By ROBERT L. LEE

Riverside Academy:
D.J. Fortenberry, junior pitcher; Britt Waguespack, senior short stop; Scott Poirrier, junior pitcher; Jordan Remondet, sophomore pitcher

Fortenberry was one of the Rebels’ top pitchers, with a 7-1 record on the mound, as well as about eight home runs and numerous RBIs. Coach Davey Clement said Fortenberry had a good attitude and expects him to take a leadership role next season.

Waguespack accumulated about 11 home runs, while hitting one of the team’s highest percentages consistently all year. Clement said Poirrier and Remondet both had very good attitudes and were consistent from the mound. Poirrier defeated Lutcher from the mound, while Remondet knocked out John Curtis.

“It’s good to see a sophomore come in and throw that well,” said Clement. He said the Rebels had a productive season, but ended on a disappointed note, coming up short of the state championship.

“I guess whenever you win about 24 games you have to beat some good teams, but we didn’t attain our goal. It was especially disappointing because we lost to a team I think we can beat nine out of 10 times,” said Clement.

Waguespack and Bradley Hodges are the only two seniors leaving the Rebels.

West St. John:
Jamar Cox, junior third base; Initius Howard, freshman center field; Bobby Poche, junior second base

Cox led the Rams’ hitting with a .330 overall batting average and was described by coach Lennix Madere as an all-around good player, with an outstanding attitude, and expects him to show his leadership qualities next season.

Howard batted .300 and was recognized as the team’s best defensive player. Madere said Poche had the best attitude on the team, and hit around the .280 mark. Early in the season, Madere said there was a big gap between the young group of Rams and the other teams in their district.

The earlier teams had little to no baseball experience prior to joining the Rams. The Rams 2001-02 team consisted of two seniors, two juniors and the rest were underclassmen, but more of the players already had experience.

“The team in general is a hard-working group of young boys, they always show up strong and always show up to practice,” said Madere. “They stayed strong together all year and kept coming. At the end of the season, we were playing much better and closed the gap,” he continued.

He said the Rams have been competing for full games, instead of losing to the 10-run rule before the fifth inning. “I am looking forward to next year and playing more innings.”

East St. John:
Chance Blank, senior pitcher; Patrick Millet, sophomore; Anthony Johnson, senior

“Blank knows how to control the game and played every game like it’s the World Series and the tieing run is on third base,” said coach David Ward.

“He’s also a tough out at bat.” He credited Millet for being the team’s best all-around hitter, with 25 hits and a .290 batting average. Johnson was named the best all-around Wildcat player, delivering 24 hits and about a .390 batting average.

Ward said he has been “force feeding” his players, with practices in the batting cage and “the pitching machine turned up around 95 mph.” He said the only weakness ailing the team this past season, was the lack of depth on the mound.

“If we would have had two big pitchers we could have made the playoffs,” Ward said.

St. Charles Catholic:
Jason Waguespack, senior pitcher; Chris Cancienne, junior third base; Jeremy Catoire, sophomore pitcher

“Waguespack had a phenomenal year, his best yet,” said coach Paul Waguespack. “Hands down he was the best all around.”

As a senior, Waguespack accumulated a .494 batting average, 105 strike outs and an ERA of 1.06. Cancienne was also credited for his pitching, as well as a near .400 batting average, usually in clutch situations.

Already on Catoire’s record are his two no-hitters, versus Donaldsonville and Cecilia, and his hand in leading the Comets into the playoffs, rotating time on the mound with Waguespack.

St. James:
Thaddeus Sutherland, junior shortstop; Seth Folse, senior pitcher and outfielder; Blake Falgoust, junior pitcher, third base and outfielder

Under first-year head coach James Fortune and Athletic Director Rick Gaille, the Wildcats advanced to the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Gaille called Sutherland, Folse and Falgoust “the cornerstones of the season.” Credit was given to entire team, as they “were capable of playing with just about anybody,” said Gaille. “And coach Fortune feels he had found a home here at St. James.”

Reserve Christian School:
Seth Guidry, Matt Jackson, Nathan Louque, Eliel Parrales, Kyle Tucker

Guidry remained one of the Eagles’ top players through the season and at it’s close, was named the most valuable player. Jackson’s defensive plays at third base earned him the best defensive player award from the school, while Louque was named the best offensive player. Parrales made the most improvement on the team for the respective award, and Tucker was given the coach’s award for his efforts on the field.

Head coach Wade Delaneuville was out of town with the team and unavailable for further comment.

Destrehan:
Larry McVay, senior infielder; Daniel Vitrano, senior outfielder; Larry Matherne, senior catcher

McVay was also selected by a panel of coaches as the district MVP. Head coach Marty Luquet credited him for being one of the team’s toughest outs, when he didn’t make one of his numerous clutch hits throughout the year.

“He was the lead-off batter and got the team going,” said Luquet. Vitrano’s first full year on the lineup was marked by being the leading hitter, .396 batting average. “He was always willing to help the team, by bunting or with hits behind the pitcher, he got it done and did a super job in center field,” said Luquet.

Matherne, a four-year starter, “ran the whole show on defense. He called the pitches and did a great job,” Luquet continued. “He also had the added responsibility of catching a young pitching staff. When they become two impatient, he has to go out and calm the pitcher down. We are going to miss the leadership these three guys gave us.”

Hahnville:
Kyle Mineo, junior third base; Jarrod Farrell, senior pitcher-first base; Jordan Brown, freshman pitcher

Mineo’s designation was third base, but he was successful anywhere on the field. Out of 102 appearances at bat, he had 50 hits, two home runs, 28 RBIs and only four strike outs for a .490 batting average. Farrell pitched 62 innings with a total of 55 strike outs, a 2.36 ERA and 6-3 record. At the plate, he maintained a .364 average, including two home runs and 19 RBIs. Brown accounted for 32 hits, 24 RBIs and a .320 batting average offensively.

Defensively, he pitched 64 innings and struck out 78 batters for a 1.64 ERA and 5-5 record. Coach Mark Sims said all three batted consistently and were 3,4 and five in the lineup all year.

“In the last two years and about 120 at bats, Mineo struck out about seven times,” added Sims. “He’s one of the best pure hitters in the state.” Overall, he said the Tigers came up short this season with their second round playoff loss to Barbe. This was the second year in a row Hahnville fell to Barbe in the playoffs.

“Anytime you lose to Barbe it’s nothing to look down on,” said Sims. “We fell short of our goal and our only was the state championship. My philosophy since I got here is district championships are nice, but the only reason to play is the state title,” Sims said. Next season, the Tigers will look for pitching depth, as Farrell, one of their top two pitchers, is graduating.