By GEORGE MAHL-Sports Editor

LAPLACE – Usually when a starting pitcher throws nine strikes and one ball in the top of the first inning, it’s usually a sign of good things to come. That was exactly the case with St. Charles Catholic High School starting pitcher Jeremy Catoire. The SCC starter pitched all seven innings while leading the Comets to an impressive 7-2 win over Pearl River High School.

“Jeremy may have struggled early, but he threw the ball well when it counted,” said SCC head coach Paul Waguespack. “We did what we had to do to win.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the score tied 2-2, the Comets scored four runs on three hits to break the game open. Michael Bonura led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Brandon Levet base hit. After a sacrifice from Jeremy Catoire, Lee Kliebert reached base on a throwing error from third baseman Mike Koe. His error allowed Bonura and Levet to score. The biggest blow of the inning came off the bat of Comet third baseman Chris Cancienne. His two run blast over the right field fence gave the Comets a four run lead.

“Anyone of the teams can win this whole thing. Why not us?” Waguespack commented.

It was not all clear sailing for the Comets throughout the game. In the top of the second, Catoire (9-0) appeared to struggle. Koe led off the inning with a single, then advanced to second when Ray Smith got hit by the pitch. A second consecutive hit batter allowed Koe to score from third, making the score 1-0 Pearl River. A single from lead-off hitter Ben Sedish allowed courtesy runner Brad Taylor to score from third.

To his credit, however, Catoire calmed down and retired six batters in a row in the fifth and sixth inning. In addition, he struck out five in a row.

SCC got back in the ball game in the second and third inning. With Reid Owens on third, Levet appeared to hit a routine fly out to left. However, Derek McQueen dropped the ball, which allowed Owens to score.

In the bottom the sixth, Kliebert got an RBI single that scored Catoire.