By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Although he was in the midst of a quality performance on the mound, Townsend Homes’ Marc Picciola wasn’t too keen on going out for a sixth inning of work.

So he slammed the door.

Picciola’s grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning put St. Charles-based Townsend Homes ahead 14-1 against East Jefferson-based Bell Office Machines. The walk-off shot clinched a 10-run rule victory at St. Charles on Monday.

The home run was the third of the day for Townsend after shots from Grant Authement and Nick Reine helped the team take the momentum.

After a series of games that were more than too close for comfort – Townsend had lost four of five games before Monday, all in the late innings – the team finally was able to take control early and coast.

“It feels good to finally not have a close one,” said Townsend Coach Paul Waguespack. “It gives us a bit of a breather.”

The Townsend hitters were determined not to let another successful comeback attempt happen on their watch. A seven-run fifth inning closed out Bell Office, topped by Picciola’s base clearing smash with two out.

“I knew their pitcher was struggling a bit with his control, so he’d have to throw the fastball,” Picciola said. “I was just looking to drive it.”

It was part of a day when Townsend seemed to have everything clicking. The team’s three home runs went along with a glut of stolen bases, a four hitter by Picciola (2-0) on the mound, and no errors defensively.

“When we play our type of baseball,” Picciola said, “we can compete in every game.”

Bell Office Machines led 1-0 after an inning, but the lead would be short-lived. Authement’s three-run home run in the second inning helped Townsend build a 4-1 lead.

“At 1-0, I thought he’d come with a fastball. I swung with all I had,” Authement said.

Reine led off the fifth with a solo home run to make it 5-1, and Matt Bonnecarre singled to drive in two runs to make it 7-1.

After that, Townsend rolled.

Brady Hitt and Alex Marse each had three hits.

(See TOWNSEND, Page 12A)

(SeeTownsend is currently cemented in third place in the Second District West, a game behind Otto Candies (Hahnville). The top four teams will advance to the district playoffs.

“At 4-2, we’re where we need to be,” Waguespack said. “If we split the next four, we’re in.

“Today we pitched, we hit, we played defense, we did all of it. It’s going to take that to beat (Valero-St. Charles and Fatty’s Restaurant) coming up. It’ll take all, not just some, of it.”