Iota wins District 5-3A title

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IOTA – The Bulldogs earned an 8-1 win over the Bobcats on Monday to force a winner-take-all game for the District 5-3A championship.
On Wednesday, Iota completed the sweep as the Bulldogs battled for a 4-2 victory over the Eunice Bobcats.
Eunice jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, begun when Austin Phillips walked and scored on a triple by Seth Deshotel.
Deshotel then scored on a hit by Luke Andrepont as Bobcats held a 2-0 advantage.
Iota tied the score in the bottom half of the first as the rally began when Chaynery Johnson walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
Mitch Lege’ singled, but Eunice shortstop Phillips alertly caught the ball and threw to third baseman Fontenot who tagged Johnson for the first out.
It appeared that Fontenot had gotten the second out when he threw to second baseman Braiden Rider who appeared to tag out Lege’, but the umpire called the runner safe.
The inning continued as Andrew Ashby singled in Johnson, while Hunter Wriborg singled and Ashby scored the second run to tie the game.
Both Darbonne and Wriborg appeared to settle in over the next tthree innings, with neither allowing a run.
Darbonne had a single off Wriiborg in the third, but was stranded and Eunice’s Jaiheim Mitchell doubled in the fourth inning but was left stranded.
Bulldog third baseman Nick Duplechain opened the fifth inning with a home run over the centerfield fence to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead, chasing Darbonne from the mound.
The Eunice pitcher worked five innings, gave up one earned run on three hits. He struck out four and walked seven. He was replaced in the sixth inning by Luke Andrepont.
The Bulldogs added a fourth run in the sixth inning when Lege’ walked and scored on a single by Ashby.
In the top of the sixth, Eunice’s Zack Suire singled but was left stranded. Grant Fontenot singled in the seventh for the Cats, but the Dogs retired the side to claim the victory.
Wriborg finished his mound work with six and two-thirds innings. He gave up two runs and seven hits. He struck out seven and walked three.
Darbonne went 2-for-3 for the Bobcats, while Duplechain finished 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Bulldog hitters.
No. 6 Iota (20-7) and No. 11 Eunice (21-11) await the release of the LHSAA Class 3-A playoff brackets to determine their first round opponents.