturday, May 2
GREEN WAVE SINKS HAMMOND, 8-1, IN SEASON FINALE

	Dylan Hills had 3 hits and 2 RBI (LeSaicherre photo)

Elisha Settoon fired a complete game three-hitter and shut out Hammond after the first inning as Ponchatoula ended its season on a winning note over the Tornadoes, 8-1, Thursday night at Athletic Park.

The win gave Ponchy a 13-21 overall mark for the season with a 5-9 record in District 7-5A.  The Tornadoes finished 4-24 overall and 0-14 in district.

“It was a great night for baseball, and I was so proud of the way we played,” said Ponchatoula coach Mark Gosnell.  “Elisha Settoon was outstanding tonight-
only one run on just three hits.”

Settoon allowed only singles to Chris Moran and Josh Byers and a double to Morgan Payne in posting his second win over Hammond this season.  In the first
round of district play, he pitched a complete-game four-hitter for a 6-3 Green Wave win.

Settoon struck out five, walked two and hit one batter in the victory.  Only three other batters reached base, all on Ponchy infield errors.

The Tors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when leadoff batter Lucas Quebedeaux was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a bunt by Josh Byers, advanced to third on Trevor Ragan’s infield grounder that was booted for an error, and scored on Shelby Payne’s sacrifice fly.

Ponchy threatened in the last of the first but left the bases loaded.

The Tors mounted another threat in the second when Morgan Payne doubled and moved to third on a fielder’s choice grounder.  But after Zach Edwards walked, an attempted double steal failed when second baseman Ryan Daniels threw out Payne at the plate with catcher Dylan Meyers hanging onto the ball after a heavy collision.

It was the closest Hammond would get to scoring again for the rest of the game.

The Green Wave tied the game in the last of the third off of Hammond starter Trevor Ragan when Dylan Meyers singled and pinch-runner Brett Vampran stole
second.

When Justin Crowell followed with a grounder to third, the infielder attempted to catch Vampran off of second, but he slid back safely as Ponchy then
had two men on base.

Settoon then helped his own cause with a sharp grounder which got under the shortstop’s glove to plate Vampran with the tying run.

Ponchy added two more in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.  Ethan Murray reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before moving to third on a single by Dylan Hills.

Settoon again helped his own cause with a hard grounder to third that was booted into the outfield, scoring both Murray and Hills.

“The top of the lineup had a good evening,” Gosnell said.  “Dylan Hills set the table for us all night, and we finally got going offensively.”

With catcher Dylan Meyers killing Hammond rallies in both the fourth and fifth by throwing out runners attempting to steal second, the Green Wave added three more runs in the fifth to go up 6-1.

Dylan Posey led off the inning with a double, and pinch-runner Hayden Hutches moved to third when Daniels’ grounder was muffed by the first baseman.  Hutches then scored on a wild pitch, and Hills’ RBI double brought home Daniels.  Dylan Meyers then ripped an RBI single to right, plating Hills.

After Byers one-out single in the sixth, he advanced to second on an infield error.  But Settoon then picked Byers off of second and struck out Shelby Payne
to end the threat.

The Wave added its final pair of runs in the last of the sixth.  Posey again led off with an extra-base hit, this time a triple to right center.  Dakota Simoneaux walked, and with two out Hills produced his second RBI of the game,singling home Posey.  Crowell later drew a bases-loaded walk for Ponchy’s
final run.

Hills had three hits to lead the Green Wave at the plate.  Dylan Meyers and Dylan Posey both had two hits while Daniels and Crowell had one each.

The win was a special one for the Green Wave, which celebrated Senior Night to honor its five seniors, Ethan Murray, Dakota Simoneaux, Dylan Posey, Joey
Lamarca, and Ryan Daniels.

“I’m really happy for our seniors,” Gosnell said.  “I’m proud of this team and extremely proud of our coaching staff.”

Sr. Dylan Posey had a double and triple on Senior Night (LeSaicherre photo)

Dakota Simoneaux was presented the Coach’s Award by Allen Waddell

Wednesday, June 3
2009 GREEN WAVE HONORED AT BANQUET

Ethan Murray was named 1st Team Academic All State (composite)

Members of the 2009 Ponchatoula baseball team received honors at the annual banquet at 12 Oaks Cafeteria in Hammond recently.

Junior Dylan Hills won the Top Offensive Player award and senior Joey LaMarca took home the Top Defensive Player award.

Senior Dakota Simoneaux was given the Coaches Award while Ethan Murray was recognized as winning first-team composite Academic All-State honors at shortstop.  Senior Ryan Daniels was named honorable mention Academic All-State.

Lettermen recognized included seniors Dylan Posey, Simoneaux, LaMarca, Murray and Daniels.  Junior letter winners were Elisha Settoon, Dylan Hills, Kaleb Kraft, Randall Meyers, Jake Ruiz and Justin Crowell.

Sophomore lettermen included Darrin Bach and Brett Vampran while freshmen lettermen were Dylan Meyers, Blake Falconello and Jake Lipps.

Squadmen included sophomores Hayden Hutches and Mark Traylor and freshmen Zach Traylor, Zack Rock, Brady Bass, Ryan Byers, Taylor Denham, Nathan Plauche, Tyler Corbin, Jacob Mercante, and Branden Lessard.

Highlighting the evening was the presentation of the Green Wave’s 2009 team highlight video.  Chris Coleman, voice of Wave Sports Video, was the emcee.

Ryan Daniels made Honorable Mention Academic All-State

Dylan Hills receives 1st Team All-7-5A plaque from Coach Jeremy Harper

Wednesday, June 3
HILLS, SETTOON, MEYERS NAMED ALL-DISTRICT 7-5A

	Elisha Settoon was named 2nd Team All-District 7-5A as an infielder

Three members of the 2009 Ponchatoula Green Wave baseball team were voted by league coaches to either the first or second team All-District 7-5A squad recently.

Joining the ranks of 7-5A elite were junior infielder Dylan Hills, who made the first team, and junior infielder Elisha Settoon and freshman catcher Dylan Meyers, both of whom made the second team.

Honorable Mention players were senior pitcher-first baseman Dylan Posey, senior shortstop Ethan Murray, senior outfielder Joey LaMarca, and junior outfielder Justin Crowell.

District 7-5A produced the 2009 state 5-A champion in Northshore.

Freshman catcher Dylan Meyers was named 2nd Team All-District 7-5A

Monday, October 19
A PERSPECTIVE ON THE 2009 SEASON

(as delivered by Dr. Patrick Settoon at the 2009 PHS baseball banquet)

The Green Wave baseball team entered the 2009 season with enthusiasm and with the expectation they would be in the hunt for a district title and a repeat berth in the State playoffs.  Due to the loss of three district games in the last inning, those dreams would not be realized.  They competed in the toughest 5A district in the State as evidenced by Northshore  being crowned as State Champions.  They played a formidable non-district schedule populated with teams that would consistently be ranked among the best in their classification.

Overall and in district competition, we lost more games than we won.  Yet, it was a good year for Green Wave baseball!  A fine group of 27 young men– 5 seniors, 6 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 12 freshmen–provided their fans with many thrills and memorable moments.  Defensively, we witnessed some plays of major league caliber, and offensively we were thrilled as we watched some of our hits bounce off of the outfield wall or sail out of the park.

In many respects, it was a year for rebuilding a team that had lost a substantial number of seniors from the previous year.  It was a year for the return of a group of veteran players that had proven their prowess on the diamond in the past and would continue to provide the leadership that would promote an environment for a successful 2009 season.  It was also a season which saw the emergence on the scene of a highly talented freshman class that would contribute significantly to the 2009 Green Wave effort and offer hope for a district championship in the future.

What I will remember most about this 2009 team is that all of the players– without exception– conducted themselves on and off the field with dignity and honor and with the commitment to excellence that exemplifies the Ponchatoula Green Wave tradition and spirit.  They were truly a team in their total support of each other, particularly when things weren’t going their way on the field.  They were consummate sportsmen in their interaction with opposing players and coaches and with the game officials.  Most impressive is that most of these gentlemen excelled in the classroom as well as on the field.  They should be as proud of their accomplishments as we are.

They had the advantage of being apprentices under the watchful eyes of a great cadre of coaches led by Head Coach Mark Gosnell and his able assistant coaches– Jeremy Harper, Brian Gardiner, Allen Waddell and Trey Willie.  These men conducted themselves in a highly professional manner at all times.  They have provided the guidance that has assisted each player in developing his full baseball potential as a high school athlete and- most importantly- instilled in the players not just a winning attitude, but an appreciation for the self-discipline necessary to be successful not only on the baseball diamond, but on the field of life.

