John Burson
It was Senior Night for the Bobcats Monday as Eunice took on the Iota High Bulldogs in a battle for the District 5-3A title.
The Bulldogs had been undefeated in district play before falling to Pine Prairie last weekend.
That gave Eunice, who had not lost a district game, a chance to capture the district title as they entertained the Bulldogs.
With Grant Fontenot on the mound, the Bobcats retired the Bulldogs in the top of the first inning, with Andrew Ashley being the lone base runner after being hit by a pitch.
The Bobcats were retired in the bottom of the first inning by Iota pitcher Gavin Leblanc.
Iota started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead.
Fontenot opened the inning with a strikeout of Nick Duplechain, but Tyler Lejeune singled.
He later scored when Gavin Vidrine reached on an error.
Vidrine later scored on a sinlge by Chaynery Johnson to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
The Bobcats were unable to respond as Leblanc struck out the first two batters and got the third Bobcat batter on a groundout.
Andrew Ashby singled to open the third inning for the Bulldogs, but Fontenot set down the next three batters to end the inning.
The Cats scored a run in the bottom of the third.
Jahiem Mitchell worked a base-on-ball from Leblanc and advanced to second on a passed ball.
Mitchell advanced on a bunt by Deandre Courville and scored on an error to make it a 2-1 game.
Fontenot managed to hold the Bulldogs without a run in the fourth inning but the Cats were unable to score in the bottom of the inning.
The Bulldogs broke open the game in the sixth inning, scoring six runs to increase their lead to 8-1.
Tyler Lejune was hit by a pitchm, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Kameron Aucoin.
Gavin Vidrine bunted and scored on a hit by Mitchell Lege.
Courtesy runner Dawaon Wallace scored on a double by Ashby to push the Bulldogs ahead, 6-1.
Ashby scored on a hit by Hunter Wriborg, who then scored on a double by Nicolas Duplechain.
Trailng 8-1, the Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the seventh when J. Mitchell was hit by a pitch and Austin Phillips walked but neither could score.
Leblanc earned the win for Iota as he pitched six innings and allowed one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks.