By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

LUTCHER – It did not take Lutcher starting pitcher Josh Troxclair long to figure out he had his “A game” going. His three hit, 11 strikeout performance led to an easy 10-0 victory over rival St. James this past Thursday. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“He (Troxclair) was really not challenged today,” said Lutcher Head Coach Scott Tribble. “Nobody touched him for three or four innings. I happy with the results, but I don’t think we got all of the kinks out.”

Leading 1-0, the Bulldogs got five runs in the third inning to expand its lead to 6-0. The first three Lutcher hitters reached base safely. Matt Roussel started things off with a single and advanced to second on a walk to Jordie Perrilloux. With the bases loaded, a passed ball allowed Roussel to score from third.

A sacrifice fly off the bat of Cade Fontenot scored Perrilloux from third base. With two outs, Ricky Waguespack roped a double that scored Mitchell Summers and Blake Louque.

Through the first three innings, Troxclair was dominating. He only allowed two base runners through three innings. In addition, he struck out seven.

Two more runs in the bottom of the fourth gave Lutcher an 8-0 lead at the end of the fourth. Both of the runs occurred with two outs. Chris Hymel singled with two outs and scored on a triple courtesy of Troxclair. A passed ball allowed Troxclair to score from third.

Back-to-back singles from Fontenot and Summers put runners in scoring position, but St. James starter Ryan Cantrelle got Blake Louque to strike out to end the inning.

A lead-off single was all the Wildcats could manage in the top of the fourth, as Troxclair struck out the next three hitters.

The bottom of the fifth saw the Bulldogs put its final two runs on the board.

Ricky Waguespack singled with one out and moved to third after singles by Roussel and Perrilloux. A walk to Hymel in the fifth allowed Roussel to score from third.

A single to left by Troxclair ended the game, as Roussel scored from third.

Top hitters for Lutcher included Roussel (2-4), Troxclair (3-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBI’s), Waguespack (3-3, 3 RBI’s).

Troxclair improved to 2-3 on the season.