Let us not forget the Green Wave fans that showed up game-after-game at home and away to support the team in victory and defeat.  The loyal Green Wave supporters not only always outnumbered their adversaries at home, but quite often did so when they were in the opponents’ backyard.

Again, special thanks to Tessa Hills, president of the Boosters, for her great diligence and hard work in keeping the players and fans fed and watered and for the many volunteer hours she has spent fulfilling the duties of President.  She is truly a jewel!

Thanks also to Rick Settoon for his untiring volunteer efforts to document electronically the team’s activities through the maintenance of an exceptional website; for his collaboration with the Daily Star Sports Department to ensure that the team’s activities would be timely and accurately reported; and for his serving as the announcer and scoreboard keeper at home games.

To the departing seniors– Ryan Daniels, Joey Lamarca, Ethan Murray, Dylan Posey, and Dakota Simoneaux– we say, “Thanks for the memories, and we wish for you the very best that life has to offer as you embark on a new phase in your travel down life’s road.  There will be many good times that will make the ride smooth and a few difficult ones that will make the ride bumpy.  What you have learned and accomplished as a Green Wave Baseball alumnus will serve you well in overcoming the rough spots.  God Speed!”

To the returning players we say, “YOU WILL WIN IN 2010, AND WE WILL BE THERE TO CHEER YOU ON.”

GO WAVE!!!

Monday, March 9
LORANGER KNOCKS OFF GREEN WAVE JV
Big fourth and fifth-inning rallies by Loranger spelled doom for the Ponchatoula junior varsity baseball team as the Wave JV fell to the Wolves, 12-4, recently.

Ponchatoula jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when Darrin Bach, Nathan Plauche and Blake Falconello walked before a single by Zack Traylor and a double by Jacob Mercante brought home three runs.

Ponchatoula starter Brady Bass held Loranger scoreless through the first three innings, striking out three and allowing only one hit, as Ponchy maintained its 3-0 lead.

But in the fourth Loranger rallied for eight runs courtesy of five hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and one error.

The Wolves scored four more in the fifth on two hits, two errors, two walks, and one hit batsman.

Ponchatoula scored its final run in the top of the seventh when Taylor Denham doubled, Plauche walked and Falconello singled.

Plauche, Falconello, Traylor, Mercante, and Denham all had one hit for the Ponchy JV.

Bass pitched four innings for the Wave, allowing seven runs on five hits while striking out three, walking five, and hitting one batter.

Zack Rock pitched two innings, allowing five runs on four hits while striking out two, walking four and hitting one batter. Haydn Hutches pitched the final inning, allowing no runs and one hit while walking two and fanning two.

Wednesday, March 11
WAVE JV FALLS TO WOLVES, 7-2

The Loranger Wolves junior varsity baseball team unleashed a 12-hit attack to down Ponchatoula, 7-2, Wednesday at Athletic Park.

The game was not a pretty one defensively as the two teams combined for 16 errors with Loranger committing nine and Ponchatoula making seven.

The Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off of Wave starter Mark Traylor on three straight singles, an error and a double steal.

They upped the lead to 3-0 in the second on two singles and an error.

With Ponchy held scoreless for the first four innings, the Wolves added three more in the fifth on three singles, three errors and a hit batsman.

The Green Wave finally got on the board in the last of the fifth.  A walk to Tyler Corbin, a double by Jacob Mercante, a passed ball and an error chopped the Loranger lead to 6-2.

The Wolves added one more in the sixth on three hits and an error.

Blake Falconello and Jake Lipps had two hits each to lead Ponchy at the plate.  Darrin Bach, Ryan Byers, Jake Ruiz, Mark Traylor and Mercante all had one hit.

Traylor gave up three runs, one of them earned, on five hits in two innings of work on the hill.  He struck out two and walked none.

Hayden Hutches pitched one inning and allowed no runs and two hits while walking one.

Brandon Lessard also pitched a shutout inning, yielding no hits and striking out one.

Zach Rock hurled one inning, allowing three runs, two of them earned.  He gave up two hits, struck out one, walked one and hit two batsmen.

Ryan Byers pitched the sixth inning and gave up one unearned run and two hits.

Brady Bass threw the final inning for Ponchy, shutting out Loranger on one hit while striking out two and hitting one batter.

Saturday, March 28
PONCHY JV RALLY FALLS SHORTS AGAINST NORTHSHORE, 9-6

The Ponchatoula Green Wave junior varsity staged a furious six-run rally in the seventh, but it fell short in a 9-6 defeat at the hands of the Northshore Panther JV Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Down 9-0 entering the final frame, the Wave JV put a scare into the Panthers with one out when Nathan Plauche doubled followed by a single from Jake Ruiz.  Blake Falconello was hit by a pitch before Jacob Mercante singled.

With two outs Jake Lipps singled, Zach Traylor walked, Mark Traylor was hit by a pitch and Brady Bass singled before Mark Traylor was thrown out at third trying to advance to end the game.

Northshore build a commanding 9-0 lead through the first four innings off of Wave pitchers Hayden Hutches and Zack Rock aided by three Wave JV errors.

Hutches hurled the first four innings, allowing six runs of six hits while striking out one and walking four.  He was also victimized by three errors from the Wave defense.

Rock pitched three innings, allowing three runs on three hits.  He struck out three and walked two.

Ruiz and Lipps led the Wave JV at the plate with two hits apiece.  Plauche, Mercante, Bass, Blake Falconello and Branden Lessard all had one hit.

Saturday, March 28
WAVE JV TOPS ALBANY, 9-5

The Ponchatoula junior varsity baseball team rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth to break a 5-5 tie and whip the Albany Hornets, 9-5, Monday at Albany.

With one out Jake Ruiz and Zach Traylor started the decisive rally with back-to-back singles.  Tyler Corbin followed with a walk before Ruiz scored on a wild pitch to put Ponchy ahead 6-5.  Hayden Hutches then walked to bring Traylor home before Zack Rock lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Corbin.  After Jake Lipps walked, Mark Traylor singled home Hutches for the final 9-5 cushion.

Rock then relieved winning pitcher Brady Bass in the last of the fifth, setting down the Hornets without a run to seal the victory.  Bass struck out two, allowed one hit and walked one in the inning.

Albany took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of Traylor, who started on the mound for Ponchy.  A double, two singles, a pair of walks and an error accounted for the scoring.

The Wave JV got on the board in the top of the second when Hutches blasted a solo homer to left centerfield.

Albany countered with a run in the bottom half on a walk, a single and an error.

But the Wave JV staged a four-run rally in the top of the third to take its first lead of the game.  Branden Lessard led off the frame with a single and was followed by Darrin Bach’s double to right center.  Blake Falconello then unloaded a home run to left field before a walk to Ruiz and a double by Zach Traylor gave Ponchy a 5-3 lead.

Bass then relieved Mark Traylor on the hill and gave up but two runs over the next two innings.  A trio of doubles sparked Albany’s two-run rally in the third to tie the game at 5-all before the Wave put the game away in the fifth.

Bass gave up two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking none to pick up the win.

Mark Traylor, the starting pitcher, allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one and walking three.

Zach Traylor led the Green Wave JV at the plate with three hits.  Falconello had two hits while Bach, Ruiz, Hutches, Lessard, Mark Traylor, Brady Bass and Jacob Mercante all had one hit.

Sunday, April 5
WAVE JV FALLS TO WOLVES, 10-0

The St. Paul junior varsity laced 13 hits while limiting the Ponchatoula JV to two safeties as the Wolves won, 10-0, Saturday at Covington.

The Wolves touched Ponchy starter Branden Lessard for a run on a pair of singles to break a scoreless deadlock in the second.

St. Paul then exploded for five runs in the third on six hits and two errors before adding three more runs in the last of the fifth for a 9-0 lead.

The Wolves JV team then ended the game by the mercy rule with a run in the last of the sixth.

Jacob Mercante and Brady Bass had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

Lessard pitched three innings for Ponchatoula, allowing six runs, four of them earned, on nine hits while walking one.

Reliever Jake Ruiz threw three innings, allowing four runs, three of them earned, on four hits.  He walked two and struck out one.

