MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 9, 1999

METAIRIE – Ridgewood’s Jeremy Collins has St. Charles Catholic’s numberthis year – 14.

For the second time this season, Collins struck out 14 Comets Thursday afternoon, helping the Eagles to a 10-4 victory in the Class 2A quarterfinals at Mike Miley Stadium.

Ridgewood (24-9) advances to the Class 2A state tournament Tuesday at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge where the Eagles will play Teurlings Catholic, a 11-1 winner over Ouachita Christian Thursday. St. CharlesCatholic completed its season at 27-6.

The Eagles jumped on top in the bottom of the first as Bryson LeBlanc led off with a walk and advanced to third on an errant pick-off throw by Comets starter Courtney Bonura. Keith Champagne brought in the run witha ground out to second.

Jason Lisotta gave Ridgewood a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a lead- off home run to left.

St. Charles Catholic, which had put runners in scoring position in each ofthe first two innings, broke through against Collins in the third. JarrettMaurin led off the inning with a walk and Steven Faucheux followed by dropping a single to right in front of a diving Lisotta. Maurin was thrownout trying to advance to third with Faucheux going to second on the play.

Price brought in Faucheux by lining a single to left. Stein then tookCollins’ first pitch and launched it over the left field wall, giving the Comets a 3-2 lead.

Ridgewood came right back in the bottom of the inning. Brad Rodrigue ledoff with a walk and courtesy runner Jared Daigre stole second. After aground out by Lane Dugas, Collins lined a double to the center field wall, plating Daigre with the tying run. Lisotta grounded out for the second outbut Jody Vidrine reached as Faucheux misjudged his pop up near third.

David Culotta followed with a single to right, scoring courtesy runner B.J.Raines.

St. Charles Catholic coach Frank Monica then brought in Dustin Braud topitch. After a steal by Culotta, Bryan Sentilles singled to left, bringing inVidrine to make it 5-3. Culotta tried to score on the play but was thrownout at the plate to end the inning.

The Comets got a run back in the top of the fourth. Darrin Gaubert reachedon an error by Champagne and came around to score on a single by Maurin.

Collins then shut the Comets down the rest of the way, retiring nine of the final 11 batters he faced. Collins allowed only one-out walk to Matt Weberin the sixth and a two-out double by Stein in the seventh while striking out seven batters over the final three innings.

Ridgewood extended its lead in the sixth as Collins doubled to right with one out and Vidrine homered to right one out later, making it 7-4.

Ridgewood made it 10-4 in the bottom of the sixth on a triple by LeBlanc, doubles by Rodrigue and Dugas and a single by Lisotta.

“They beat us in every phase of the game,” Monica said. “They out-hit us,they out-fielded us and they out-pitched us. When we had our chances, wecouldn’t slow them down. We had their pitcher on the ropes and we let himescape. The best team won today. They deserve to advance.”I feel bad for the seniors,” Monica said. “They have been a blessing allyear. It’s been a fun year.”

Riverside 9, North Vermilion 8

MAURICE – Riverside rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to defeat North Vermilion, 9-8, in the Class 2A quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.

The Rebels (25-5) advance to the Class 2A state tournament at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge Tuesday.

Riverside will face Loyola, a 13-0 winner over Vidalia Thursday, in the semifinals at 4 p.m.

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