J. EDMUND BARNES

PHOTO: Jason Waguespack of St. Charles Catholic High School is one of the reasons why Cretin Homes is 16-1 in American Legion summer baseball. See him and the rest of the team represent the River Parishes at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium today at 9:30 a.m. as Cretin Homes takes on Slidell High School-based Thomas Pump in the Southeastern Regional Tournament. (Staff photo by J. Edmund Barnes) “Sixteen and 1. Unbeliev-able,” said St. Charles Catholic High School-based Cretin Homes Coach Paul Waguespack. And the most amazing part? “I thought we might split with them (Archbishop Rum-mel High School-based Schaff Brothers) but to sweep them…” coach Waguespack’s voice trailed off. Cretin Homes beat Schaff Brothers 7-6 in a Tuesday night American Legion non-district game. “When we first beat Rummel that Friday night, I said Maybe we’re a little better than we think.’ We could go 16-3, lose two and go home, but nobody knew when we threw out the first pitch against Destrehan we could win district,” he said. “I knew, though. Everyone plays the 14-game schedule. That makes it legit.” The last River Parishes team to win second district was the Keller Club team in 1979. The Keller Club was an all-star team formed from members of East St. John, St. Charles Catholic, Lutcher and Riverside. It was comprised of mostly seniors, whereas the current St. Charles Catholic team is made up of only underclassmen. The major forces behind Cretin Homes’ current success is an outstanding pitching staff and a .370 team batting average. Mike Bonura, Jason Waguespack, and Jer-emy Cancienne have held opponents to a combined ERA of .175. “Pitching has been more than we could hope for,” said Waguespack. But beyond the pitching and the hitting is something else, according to coach Waguespack. “They believe they can win, and they expect to now. We’re getting down, and I’m going crazy in the dugout, and the kids are like It’s no big deal,'” said Waguespack. Waguespack named Can-cienne as one of the reasons behind the team’s success. In addition to his lights-out pitching, he is hitting .435. Also mentioned was Chris Poche. “He (Poche) has done a real good job in the limited time he plays,” said Waguespack. Poche is hitting .333, and has an on-base percentage of .535. Waguespack said Poche would probably start this weekend because of his performance up to this date. “No matter what happens this weekend, it’s been a great summer. We’ve met every goal. Now we’re setting new goals,” the coach said. And the new goal is to take this as far is it can go. The next step is to win today and the following days at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in the American Legion Southeast Louisiana Tournament. By winning either three games in a streak, or four games over the course of the next five days, the Summer Comets advance to the state tournament in New Iberia. In the state tournament, the Summer Comets would be a part of the eight best American Legion teams in the state competing for the right to represent the state in the national tournament in Oklahoma. Should the Comets win in Oklahoma, they would travel to Tacoma, Wash., to compete in the American Legion World Series. It will not be easy. The Summer Comets will face the Slidell High School-based Thomas Pump team today at 9:30 a.m. in the first game. Slidell lost to Covington High School in the state tournament this spring. No matter the outcome of the initial game, the Summer Comets would then face the winner of the Jesuit-based Retif Oil and Schaff Brothers.