Saturday, April 11
GREEN WAVE JV SPLITS WITH TORNADOS
Zack Rock and Branden Lessard scampered home with the tying and winning runs on Jacob Mercante’s ground ball that was booted by the shortstop in the bottom of the sixth to give the Ponchatoula junior varsity a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Hammond JV Wednesday at Athletic Park.

In Thursday’s rematch, the Tornado JV blasted 10 hits and blew apart a 4-4 tie with four runs in the final frame for an 8-4 victory.

In Wednesday’s game, Brett Vampran picked up a complete game victory on the mound for the Wave JV.  He threw a total of 127 pitches in the six-inning effort, allowing four earned runs on five hits.  Vampran struck out six, walked five and hit five batters in the win.

The Hammond JV jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Green Wave rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the last of the third.

Brady Bass and Tyler Corbin had back-to-back walks before Nathan Plauche reached on a fielder’s choice.  Base hits by Mark Traylor and Blake Falconello accounted for the rest of the runs in the big rally.

The Tors struck for two more runs in the top of the fourth, but the Wave again came from behind in the last of the sixth.  With one out Rock and Lessard walked before Mercante’s ground ball with two out was muffed, allowing the winning runs to cross the plate.

Falconello, Vampran, Mercante, Zach Traylor and Mark Traylor had one hit apiece for Ponchatoula.

In Thursday’s game, Ponchatoula jumped to a 2-0 first inning lead.  Leadoff batter Darrin Bach was hit by a pitch before a double by Zach Traylor and a left field error on Hayden Hutches’ line drive fly ball plated two runs.

After Hammond scored three in the third to take the lead, Ponchy tied it up in the fourth.  Hutches led off with a double and later scored to make it 3-3.

The Green Wave took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Mark Traylor reached on a shortstop error and came around to score.

But after the Tors tied it up in the bottom half, Hammond erupted for four runs on four hits in the final inning to put the game away.

Traylor, Hutches and Jake Ruiz had the only hits for Ponchatoula.

Branden Lessard pitched all six innings for the Wave, surrendering five earned runs on 10 hits.  He struck out two, walked one batter and hit two batsmen.

Saturday, April 18
PONCHY FROSH DEFEAT COVINGTON, 12-9

The Ponchatoula freshman baseball team machine-gunned 15 hits, but had to fight off a five-run rally by Covington in the last of the seventh to take a 12-9 victory over the Lions Wednesday in Covington.

The Wave frosh jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first when Darrin Bach was hit by a pitch, Blake Falconello walked, Zach Traylor stroked an RBI double to right and Hayden Hutches lined a two-run single to right centerfield.

The Wave added three more in the second when Brady Bass was hit by a pitch, Taylor Denham singled, and Bach doubled home Bass.  Denham scored on a passed ball before Zach Traylor’s singled to center scored Bach.

Covington added a run in the second and one in the fourth before Ponchy rallied for six runs in the fifth to blow the game open.

Nathan Plauche led off the big inning with a single, and Zack Rock walked.  Plauche scored on a passed ball before Branden Lessard hit into an error by the second baseman, scoring Traylor.  Bach then singled home Lessard before Zach Traylor singled and Hutches was hit by a pitch.

Tyler Corbin’s hit to third resulted in an error that scored both Bach and Traylor before Jake Lipps drove home Hutches for a commanding 12-2 lead.

Covington added two more in the fifth and five in the seventh, but fell short, 12-9.

Lessard was the winning pitcher, throwing a complete game and allowing only three earned runs on eight hits.  He struck out five, walked one and hit one batsman.

Bach and Zach Traylor led the 15-hit Ponchy assault with three hits apiece while Lipps and Corbin both had a pair of singles.  Falconello, Hutches, Denham, Brett Vampran and Jacob Mercante all had one hit.

Jake Lipps led the Wave JV with 2 hits

Saturday, April 18
WAVE JV FALLS TO LIONS, 7-5

The Ponchatoula junior varsity baseball team rallied for four runs in the last of the fifth but came up short against Covington, 7-5, Thursday at Athletic Park.

The Lions JV team scored four runs in the second before the Wave JV scored its first run in the last of the third.  Jake Lipps singled and eventually scored on an RBI single by Darrin Bach.

Covington stretched its lead to 6-1 in the fourth and 7-1 in the fifth before Ponchatoula’s big rally.

Brett Vampran and Brady Bass reached on errors before Lipps singled home Vampran.  Zack Rock walked before Ryan Byers drove home Bass with an RBI single.

With two out Jake Ruiz smacked a two-run double to left to score both Lipps and Rock.  But that was all the scoring Ponchy could manage.

Lipps led the Wave JV at the plate with two hits while Bach, Byers, Ruiz, Corbin, Vampran and Hayden Hutches had one hit apiece.

Hutches started on the mound for the Wave JV and suffered the loss in 3 and 2/3 innings of work.  He gave up six runs on one hit while striking out one and walking nine.

Bass relieved Hutches on the mound for one and one-third inning, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two, walking one and hitting one batsman.

Ruiz pitched the final inning, allowing no runs and two hits while walking one batter.

Sunday, April 26
WAVE JV FALLS TO MANDEVILLE, 7-6

	Jake Ruiz pitched the final 3 innings for the Wave JV

Mandeville’s junior varsity rallied for three runs in the bottom of the final inning to stave off the Ponchatoula Green Wave JV, 7-6, recently at Mandeville.

The Wave JV took a 6-4 lead into the final frame, but Mandeville took advantage of a walk, two errors, a pair of singles, and a passed ball which allowed the winning run to score in the last of the fifth.

Ponchy jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a double by Zach Traylor and a two-run homer by Hayden Hutches, his third of the junior varsity season.

A walk, an outfield error and a single enabled Mandeville to cut the lead to 2-1 off of Wave JV starter Mark Traylor.

The Skipper JV team greeted reliever Jake Ruiz with three runs in the last of the third.  A double, an error, a fielder’s choice and a passed ball accounted for a 4-2 Mandeville lead.

But the Wave rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth, which proved to be the final inning before the game was called.

A double by Hutches and singles by Jake Lipps, Ryan Byers and Brady Bass sandwiched around a walk to Blake Falconello gave the Wave JV a two-run lead before the catastrophic fifth.

Hutches and Bass led the Wave JV with two hits apiece while Lipps, Byers and Zach Traylor had one apiece.

Mark Traylor went two innings on the mound, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one and walking two.l

Ruiz pitched the final three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out two and walking one.

Brady Bass led the Wave JV with 2 hits (LeSaicherre photo)

Sunday, April 26
WAVE JV UPENDED IN 7TH BY LORANGER

Darrin Bach hurled 4 scoreless innings vs. Loranger

For the second straight game, the Ponchy JV took a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the final inning.

And for the second straight game, errors cost them in the final frame for a 7-6 loss to the Loranger JV at Loranger recently.

Four singles, a walk and a critical outfield error with two men out proved the Wave JV’s undoing.

The Wave took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tyler Corbin reached on an outfield error, stole second and scored when Blake Falconello’s grounder to second was thrown wildly to first base.

Loranger scored three runs in the bottom half off of Wave starter Brett Vampran to take a 3-1 lead.

After Loranger added another run in the second, Ponchy cut the lead to 4-3 in the third.  Corbin beat out an infield single before Zach Traylor was hit by a pitch.

The Loranger pitcher’s pickoff attempt at first sailed wide, scoring Corbin and moving Traylor to third.  Traylor then came home on a wild pitch.

Ponchy tied the game at 4-all in the fourth when Jake Lipps walked, stole second and moved to third on Brady Bass’s ground out to third.  When the baseman’s return throw to third was wild, Lipps scored to make the score 4-4.

With reliever Darrin Bach hurling four scoreless innings, Ponchatoula took a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh.  Branden Lessard and Bass both singled, and with one out Jacob Mercante’s fly to right was muffed, enabling Lessard to score.  Bach’s ground out to shortstop then scored Bass for a two-run lead heading into the last of the seventh.

But Loranger rallied against Wave reliever Mark Traylor, the most costly blow coming with two out when a dropped fly in centerfield allowed the tying run to score.

Corbin, Lessard and Bass had the only hits for Ponchatoula against the Loranger duo of Trevor Gaubert and Brennan Catalano.

Vampran allowed two earned runs in two innings of work.  He allowed two hits while fanning one, walking three and hitting one batsman.

Bach threw four shutout innings in relief, allowing two hits while striking out four and walking just one batter.

Traylor allowed no earned runs in one inning of work while picking up the loss.  He gave up four hits and walked one batter.

