Patriots set record with win over Bobcats

It was a playoff like atmosphere at North Vermilion’s baseball field on Tuesday afternoon.
The North Vermilion Patriots and the Erath Bobcats squared off for the first time all season long and it seemed as neither team wanted to lose.
At the end of the day the Patriots were able to hold on to a run scored in the bottom of the first inning, to win the game, and at least a share of the district 6-3A title.
This win also marks the 25th win of the season for the Patriots which breaks the old record of 24 wins in a season.
“It was a close game,” North Vermilion head coach Jeremy Trahan said. “We knew that it was going to be a close game. Both arms threw exceptionally well today. It came down to one inning, and that was the ball game.
“We were able to make the plays defensively to win, and that is what it boils down too. When you play a good team like we just did, you may not have your best at the plate, but as long as you play good solid defense and pitch well you can win any game.”
The Patriots scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the 1st inning when Seth Patin led off with an infield single.
He then moved to second base on a throwing error.
Ty Desormeaux then moved Patin over to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt.
Trey Broussard then hit a hard ground ball to shortstop to score Patin from 3rd.
That was it.
That was the extent of the scoring in the game.
The only other time that a run threatened to cross the plate was in the top of the seventh inning.
The Bobcats, with rally hats on, had Brett Delcambre reach on an error, and two sacrifice bunts later, Delcambre was on third.
So with two outs, and down to their last at bat, Erath sent Tyler Touchet to the plate, and he hit flare into right field that looked like it might fall and score the game tying run, only to be caught and end the game with a runner only 90 feet away from tying the game.
“It is tough to loss 1-0,” Erath head coach David Jordan said. “We pitched well, and we played great defense. We just couldn’t drive anything and get anything going with the bats.
“Now, we have to play to be co-champs, and to be co-champs with a team like that, is not to bad.”
The Patriots with this win have won at least a share of the district title.
“Now we have to play to have the title all on our own,” Trahan said. “We did the first part and that was win today. Now, we have to play a great team again, and try to win the title outright.”
If you love great pitching this was the game to be at.
Donald Comeaux got the win for the Patriots, making his record a perfect 8-0 on the season.
In the win, Comeaux pitched all seven innings and only gave up two hits. He also struck out seven Bobcat batters.
In the other dugout, Jace Harrington got the loss for the Bobcats, but still pitched one terrific game.
Harrington pitched all six innings and only allowed one run, which was unearned, on only three hits.
He also struck out three Patriots.
“Both pitchers were pitching really well in this game,” Jordan said. “Jace (Harrington) pitched one heck of a game for us. I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t get him some run support. Donald Comeaux came out and did what he normally does, pitch a great game. I’m not happy about a loss, but this loss shows us that we can hang in there with even the best teams. It was good because it lets us know where we stand only a week away from the playoffs.”
These two teams will square off one more time, this afternoon in Erath.
The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight.
If the Bobcats are able to win this game at home, then Erath and North Vermilion will split the district 6-3A title.
If the Patriots win this ball game, then they will be the outright district 6-3A champion.
Either way it is going to be a great game.
It should have the feel of a playoff game, which is good because not only will it prepare these two great teams for the playoffs, but it will prepare the fans for what to expect, come playoff time next week.
The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Quality Sports Authority fields in Erath.

Andy Bullard
Sports Editor