Vermilion's QSA All-Stars finish 5th in Pinto World Series

YOUNGSVILLE - It was not how the QSA 8-and-under All-Stars planned to end their run at a World Series title, but when it was over, it turned out to be a heck of a run.
QSA, on Friday, finished fifth out of eight teams in the Pinto World Series played at the Youngsville Athletic Complex.
The boys from Vermilion lost a heartbreaker to Florida 9-8, knocking them out of the tournament.
The way Friday’s game ended made it hard to swallow.
Down 9-7 entering their final at bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, QSA almost pulled off the victory.
Jackson Trahan, with one out, roped a triple. Drew Dronet, on the first pitch, ripped a single that scored Trahan.
With a runner on first base and two outs, a grounder was hit to the Florida baseman. At the same time, a QSA runner took off and ran in front of the Florida first baseman attempting to make the catch. The ball bounced out the glove and hitter Bryce Lege looked to be safe at first base. However, the first base umpire called interference on the QSA runner going to second base, for the third and final out.
QSA head coach Brent Trahan appealed the call, but because it was a judgement call by the umpire, Trahan could not appeal the call, ending the game.
“They said it was a judgement call,” said Trahan. “The runner had to give the fielder the right to catch the ball. I thought he caught the ball and then he ran in front of him. I went try to appeal it.”
Trahan admitted the way the game ended, made it a tough pill to swallow.
“Heartbreaking,” said Trahan.
QSA went 1-2 in the World Series. But the one thing Trahan realized after playing the first two games was that QSA was just as good as the other seven teams there.
“I am excited by what we did,” said Trahan. “We competed on the level of the other teams, and lost by one run and two runs in the other games, that meant we belonged here. Any of the teams here could win the World Series, including us.”
Leading up to the Friday’s game, Trahan saw his players get better and better each game.
He witnessed in-the-park home runs by Drew Dronet, Landan Toups and Jarkata Grogan Jr.
The defense was solid for all three games. Then there was hitting, which was the best part of QSA’s team.
Despite getting down by as many as five runs in the first inning each game, QSA battled back and tied the game each time.
They averaged 12 hits a game. At times, it was not uncommon for two players to have three hits each game.
“I knew we had the potential to do something good when this team came together. It all came together in the end. Every kid stepped up and played to their potential. Each player improved game to game.”
Players on the team are Drew Dronet, Sam Mayard, Alexander Marceaux, Bryce Lege, Matthew Champagne, Landan Touchet, Conner Gondron, Jarkata Grogan Jr., Seth Leger, Jackson Trahan, Logan Toups and Aiden Broussard.