Tyler Corbin had one hit & scored 2 runs vs. Wolves (LeSaicherre photo)

Wednesday, April 29
FONTAINEBLEAU JV SMACKS PONCHY

Blake Falconello’s muffed grounder to short drove in a run

The Fontainebleau JV baseball team rallied for five runs in the first inning, and that was all they needed to oust the Green Wave JV, 9-2, Tuesday in Mandeville.

The Bulldog JV smacked six hits and capitalized on a pair of walks and one error to take a 5-0 first inning lead.

The Wave JV scored their only runs in the second inning.  Hayden Hutches singled and advanced to third on a single by Jake Ruiz.

Pinch-runner Nathan Plauche stole second, and on the throw down by the catcher Hutches scored Ponchy’s first run.  Blake Falconello then grounded into an error by the shortstop, plating Plauche.

Fontainebleau added two more runs in the second and a pair in the sixth to round out the Bulldog scoring.

Shortstop Darrin Bach had the only other hit for Ponchatoula.

Jack Ruiz was the starter for Ponchatoula, going five innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits while striking out four.  He walked six and hit two batsmen.

Hutches pitched the final inning, allowing two runs on one hit while walking four and striking out one.

The JV winds up its district schedule against Hammond at 4 pm. Thursday at Athletic Park.

Nathan Plauche scored 1 of 2 Ponchy JV runs (LeSaicherre photo)

Jack Ruiz had a pair of singles and a double for 3 RBI (LeSaicherre photo)

Sunday, May 3
WAVE JV POWERS PAST TORS, 10-1

Brady Bass held Hammond’s JV scoreless thru 3 innings

The Ponchatoula Green Wave junior varsity exploded for nine runs on six hits in the second inning and coasted behind the pitching of Brady Bass and Branden Lessard to wallop Hammond, 10-1, Thursday in the season finale at Athletic Park.

The Wave JV won the season series with Hammond as they’d split with the Tor JV club in two games earlier this season.

Consecutive singles by Zach Traylor, Hayden Hutches and Jake Lipps ignited the huge second inning outburst for Ponchy.  Lipps’ hit to left drove home Traylor with the game’s first run, and Blake Falconello’s hit that was booted by the second baseman allowed two more runs to score.

Bass grounded into a third base error which allowed pinch-runner Taylor Denham to score, and after Tyler Corbin and Mark Traylor smacked back-to-back singles to load the bases, Darrin Bach drew a walk to bring home Bass for a 5-0 lead.

Ryan Byers then grounded into another error by the third baseman to plate both Corbin and Mark Traylor before Jake Ruiz smashed a two-run double to left center for a commanding 9-0 lead.

Bass held Hammond scoreless through the first three innings, striking out four of the 12 batters he faced.

Hammond finally scored in the top of the fourth on two hits, a walk, and a pair of sacrifice bunts.

But that would end Hammond’s scoring as the Wave added another run in the top of the fifth.  Bach walked and scored on an RBI double by Ruiz to left-center.

Lessard struck out two of the final four batters in the sixth inning to preserve the win.

Bass went four innings on the mound, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Lessard pitched two shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits while fanning two batters.

Brett Vampran killed a second-inning Hammond rally with a diving catch in centerfield and a throw to second to double off the runner who’d left early.

Ruiz was the top hitter for the Wave JV with a pair of doubles, a single and 3 RBI.  Bach had a pair of hits while Zach Traylor, Hutches, Lipps, Corbin and Mark Traylor had one each.   

Branden Lessard threw two shutout innings in relief

Dylan Meyers’ 3-run triple was the difference vs. Hannan

Sunday, May 31
PEVEY SLIDES BY HANNAN IN LEGION OPENER

	Kaleb Kraft led Pevey with two hits

Dylan Meyers rocked a two-out, three-run triple in the bottom of the sixth to send Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors to a come-from-behind 9-6 victory over Hannan-based Post 16 Wednesday night in the American Legion Sixth District East opener for both teams at Athletic Park.

Pevey overcame a 6-3 deficit and a host of its own mistakes in rallying for the summer season-opening win.  For the game Pevey committed four errors, walked four batters, hit a batter, grounded into three double plays and stranded 12 baserunners.

Post 16 jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off of Pevey starter Dylan Hills with three walks, Dylan Manichia’s double, Christian Clark’s RBI ground out, and Eddy Laine’s two-run single.

Pevey responded with two runs in the bottom of the first.  Hills smashed a leadoff double, and Dylan Meyers and Elisha Settoon drew consecutive walks to load the bases.  Justin Crowell then walked to plate a run before Settoon scored on a wild pitch.

Pevey then tied the game at 3-all in the last of the third when Hills and Dylan Meyers were hit by pitches, Settoon walked to load the bases, and Crowell delivered a sacrifice fly to left.

The score remained tied until the sixth when Post 16 rallied for three runs.  A hit batter, an infield single and three infield errors did the damage.

But trailing 6-3 in the last of the sixth, Pevey staged a two-out rally.  Settoon led off the inning and was hit by a pitch.  Crowell walked, and two outs later Kaleb Kraft singled to load the bases.

Darrin Bach’s infield single brought home pinch-runner Mark Traylor before pinch-hitter Jake Lipps walked to make the score 6-5.  Another walk to Hills tied the score before Dylan Meyers cleared the bases with a long shot over the centerfielder’s head.

Settoon relieved Hills on the mound in the seventh and induced three ground balls to end the game and pick up the save.

Hills got the win by throwing six innings and allowing only four hits while striking out four.

Kraft led Pevey at the plate with two hits while Hills, Crowell, Bach, Brett Vampran, Randall Meyers and Dylan Meyers all had one hit.

Pevey goes on the road to face Pope John Paul Tuesday.

Dylan Hills allowed 4 hits in the win over Hannan

Darrin Bach struck out 6 in stopping Pope John Paul on 2 hits

Tuesday, June 2
PEVEY SHUTS DOWN POPE JOHN PAUL, 5-1

	Justin Crowell had the pop with a 2-run HR and 3 RBI

Darrin Bach hurled a complete game two-hitter, and Justin Crowell’s two-run homer in the first inning provided all of the support he needed as Pevey Realtors stifled Pope John Paul-based Laneco Construction, 5-1, in an American Legion 6th District East fray Tuesday in Slidell.

Bach walked five and struck out six in going all seven innings on the mound, allowing only a pair of singles to Tim Turner as Pevey moved to 2-0 in summer legion action.

Pevey got all of the scoring it needed in the top of the first off of Laneco starter Andre Damiens.  With one out Dylan Meyers singled, and Elisha Settoon hit into a fielder’s choice before Crowell lifted a two-run shot over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.

Laneco cut the score in half in the bottom of the first when Bobby Mayfield’s RBI ground out to first plated Ross Macaluso, who reached on a leadoff walk.

Crowell put Pevey up 3-1 in the top of the third with his third RBI, a sacrifice fly to deep center which scored Dylan Hills, who’d reached on a single.

Pevey stretched the lead to 4-1 in the sixth off of Laneco reliever Connor Olivier when pinch-hitter Zach Traylor led off with a single and moved to third on consecutive walks to Hills and Dylan Meyers.  Settoon then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Traylor.

Pevey notched its final run in the seventh off of reliever Dustin Dampier when Randall Meyers singled and scored on Traylor’s second hit of the game, an RBI double.

Traylor’s two hits led Pevey at the plate while Hills, Settoon, Crowell, Dylan Meyers, Randall Meyers, Kaleb Kraft and Brady Bass all had one hit.

Pevey plays a doubleheader Wednesday at Catholic High in Baton Rouge, facing St. Michaels at 5 pm. and Central at 7 pm.

Zach Traylor had 2 hits, including an RBI double

Thursday, June 4
PEVEY NIPS ST. MICHAELS, 4-2

Dylan Hills limited St. Michael to just three hits and scored the go-ahead run in the fourth inning as Pevey Realtors prevailed, 4-2, in non-district American Legion action Wednesday in the Denham Springs wood bat tourney at Catholic high in Baton Rouge.

Hills struck out six, walked one and hit two batters in six innings of work to pick up the win.  Elisha Settoon relieved Hills in the seventh to pick up the save.

Pevey got on the board first when Hills reached on an infield error, stole second and scored on a single by Dylan Meyers.

St. Michaels tied it in the second on a hit batter, a passed ball and an RBI single.

Pevey went back up 2-1 in the third when Settoon walked, moved to third on a single by Justin Crowell, and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Darrin Bach.

St. Michaels tied it again in the third on a pair of singles sandwiched arond a stolen base.

But Pevey added what turned out to be the winning run in the fourth when Hills was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Crowell’s single.

Crowell scored Pevey’s final run in the seventh when he led off with a single and scored on back-to-back singles by Kaleb Kraft and Bach.

St. Michaels mounted a threat in the last of the seventh, but with two out and runners on second and third, Settoon induced a ground out to end the game.

Crowell had four hits to lead Pevey while Kraft had two hits, and Bach and Dylan Meyers had one each.

Pevey (3-1) plays host to Fontainebleau-based Capital One tonightat 6 pm. at Athletic park in a district game.

Friday, June 5
PEVEY FALLS TO FONTAINEBLEAU, 9-6

Fontainebleau-based Capitol One overcame a three-run deficit with four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to stop Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors, 9-6, Thursday in American Legion Sixth District East play at Athletic Park.

Pevey (3-2 overall, 1-1 in league) held a 5-2 lead through four innings, but Capitol One took advantage of four hits and three Pevey errors for the big innings at the end.

Dylan Hills got Pevey going in the top of the first with a leadoff double off of Capital One starter Addison Melancon.  Hills then moved to second on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Meyers and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly to center by Elisha Settoon.

Capitol One took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second off of Settoon (0-1), who started on the hill and went the whole distance for Pevey.

David Fiegel and Klay Galloway led off the inning with back-to-back singles.  Ryan Casassa then bunted the runners to second and third before Will Ward brought home Fiegel with a ground out to short and James Cousin singled home Galloway for a 2-1 lead.

Pevey answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, 4-2.  Dylan Meyers singled, and courtesy runner Jake Lipps moved to second on a single by Settoon.  Justin Crowell then doubled home Lipps before Kaleb Kraft singled home Hayden Hutches, who was running for Settoon.  Randall Meyers then drove Crowell in with a fielder’s choice grounder to short.

Cousin replaced Melancon on the mound for Capitol One in the fourth, and Pevey stretched its lead to 5-2 with a two-out rally.  Hills reached on an error by the shortstop, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Settoon’s RBI single to left.

But Capitol One rallied for four runs in the fifth to take the lead.  With one out Anthony LaGuardia singled, moved to second when Jake Palmisano was hit by a pitch, and advanced to third on an error by the third baseman.  Logan Peterson then delivered a two-run double before Fiegel singled in two runs for a 6-5 Capitol One lead.

Pevey had a chance to tie the game in the sixth against LaGuardia, who relieved Cousin, but a pair of strikeouts left Darrin Bach stranded on third.

Capitol One added three more runs in the seventh for a 9-5 lead.  Fiegel was hit by a pitch, and Galloway reached on an error by the left fielder.  Casassa then lined a two-run double to center and later scored on Andrew Patin’s sacrifice fly to right.

Pevey staged a last-ditch rally in the bottom of the seventh but came up short.  Settoon led off with a single, his third hit of the game, and moved to second on Crowell’s single.  Randall Meyers’ infield single loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Jake Ruiz drove home Settoon with a single to right.

But LaGuardia, who picked up the win, got the next two batters on a force out at home and a ground out to end the game.

Settoon pitched all seven innings in the loss, allowing only four earned runs as Pevey committed six errors.  He gave up nine hits, struck out three, walked one and hit three batters.

Settoon also led Pevey at the plate with three hits followed by Crowell with two and Hills, Kraft, Ruiz and Randall Meyers with one apiece.

Darrin Bach pitched 6 innings and had two RBI singles

Wednesday, June 10
PEVEY SLAPS PEARL RIVER, 8-5

	Randall Meyers had a pair of singles and one RBI

Starting pitcher Darrin Bach held Pearl River-based Anytime Fitness at bay for six innings and accounted for the winning run with a fifth-inning RBI single to lead Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors to an 8-5 win in American Legion Sixth District East play Tuesday at Athletic Park.

Pevey, now 5-2 overall, improved its league record to 3-1 while Anytime is 1-3.

Bach (2-0) gave up all nine runs along with 10 hits and two walks.  He struck out three and hit one batter.

He was relieved by Elisha Settoon in the top of the seventh after Doug Conreavy’s two-run double with none out pulled Anytime to within 8-5 with runners on second and third and the tying run, cleanup batter Michael Beloso, coming to the plate.

Settoon promptly got Beloso to ground out, and two pitches later he tagged Jordan Piniero out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch for two out.  He then struck out Brad Huff looking to end the game and pick up his third save of the summer.

Anytime got on the scoreboard with one run off of Bach in the top of the first when Conreavey stroked a two-out double, moved to third on an error by the leftfielder and scored on a wild pitch.

Pevey countered with four runs in the bottom of the second off of Anytime starter Beau Crawford for a 4-1 lead.  Justin Crowell reached on an infield error, Randall Meyers singled, and a throwing error on Kaleb Kraft’s bunt allowed Crowell to score.

Another infield error allowed Meyers to score while Bach’s sacrifice fly scored Kraft.  Ryan Byers reached on a third Anytime error and later scored on a wild pitch for the 4-1 lead.

Anytime cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fifth.  Alex Foil and Adam Vignes singled, and both moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremiah Aisenhardy.  Both scored on another Pevey error and Piniero’s sacrifice fly.

But Pevey made it 6-3 in the last of the fifth.   Randall Meyers walked, Kraft singled, and Bach singled home Crowell with what proved to be the winning run.

Pevey added two more in the last of the fifth for what seemed to be a commanding 8-3 lead. Dylan Meyers walked, and courtesy runner Jake Lipps moved to third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring on an RBI single by Randall Meyers.  After Kraft walked, Randall Meyers scored on Bach’s second RBI single of the game.

But in the top of the seventh Conreavy’s two-run double closed the gap before Settoon came on to end the threat.

Bach, Kraft and Randall Meyers all had two hits to lead Pevey.  Crowell had the other hit.

Conreavy, Beloso and Andro Cutura had two hits for Anytime.  Huff, Crawford, Foil and Vignes each had one hit.

Pevey hosts Springfield in a key Sixth District East game at 6 pm. Thursday at Athletic Park.

Elisha Settoon fired a three-hitter as Pevey hammered Springfield

Saturday, June 13
PEVEY PUMMELS SPRINGFIELD, 18-1

Ryan Byers had two hits and 4 RBI for Pevey

Elisha Settoon twirled a three-hitter, and Pevey Realtors smashed 12 hits to clobber Springfield in American Legion Sixth District East play Thursday night at Athletic Park.

Pevey moved to 4-1 in district (2-0 in the Western Division of SDE) and 6-2 overall with the victory.

Settoon pitched all four innings, allowing no earned runs and only 17 baserunners, three of which reached on early Pevey errors.  He struck out three and walked none.

Meanwhile, Pevey busted loose for four runs in the first, six in the second and eight in the third to dominate Springfield.

The first-inning rally would be all Settoon would need.  Dylan Hills led off with a walk, and Dylan Meyers was hit by a pitch.  Settoon then beat out a slow chopper which the second baseman threw wildly to first, scoring Hills.

Both Jake Lipps, running for Meyers, and Hayden Hutches, running for Settoon, scored on wild pitches. Justin Crowell walked and scored on Darrin Bach’s single for the 4-0 lead off Springfield starter Ethan Bleakely.

The Bulldogs notched their only run in the second on an infield error, a fielder’s choice ground out, and Jordan Caves RBI single.

But Pevey came back in the bottom of the second with a six-run outburst that chased Bleakely and put the game away early.

Hills did the first damage with a one-out, solo home run to left center.  Dylan Meyers singled and moved to third on Settoon’s double.  Crowell was hit by a pitch to load the bases before successive walks to Randall Meyers and Kaleb Kraft drove in two more runs.

Dillon Andrews then replaced Bleakely on the mound and allowed Crowell to score on a wild pitch.  Bach grounded into a fielder’s choice which caught Randall Meyers at the plate.  Ryan Byers followed with a two-run single to make the score 10-1.

Hills led off the bottom of the third by reaching on an error before Dylan Meyers singled and Settoon walked to load the bases.  Crowell hit into a force at short as Hills scored.

Randall Meyers’ infield single plated another run before Crowell scored on a wild pitch.  An RBI double by Kraft, a two-run triple by Byers, an RBI ground out by Hayden Hutches, and an RBI single by Dylan Meyers rounded out the scoring.

