John Burson
LONGVILLE – The South Beauregard Knights took advantage of early leads in two games as they eliminated the Eunice High Bobcats in the regional round of the Class 3A state playoffs here this past weekend in a best of three round.
Coach Scott Phillips’ Bobcats fell behind early in the opening game on Friday as the Knights opened the scoring when Jansen Fontenot singled and later scored as a result of a Bobcat error.
The Knights added to their lead in the third inning with two runs to go ahead by a 3-0 margin.
Left-handed pitcher Logan Savoy limited the Bobcats to just two hits over the first four innings, with Jonas Granger getting a single in the second inning and Austin Phillips getting a double in the fourth inning.
The Cats finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning when Savoy hit Zac Guillory with a pitch to open the inning.
Pinch runner Grant Fontenot scored the run on a Tyler Darbonne groundout to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Knights wasted no time in responding, as they chased Eunice pitcher Gunner Fontenot from the mound by scoring three runs, two of them coming home on a double by Landon Myers.
Granger came on in relief and ended the inning by retiring the next batter, but the Knights held a 6-1 lead.
The Cats got a one-out single by Phillips in the sixth inning, but Savoy retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The Knights increased their lead with a run in the sixth, but a tiring Savoy got in trouble in the top of the seventh.
With one out, Christian Taylor doubled and pinch runner Kameron Givens advanced to third on a single by Darbonne. Savoy retired Josh Youngblood for the second out, but Jaydon Brasseaux singled, forcing the Knights to pull Savoy.
Relief pitcher Chase Clark hit Cade Richard with a pitch to bring home a run and Phillips doubled to score three more runs as the Cats closed the lead to 7-5.
Clark recovered, however, to retire Fontenot on a ground ball to end the game.
On Saturday, the Bobcats were the home team and Brasseaux opened the game with a shutout inning. But the Knights scored a run in the second inning and added three more in the third to build a 4-0 lead.
The Knights added a run in the fourth for a 5-0 lead before Christian Taylor relieved Brasseaux to get the final two outs.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Cats scored two runs. With one out, Granger reached on an error and Guillory was hit by a pitch.
With two out, Darbonne singled to score Granger. Youngblood walked to load the bases and Brasseaux drew a walk to bring home Guillory, cutting the lead to 5-2, but Clark retired Richard on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.
Taylor shut out the Knights in the top of the fifth inning and the Cats rewarded his effort by scoring a run in the bottom of the inning.
Phillips opened by drawing a walk, but Fontenot grounded into a fielders’ choice, retiring Phillips. Granger grounded out, advancing Fontenot to second and Fontenot scored on a double by Guillory to pull the Cats within 5-3.
Taylor shut down the Knight again in the sixth inning, then singled to open the bottom of the sixth. But Clark retired the next three batters to end the threat.
The Knights added a key run in the top of the seventh when Clark doubled to open the inning and Hayden Gunterr singled him home.
Taylor retired the side with no further damage, keeping the score at 6-3. Richard led off the bottom of the seventh for the Cats by drawing a walk, but Clark retired Phillips and Fontenot on fly outs.
Granger singled, advancing Richard to second, but Clark retired Guillory on a fly ball to center field to end the game.
For the two-game series, Phillips (3 for 7, 3 RBI), Darbonne (2 for 6, 2 RBI), and Granger (2 for 7) led the Cats on offense. Phillips had two doubles, with Guillory and Taylor each had a double for the Bobcats.