J. EDMUND BARNES

LUTCHER – For many area high schools, the American Legion and Metro Summer Leagues provide a chance to rebuild teams that might have otherwise been hurt by the inevitable departure of high school seniors. It is also a good way for underclassmen to spend their summer vacations. Two local teams, the Lutcher High School Bulldogs and the Riverside Academy Rebels, are keeping busy after productive seasons. The Bulldogs’ summer team wears the purple and gold of LHS, but plays under the aegis of the Golden Grove Truck Stop. This week they faced Archbishop Rummel High School’s summer squad, which plays under the sponsorship of Schaff Brothers. Lutcher displayed a lot of courage in playing the current Legion National Champions. Though the Raiders jumped to an early lead, the Bulldogs clawed their way back into the game during the fourth inning. But during the sixth Rummel was able to jump on reliever T.J. Bourgeois. On the strength of a home run and several hits for extra bases, the Raiders were able to secure a win by a score of 11-9. Lutcher was able to keep it close,though, stranding runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings. The Bulldogs were playing with a depleted squad of only 12 players. The team was especially vulnerable in the bullpen. Tommy Bourgeois was watching his son T.J. throw for the Bulldogs. He said T.J. had been playing baseball since he was five, but had only started pitching when he was 12. “He’s always been good at baseball,” said Bourgeois. T.J., a rising senior, made the first team all district even though he was not a starting pitcher at the beginning of the prep season. “He earned the right to play,” said Lutcher and Golden Grove coach Scott Tribble. “He threw lights out against Teurlings. We’re fortunate to have him coming back for us. He was an ace at the end of the year.” Tribble said that while T.J. had lost concentration against Rummel, he had thrown a number of shutouts for Lutcher. He recently threw a shutout against Grace King in Legion action. The Riverside Extra Innings Club also played this week. The team faced East Jefferson High School’s Ray Brandt ball club, and managed to pull away with a victory. The player chiefly responsible for the win was Daryl Fortenberry. He went 2-3 with a home run and a double while driving home four RBIs. Fortenberry also pitched several innings during the game, coming in during the third inning after Ray Brandt had taken a 6-0 lead. The game was decided by a passed ball which allowed Riverside to score the final run and win 8-7.