Dylan Meyers had three hits to lead Pevey while Hills, Settoon and Byers had two hits each.  Bach, Kraft and Randall Meyers each had one hit.

Byers had four RBI, and Hills scored four runs for Pevey.

Pevey next squares off against Rummel in a non-district doubleheader 2:30 pm. Saturday at Athletic Park.

Dylan Hills had two hits, one a solo homer, and scored 4 runs

Randall Meyers slapped a walkoff single for the win

Saturday, June 13
PEVEY RALLIES TO TOP COVINGTON, 3-2

	Branden Lessard got the win in relief

Randall Meyers’ walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh drove home Ryan Byers with the winning run as Pevey Realtors came from behind to defeat Covington, 3-2, Saturday in the Denham Springs wood bat tournament at Catholic High in Baton Rouge.

The win gave Pevey a 2-1 record for the tournament and 4-2 overall season mark.

Pevey entered the last inning trailing 2-1, but Dylan Meyers and Byers both walked, and after Dylan Meyers scored, Byers scored on a single up the middle by Randall Meyers.

Brandon Lessard, who pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Darrin Bach, picked up the mound win.

Randall Meyers had two hits to lead Pevey at the plate while Crowell, Jake Ruiz and Blake Falconello had the other hits.

Centerfielder Jake Lipps had two of three hits for Pevey and scored the only run

Sunday, June 14
RUMMEL DROPS PEVEY, 9-1, IN NINE INNINGS

2B Blake Falconello drove in Pevey’s only run with a sacrifice fly

A trio of lefthanders- Albert Hutfelter, Jared Dahmer and Ryan Pursell- halted Pevey Realtors on only three hits through nine innings as Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration prevailed, 9-1, in non-district American Legion action Saturday at Athletic Park.

Pevey’s record fell to 6-3 overall with the loss in the nine-inning fray, extended from the normal 7 innings by mutual agreement of the coaches.

A single and double by Jake Lipps and a double by Elisha Settoon were all that Pevey could manage against Nationwide’s hurlers.

Meanwhile, Pevey pitchers Darrin Bach, Jake Ruiz and Hayden Hutches limited Nationwide to six hits, but Pevey committed five errors to only one for Nationwide.

Pevey threatened to get on the board first in the bottom of the second, but with two men out left the bases loaded.  Pevey would again leave the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded nine baserunners for the game.

After Bach hurled three scoreless innings, Nationwide jumped on top against Ruiz, the first Pevey reliever, in the top of the fourth.  Taylor Hart and Tyler Johns walked before Pursell’s infield single loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Cameron Huffman and an RBI single by Jared Gonzales produced a 2-0 Nationwide lead.

Nationwide extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth when Justin Richard walked and scored on Hart’s double.  Hart later scored on Johns’ single when the relay thrown sailed wide of the plate.

Pevey tallied its only run in the bottom of the fifth.  Lipps led off with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Blake Falconello’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Pevey made a serious threat to tighten the game in the sixth.  Dylan Meyers walked, Settoon doubled to right field and Justin Crowell walked to load the bases.  But starter Hutfelter bore down to fan the next three batters and leave Pevey without a run.

Nationwide greeted Pevey reliever Hutches with three runs in the sixth.  An infield error, a double by Gonzales and Hutfelter’s RBI ground out pushed across one run.  Ryan Womac walked, Gonzales scored on a wild pitch, and Womac moved to third on a single by Ray Veit.  Womac made it 7-1 when he scored on a wild throw to second on Veit’s attempted steal.

Nationwide scored its final two runs in the ninth when Veit walked, Richard was hit by a pitch, Dahmer’s ground ball was muffed at second, and Hart lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

Bach allowed no runs on no hits while walking three and striking out one in three innings of work.  Ruiz allowed four runs on four hits and walked three in two innings.  Hutches worked four innings, yielding five runs- only one of them earned- on two hits while walking three and hitting two batters.

Pevey returns to action Monday at 6 pm. at St. Paul’s in a non-district game.

Justin Crowell had 4 hits vs. St. Paul

Tuesday, June 16
PEAKE BMW OUTSLUGS PEVEY, 21-12

Kaleb Kraft had 3 hits for Pevey

St. Paul-based Peake BMW overcame a 2-run deficit with 11 runs in the sixth-inning to outlast Pevey Realtors, 21-12, in a non-district American Legion clash Monday at Covington.

Pevey fell to 6-4 overall on the year.Peake BMW banged out 17 hits off of five Pevey pichers en route to the victory.  Pevey ripped 15 hits in the loss.

Pevey took an early 3-1 lead in the top of the first.  A leadoff triple by Dylan Hills and an RBI double by Dylan Meyers produced one run before Justin Crowell and Kaleb Kraft laced RBI singles.

Peake BMW scored one in the first on a solo homer by John Gremillion.Peake added five runs in the second to take a 6-3 lead, but Pevey responded with three in the third to tie the game.

A fielder’s choice grounder by Randall Meyers scored one run while a throwing error on the play and a sacrifice fly by Jake Lipps scored two more.

Pevey took an 8-6 lead in the fourth. Blake Falconello doubled and scored on a single by Hills, who reached third on an outfield error.  Dylan Meyers then drove Hills home on a ground out to the second baseman.

But Peake BMW rallied for four runs and a 10-8 lead in the bottom half of the fourth.  Five hits and a walk led to the big Peake flurry.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Pevey regained the lead with its own four-run rally in the top of the sixth.  Hills and Dylan Meyers were both hit by pitches before Elisha Settoon tripled both runners home to tie the game at 10-all.

Crowell singled home Settoon before Kraft singled in Crowell for a 12-10 lead.

But the lead was short-lived as Peake exploded for 11 runs off of three different Pevey pitchers in the last of the sixth.  Six hits, six walks and one hit batter did the damage.

Top hitters for Pevey were Crowell with four hits along with Dylan Meyers and Kraft with three hits each.  Hills had two hits while Settoon, Falconello and Randall Meyers had one each.

Pevey returns to action tonight in a big SDE clash with Hannan.  Gametime is 6 pm. at Athletic Park.         

Elisha Settoon pitched a 6-hitter and had 2 hits

Wednesday, June 17
PEVEY WINS DISTRICT TITLE, 11-1

	Dylan Meyers went 4-4 with a walkoff homer

Elisha Settoon stopped Hannan-based Post 16 on six hits, and Dylan Meyers went 4-4, including a walkoff homer, as Pevey Realtors clinched the western division of American Legion Sixth District East, 11-1, Tuesday at Athletic Park.

The win gave Pevey (7-4 overall) an automatic berth in the American Legion regional tournament slated for Athletic Park July 11-15th.  The Realtors pushed their Sixth District East record to 5-1 and 3-0 in the western division.

Settoon (2-1, three saves) worked all six innings on the hill for Pevey, allowing only one unearned run while striking out five and walking only one.

Pevey provided him with more than enough support at the plate, blistering 12 hits, including four by Meyers, who has seven in his last eight plate appearances.

The Pevey plate attack broke open a tight game with four runs in the third and five in the fourth to seal the victory.

After a scoreless first inning, Pevey broke the ice with one run in the second off of Post 16 starter Logan Booksh.  Kaleb Kraft led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out by Jake Lipps, and scored on an RBI ground out by Darrin Bach.

Post 16 tied the score in the top of the third.  Booksh’s fly ball was muffed by the leftfielder, and with two out Eddy Laine singled him home for a 1-1 deadlock.

But Pevey responded with four big runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Dylan Hills was hit by a pitch, and Meyers doubled him home for a 2-1 Pevey lead.

Brett Vampran, courtesy running for Meyers, advanced to third when the Post 16 second baseman booted Justin Crowell’s ground ball, and Vampran scored on a single by Randall Meyers.  Kraft walked, and Lipps delivered a two-run single to pad the Pevey lead at 5-1.

Settoon set down Post 16 in order in the fourth, and Pevey busted the game wide open with five runs in the bottom half.

Blake Falconello reached on an error by the third baseman, and Hills singled before Dylan Meyers doubled home both runners.

Settoon then doubled home courtesy runner Vampran before Mark Traylor, running for Settoon, scored on Crowell’s single.  Crowell later scored on a sacrifice fly by Randall Meyers for a commanding 10-1 Pevey lead.

After a scoreless fifth Dylan Meyers, who had four RBI on the evening, ended the game with a leadoff solo homer in the sixth to finish play by the mercy rule.

Booksh went all six innings on the mound for Post 16, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits while fanning three and hitting one batter.

