NOAH-based squad wins 12-1, and 12-0 over Abbeville and JPRD West

BY DAVID FOLSE II and KEITH GILLIES

Sports Editor and Contributor

The NOAH-based America’s Mortgage Resource 19 and under Babe Ruth All-Star team began the state championship tournament with two consecutive 10-run rule victories, defeating host Abbeville, 12-1 and JPRD-West, 12-0 on Sunday. The team has combined thus far outstanding pitching and defense along with an explosive offense to dominate the tournament so far.

In their opening game against Abbeville representative Erath High School, AMR was led by Trayvon Lilly’s outstanding pitching performance. The former East St. John Wildcat star struck out five with one walk while allowing only one earned run.

“Trayvon had good control today,” AMR coach Scott Boudreaux said. “He had some heat on his fastball and kept his pitches low in the strike zone.”

On the offensive side of the ball, AMR was led by former Riverside star Nick Falgoust who reached base safely in each of his four at-bats. Falgoust doubled, had two singles and a fielder’s choice. He also had two stolen bases and scored three runs. “Our offense is very explosive,” assistant coach Herb Stell said. “After we scored 10 runs in the third inning, we stopped running on them. We knew we had a tough game later with JPRD-West, so we wanted to save some energy in the heat.”

A.J. Moss of Erath High School scored the only run for Abbeville. He led off the bottom of the third with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a ground ball to short.

In game two against JPRD-West it turned into a pitchers duel until AMR broke open the game in the fourth inning, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs.

Roland Rodrique led off the inning with a walk and later was pinch run for by Stanley Bornet.

“We thought we needed some speed to lead off the inning,” Boudreaux said. “Stanley has amazing speed. He stole second then Trayvon singled, but Stanley had to hold up at second base.”

A double steal then put AMR with runners in scoring position. After Alex McCollum singled scoring Borne, the blowout was on.

Jamal Breaux of East St. John High School doubled, scoring Lilly. After Collis Linson struck out, Greg Sentimore, Falgoust and Wes Hotard drew three consecutive walked and a pair of runs were added to the AMR lead.

P.J. Millet hen sacrificed in Sentimore and Rodrique who re-entered lined a two-run double.

AMR pushed across four more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by singles by Linson, Hotard and Millet. Alex Collins entered as a pinch runner for Linson and scored on a Millet single. Rodrique then launched a towering three-run homer over the left centerfield wall.

“We really wanted to get that 10-run lead to end the game after five,” Boudreaux said. “With the way Roland was throwing, we did not think that they could score three runs. Even as insurance, we had Blake (Gillies) and Matt Stell ready to go.”

Rodrique (3-0) picked up the win, allowing only tow hits, striking out seven and walking only two.