MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 2, 1999

RESERVE – Dustin Zimmer got the fire started under Riverside with a game-tying home run in the sixth.

Ryan Rome fanned the flames four batters later, driving in two runs with a double, as the Rebels rallied for a 4-1 victory over Buras in the bi- district playoffs Thursday afternoon at Fernandez Field.

Riverside (22-5) advances to the state regionals this week where the Rebels will face nemisis Pope John Paul II. The Jaguars (15-13)eliminated the Rebels last season in the regional round on their way to the Class 2A state championship.

Buras ended its season after placing third in District 10-2A with a 15-4 record.

Wildcats starting pitcher Shane St. Ann handcuffed the Rebels through thefirst five innings, allowing just two hits as Buras took a 1-0 lead into the sixth.

“Their pitcher did a good job,” Zimmer said. “He had us out of our gameearly. You have to give credit to him. He pitched a good game.”Riverside was stymied by both St. Ann’s breaking ball and a stiff windblowing in. Zimmer, Britt Waguespack and Kenny Clement all had shotsknocked down by the wind.

Zimmer finally found a way to solve both St. Ann and the wind leading offthe bottom of the sixth, taking a first pitch curve ball and driving it over the wall in right field to tie the score at 1.

“All year somebody has come through for us,” Zimmer said. “I’m justfortunate it was me today.”Joey Poirrier followed with a walk and stole second. One out later,Brandon Delaneu-ville walked with both runners moving up on a wild pitch.

Rome then took St. Ann’s first pitch and lined it down the right field line,bringing in Poirrier and Delaneuville to give the Rebels a 3-1 lead. Aftermoving to third on a wild pitch, Rome came in on a suicide squeeze as Blake Duhe laid down a bunt.

Buras started a two-out rally in the top of the seventh as Roman Bartholomew walked and Eric Duplessis beat out a chopper in front of the plate. But Riverside starter Casey Duhe got Charlie Boni to ground out toPoirrier to end the game.

“Dustin sat back and drove the ball to right” Riverside coach Marshall Crooks said of Zimmer’s home run. “He gave us a spark. We neededsomebody to step up and Dustin did that and Ryan followed with the double. They (Buras) played real tough. Their pitcher did a good job andkept us off balance.”Buras took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Curtis LeNormand led offwith a walk and stole second. One out later, Cody Portie walked to putrunners at first and second.

After Duhe struck out Bartholomew, Duplessis lined a single to left.

LeNormand came in to score but Clement threw to Poirrier to get Portie at third to end the inning.

Riverside threatened in the fourth as Poirrier led off with a walk and Sean Delaneuville followed by beating out a bunt.

After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Brandon Delaneuville grounded to third and was thrown out at first. Sean Delaneuville was thencaught off second with the throw going home as Poirrier broke for the plate. The throw was high, but St. Ann backed up the plate and caughtPoirrier in a run-down with the tag being applied at third.

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