Along with Dylan Meyers, Settoon and Crowell led Pevey’s hit parade with two apiece.  Hills, Kraft, Lipps and Randall Meyers had one hit each for Pevey.

Andrew Arceneaux had a pair of singles to lead Post 16 while Laine, Dylan Manichia, Christian Clark and Bubba Tomberlin each had one single.

Pevey returns to action Thursday, hosting Pope John Paul at 6 pm. at Athletic Park.

Randall Meyers had a two-run single vs. Pope John Paul

Friday, June 19
POPE JOHN PAUL HALTS PEVEY, 6-4

Bobby Mayfield silenced Pevey Realtors on five hits, three of them infield singles, as Pope John Paul-based Laneco Construction toppled Pevey, 6-4, Thursday in an American Legion Sixth District East fray at Athletic Park.

Pevey, which has already clinched the SDE’s West Division title and a berth in the southeast regionals slated July 11-15 for Athletic Park, fell to 7-5 overall and 5-2 in district.

Pevey just couldn’t get its bats going against Mayfield, who struck out four and walked three in six innings of work.  Connor Olivier worked the last inning to pick up the save.

Laneco jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead off of Pevey starter Darrin Bach.  Ross Macaluso wawlked, and Blake Bonnafons reached on an error by the left fielder.  Alex Ramirez drove Macaluso home with a sacrifice fly before Mayfield doubled and Andre Damiens blasted a three-run homer.

Pevey cut the lead to 4-3 in the third.  Brett Vampran, Dylan Meyers and Elisha Settoon walked to load the bases.  Justin Crowell then drove home Vampran with a ground out before Randall Meyers drove home Zach Traylor, running for Dylan Meyers, and Settoon  with a bloop single to center.

Laneco pushed its lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally.  Matt Navarro reached on a dropped fly ball to the outfield before Dustin Dampier singled and Jacob Hughes cleaned the bases with a double.

Pevey cut the lead to 6-4 in the sixth when Kaleb Kraft tripled to center and Jake Lipps drove pinch runner Mark Traylor home with an infield single.

But Olivier came on in the seventh to shut down Pevey without run.

Bach pitched six innings for Pevey, allowing six runs, three of them earned.  He gave up five hits while striking out two and walking three.

Zach Traylor relieved Bach in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning.

Lipps led Pevey with a pair of infield hits while Hills, Kraft and Randall Meyers each had one hit.

Hughes led Laneco with two hits while Ramirez, Mayfield, Damiens and Dampier had one.

Pevey travels to Lafayette Friday for non-district action against Crowley on Friday and Teurlings Catholic and Opelousas on Saturday.

Tuesday, June 30
HOLY CROSS DUMPS PEVEY, 5-1

Ryan Byers had a single and scored the only run vs. Holy Cross

Tristan Diaz scattered six hits while his Holy Cross-based Ponstein teammates laced nine hits to topple Ponchatoula Post 47-based Pevey Realtors, 5-1, Monday in a non-district American Legion game at Athletic Park.

Pevey, which has already clinched the western division of the American Legion Sixth District East and will host the southeast regionals July 11-15 at Athletic Park, couldn’t get its offensive engine going against the visitors.  The game was called after six innings due to rain and lightning.

Ponstein touched Pevey starter Elisha Settoon for two runs in the first and three in the third for all of their scoring.

Jeremy Gray led off the first by reaching on an infield error.  Harold Tuscano doubled, and Joe Broussard doubled in Gray.  Bradley Brunet’s sacrifice fly then scored Tuscano for a 2-0 lead.

Ponstein added three more in the third when Brunet and Shayne LeRouge slapped consecutive singles followed by and RBI double from Ryan Deemes and Blake Crombie’s pop fly that fell for a two-run single.

Pevey scored its only run in the third when Ryan Beyers and Brett Vampran singled with one out.  Dylan Hills then drove home Byers with a single to right field.

Settoon, Justin Crowell and Darrin Bach had the only other hits off of Diaz, who walked only two and struck out two in six innings of work.

Settoon went five innings on the hill, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking none.

Byers relieved in the sixth inning, allowing no runs and one hit.

Saturday, July 4
PEVEY CRUSHES SPRINGFIELD, 20-3

	Justin Crowell had 2 hits, an RBI, and was the winning pitcher vs. Springfield

Pevey Realtors tuned up for their seeding showdown with Hannan by routing Springfield, 20-3, Tuesday night in Springfield.

Pevey jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the first when Justin Crowell singled, Randall Meyers walked, Kaleb Kraft was hit by a pitch, and Darrin Bach raked a two-run single.

After Springfield made it 2-1 in the bottom half of the first, Pevey tallied six more in the second for an 8-1 lead. Crowell singled home Blake Falconello before Randall Meyers walked and Kraft doubled home Hayden Hutches, who was running for Crowell.

Bach was hit by a pitch before Jake Lipps lofted a sacrifice fly to score Randall Meyers.  Brett Vampran ripped an RBI double before Bach scored on a wild pitch, pushing Pevey’s lead to 8-1.

After Springfield cut the lead to 8-3 in the third, Pevey plated two more in the fourth when Hutches doubled home Bach and Lipps scored on a wild pitch.

Pevey blitzed Springfield with 10 runs in the fifth.  Dylan Meyers followed singles by Brady Bass and Dylan Hills with a triple into the right field corner.  After Crowell walked, Randall Meyers then drove home Dylan Meyers with an RBI single.

Jake Ruiz followed with a two-run double to left, and he scored on an infield single by Lipps.  Bass was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive home Lipps while Hutches and Falconello scored on wild pitches.  Branden Lessard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive home Bass for the final 20-3 count.

Crowell picked up the win on the mound, going four innings, while Lessard picked up the save with one inning of relief work.

Saturday, July 4
PEVEY TO FACE HANNAN FOR SEEDING
Pevey Realtors will face Hannan for the third time this summer at 6 pm. Monday at Athletic Park for seeding in the upcoming American Legion Southeast Regionals to be held July 11-15 at Athletic Park.

Monday, July 6
SEEDING GAME RAINED OUT, RESCHEDULED TUESDAY

The Pevey-Hannan contest originally scheduled for today has been rained out.  It’s been rescheduled for 6 pm. Tuesday (tomorrow) at Athletic Park.

Despite the rainout, Pevey Realtor players must still report for practice today at 4:30 pm.

Wednesday, July 8
SCHEDULE FOR SOUTHEAST REGIONALS RELEASED

The field is set for the 2009 American Legion Louisiana Southeast Regional Tournament set to begin this Saturday, July 11th, and last through July 15th at Ponchatoula’s Athletic Park.

On Saturday there will be opening ceremonies before each game, including the presentation of district champions and runnersup along with the introduction of all team members.

Qualifying for this year’s regional tournament are host Ponchatoula (Post 47- Pevey Realtors), champions of the Sixth District East’s western division; Archbishop Hannan (Post 16), runnersup of the Sixth District East’s western division; Fontainebleau (Capital One), champions of Sixth District East’s eastern division; Pope John Paul (Laneco Construction), runnersup of the Sixth District East’s eastern division; Archbishop Shaw (Timesaver), District 2 champions; Archbishop Rummel (Nationwide Restoration), District 2 runnersup;  Brother Martin (Peake BMW), District 1 champions; and Jesuit (Retif Oil), District 1 runnersup. 

The entire double- elimination tourney schedule is as follows: 

 

SATURDAY, JULY 11

9 am.-          Game 1- Pope John Paul vs. Shaw 

12:30 pm.-   Game 2- Rummel vs. Fontainebleau

4 pm.-          Game 3- Hannan vs. Brother Martin

7 pm.-          Game 4- Ponchatoula vs. Jesuit

 

SUNDAY, JULY 12

9 am.-          Game 5- Loser #1 vs. Loser #3 

12:30 pm.-   Game 6- Loser #2 vs. Loser #4

4 pm.-          Game 7- Winner #1 vs. Winner #3

7 pm.-          Game 8- Winner #2 vs. Winner #4

 

MONDAY, JULY 13

1:30 pm.-     Game 9-   Winner #6 vs. Loser #7

4:30 pm.-     Game 10- Winner #5 vs. Loser #8

7:30 pm.-     Game 11- Winner #7 vs. Winner #8

 

TUESDAY, JULY 14

4:30 pm.-     Game 12-  Winner #10 vs. Winner #11

7:30 pm.-     Game 13-  Winner #9  vs. Loser #11

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

4:30 pm.-     Game 14- Winner #12 vs. Winner #13

7:30 pm.-     Game 15 (if necessary)- W#14 vs. L#14

Dylan Hills smashed 3 hits and had 3 RBI vs. Hannan

Wednesday, July 8
PEVEY CRUSHES HANNAN FOR DISTRICT TITLE

First baseman Kaleb Kraft belted three hits and had one RBI

Pevey Realtors slammed 12 hits, including three each by Dylan Hills and Kaleb Kraft, and rode a combined four-hit shutout by Elisha Settoon and Darrin Bach to whip Hannan-based Post 16, 10-0, to clinch the championship of the Louisiana American Legion’s Sixth District Western Division Tuesday night at Athletic Park.

