Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / July 13, 1998

KENNER – Superior Energy Services took advantage of four Cretin Homes errors and held off rallies in each of the last two innings to open the American Legion Second District East tournament with a 7-6 victory Wednesday afternoon at Bonnabel High School.

Superior, 12-10 on the season, played the Riverside Extra Inning Club Friday night. Cretin Homes, which fell to 14-5 on the year, eliminated EastSt. Charles Post 366/195, 13-3, Thursday evening.Superior took a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth when Cretin Homes loaded the bases with none out on a walk by Courtney Bonura and singles by Matt Weber and Jarrett Maurin. Superior starter Norman Corass struckout Toby Jacob and got Ty Monica to pop to short before John Price slapped a single to left to cut the deficit to 7-5. Corass then got Wayne Stein tofly out to right to end the inning.

Cretin Homes again loaded the bases with one out in the seventh as Jason Gonzales was hit by a pitch and Bonura and Weber walked. Maurin broughtin Gonzales with a sacrifice fly to center to bring Cretin Homes to within one, but Corass got pinch hitter Brandon Laiche to hit a flare to first baseman Bryon Moorhouse to end the game.

Superior opened the scoring in the top of the first as Joey Gaithright led off by reaching on an error and scored on a double to left-center by Todd Hibbs. Superior loaded the bases with one out as Andy Robertson walkedand Corass singled, but Bonura came back to strike out Ray Dees and got Robbie Allen to ground into a force out to prevent further damage.

Cretin Homes rallied in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs on singles by Nick Monica, Ty Monica and Stein. Steven Faucheuxthen cleared the bases with a double off the center field wall, giving Cretin Homes a 3-1 advantage.

Superior tied the score in the third as Nick Settoon led off with a single, stole second and scored on Corass’ base hit to center. After Dees groundedout, Robbie Allen hit a slow grounder that went through Nick Monica at short, scoring courtesy runner Joe Carey with the tying run.

Cretin Homes went back ahead in the bottom of the frame as Stein led off with a walk and stole second. After Corass got the next two outs, Bonurachopped a single over Gaithright at third to score Stein.

Superior took the lead for good in the top of the fourth as Kirk Munster singled to left and advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches with none out. After Gaithright walked and stole second, Hibbs brought inMunster with a fly ball to center.

Settoon followed with a single to center, scoring Gaithright to give Superior a 5-4 lead. Superior would load the bases on a single by JeremyDartez and a hit by pitch by Corass, but Bonura got Dees to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Superior tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth. Kirk Munster reachedon an error and Gaithright and Hibbs beat out infield hits to load the bases with two outs. Settoon then slapped a single up the middle off Weber’sglove, scoring Munster and Gaithright for a 7-4 lead.

Corass (5-1) went the distance, allowing nine hits while walking five and striking out five. Corass also had three hits in three official trips to theplate. Gaithright and Settoon also had three hits for Superior with Settoonalso driving in three runs.

Bonura (5-3) also went the distance, giving up 12 hits while walking two and striking out six. Faucheux led Cretin Homes with three RBIs whileWeber contributed two hits in three at bats.

“We were out of sync on defense,” Cretin Homes coach Frank Monica said.

“We had played well the last six games and came in with a little momentum. We tried to battle back but it was too little, too late. Wedidn’t execute on defense and didn’t get the timely hit and left too many men on base.”

Return To News Stories