The win gave Pevey (14-8 overall, 8-3 in district) the division’s first-place seeding in the upcoming Southeast Regional Tournament slated to begin Saturday at Athletic Park.  The Realtors will square off with Jesuit-based Retif Oil, runnersup in District One, at 7 pm. Saturday night in the opening round of the double-elimination regionals.

Pevey disposed of Hannan for the third time this season in just five innings, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the second inning.  Randall Meyers led off with a double and came home on a single by Kraft.  After Bach singled, Brady Bass sacrificed the runners to second and third before Hills ripped a two-out, two-run single down the left field line.

Pevey added four more with two out in the third when Kraft singled, Bass walked, Vampran singled home Kraft, Hills doubled home Bass, Dylan Meyers walked, and Justin Crowell singled home both Vampran and Hills for the 7-0 cushion.

Pevey made it 8-0 in the fourth when Randall Meyers walked, moved to second on Kraft’s third single, advanced to third on Bach’s sacrifice, and scored on a wild pitch.

The Realtors finally put the game away by the mercy rule in the fifth.  Hills singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Dylan Meyers.  After Crowell was hit by a pitch, Settoon singled home courtesy runner Jake Lipps to end the game at 10-0.

Settoon started and picked up the win on the mound, allowing no runs on three hits while walking none.

Bach worked the final two innings on the hill, allowing no runs on just one hit while walking one.

Hills, who had 3 RBI, and Kraft, with one RBI, had three hits each to lead Pevey at the plate.  Dylan Meyers, Crowell, Settoon, Randall Meyers, Bach and Vampran all had one hit each.

The game’s top defensive play was turned in by Vampran, whose diving catch of a gap liner in the fourth preserved the shutout.

Brett Vampran had an RBI single and made a diving catch in CF

Saturday, August 1
RETIF SLIPS BY PEVEY IN REGIONAL OPENER, 5-2

Ethan Oddo’s RBI ground out drove home pinch-runner Gary Langlois with the eventual winning run, and Jesuit-based Retif Oil added two insurance runs in the ninth to down Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors, 5-2, Saturday night in the final game of opening round action in the Louisiana American Legion Southeast Regionals at Athletic Park.

Retif Oil now advances in the winner’s bracket to face Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration at 7 pm. Sunday night in Athletic Park.  Pevey faces Fontainebleau-based Capital One at 12:30 pm. in a loser’s bracket elimination game.

A pitcher’s duel between Retif’s Stephen Lukinovich and Pevey’s Elisha Settoon left the contest knotted at 2-all after seven innings before Retif’s winning rally in the eighth.

Lukinovich, utilizing a dominant fastball, was near-untouchable for the first five innings, striking out 11 of the first 12 batters he faced.

Retif took a 2-0 lead in the third with a pair of unearned runs off of Pevey starter Settoon.

Chad Guidry led off with a one-out double before Brooks Barrios walked.  Guidry then stole third and scored when second baseman Darrin Bach threw wild to first on a double play grounder by Derrick Dunham.  Bubby Riley then followed with a run-scoring triple to centerfield for a 2-0 Retif lead.

Pevey rallied to tie the score off of Lukinovich in the last of  the sixth.  Dylan Meyers doubled to right center and scored on a single by Justin Crowell.  With two out Kaleb Kraft launched a double to deep left that scored Crowell from first to tie the game.

Settoon hurled six scoreless innings against Retif until the eighth.  Derrick Dunham reached on a fielder’s choice before Riley walked.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Oddo’s grounder brought Langlois home with what proved to be the game-winner.

Retif added two more in the ninth off of Pevey reliever Dylan Hills.  A single by Evan Schiavvi, a double by Cory Guidry, and a two run single by Barrios gave Retif its final insurance.

Reliever Brady Hadden, who took over for Lukinovich for the final three innings, put Pevey down scoreless for the victory.

Lukinovich allowed three hits, struck out 14, walked one and hit one batter in six innings of work.  Hadden allowed no runs and struck out two in three innings.

Settoon pitched eight innings in a losing effort, allowing only one earned run while scattering eight hits, striking out one and walking four. 

Hills threw one inning, allowing two runs on three hits and fanning one batter.

Chad Guidry, Riley, Barrios, and Schiavvi had two hits to lead Retif.

Sunday, August 2
CAPITAL ONE ELIMINATES PEVEY FROM REGIONALS, 5-4

James Cousin’s two-out, run-scoring double in the last of the eighth capped a late-inning Capital One comeback as the Fontainebleau-based club eliminated Ponchatoula-based Pevey Realtors, 5-4, Sunday in second round action of the Louisiana American Legion Southeast Regionals at Athletic Park.

Capital One, the Sixth District East champion,  advanced to  Monday’s third-round action against Shaw-based Timesaver, a 9-2 loser to Brother Martin-based Peake BMW.

Pevey Realtors (13-11) , champions of the Sixth District West, ended its summer legion season with two tourney losses by a total of five runs with both games decided in the eighth and ninth innings.  Pevey lost to Jesuit-based Retif Oil, 5-2, Saturday night.

Sunday’s loss was especially a bitter one for Pevey as it blew a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth and had several chances to add to its lead.

Capital One got on the board first against Pevey starter Darrin Bach in the bottom of the second when Logan Peterson walked, moved to third on Andrew Patin’s double, and scored on a single by Klay Galloway.

Pevey answered in the top of the third off of Capital One starter Harrison Little.   Dylan Hills walked, stole second, moved to third when Dylan Meyers’ grounder was booted by the second baseman, and scored on Justin Crowell’s sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.

Elisha Settoon followed with a double down the left field line to plate Meyers and give Pevey a 2-1 lead.

Pevey added to its lead with two more runs in the fifth.  Crowell reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on Settoon’s single.  Randall Meyers reached on a fielder’s choice, and with two out, Kaleb Kraft slapped a two-run single scoring both Crowell and Meyers for a 4-1 Pevey lead.

Capital One began its comeback in the last of the sixth.  Patin singled and Galloway walked  before Ryan Byers came on in relief for Bach.

Byers’ throwing error to first on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Andrew Brown scored Patin, and Anthony LaGuardia drove home Galloway with a sacrifice fly to right field to chop the lead to 4-3.

Pevey had a chance to expand its lead in the top of the eighth.  With nobody out Kraft walked and Bach reached on an error by the first baseman.

But Capital One pulled off an inning-ending triple play when Byers popped up an attempted bunt to the first baseman, who threw to first to catch Bach off the bag.  The second baseman covering first then fired to second to force Kraft, who was standing on third, to kill the Pevey rally.

Capital One then carried the momentum into the last of the eighth to go ahead for good.  With one out Matt Ernst singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on LaGuardia’s sacrifice fly to center.

Ernst then scored when Jake Palmisano’s grounder was booted by the shortstop to tie the game.  Palmisano then scored all the way from first when Cousin cracked his double into the left field corner for the game-winner.

Andrew Hines, who pitched four scoreless innings in relief for Capital One, picked up the victory.  He allowed only one hit while walking two. 

Little, the starter, worked five innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits, striking out one while walking five.

Byers was the losing pitcher although none of the runs he allowed were earned as Pevey committed four errors in the game.  Byers allowed two hits, struck out one, and walked one.

Pevey starter Darrin Bach left the mound with a 4-1 lead, with only one earned run of  the three runs he was charged with.  Bach allowed seven hits, struck out five, walked two and hit one batter.

Settoon, Kraft and Vampran each had two hits to account for all of Pevey’s hitting.  Kraft had two RBI and Settoon one RBI.

Patin had three hits to lead Capital One while Cousin had two and Palmisano, Peterson, Galloway and Ernst had one each.  Galloway, Cousin and LaGuardia had RBI’s.