By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – After a brutal opening week in which his team faced two 2009 state runner-ups, a quarterfinalist and a top Class 5A contender, St. Charles coach Paul Waguespack hoped to move on to week two with at least an even record.

Waguespack got his split. After a season opening loss to Dutchtown, the Comets rebounded to win two out of three games at the Jani-King Comet Classic over the weekend, including a 7-3 win over rival Riverside in the tournament finale Sunday afternoon.

“We’re where we wanted to be,” said Waguespack. “We had some timely hitting today, and Nick Reine did a good job on the mound. He battled out of a few jams.”

Jesuit went 3-0 to secure the tournament title. St. Charles finished second and Riverside third. St. Charles defeated Sterlington, 9-1, and lost to Jesuit, 11-4. Riverside defeated Sterlington, 14-8, but lost to Jesuit, 17-2.

The Comets (2-2) broke open what was an early pitcher’s duel between SCC’s Nick Reine (1-0) and RA’s Ritchie Terrio, scoring all seven of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

With two outs in the fourth, Marc Picciola and Reine drew back-to-back walks. Grant Authement came through with an RBI single to generate the game’s first run.

Then Matt Bonnecarre provided the big hit, blasting a double to deep center field and bringing home two runs to put the Comets ahead, 3-0.

“I was just looking fastball, and I got one. He left it a little up,” said Bonnecarre. “I was able to get a good swing on it.”

Riverside (1-3) pushed back in the top of the fifth, starting a two-out rally of its own. After Reine struck out the first two batters, Jake Roussel and Terrio walked and singled, respectively, and Chase Bazile doubled home a run. Dylan Becnel followed with a single to make it 3-2.

But the Comets weren’t done. Shane McNeil singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth then stole second. Brady Hitt reached on a bunt single. Tate Scioneaux relieved Terrio, and Brandon Becker singled home his team’s fourth run. Picciola was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Scioneaux induced a potential double play ball and got a force out at home. But the throw to first sailed into right field, and two more runs scored.

“They helped out a little when they threw it away. But it still came down to our guys putting pressure on them and getting on base,” said Paul Waguespack.

Authement grounded out on the next at bat, but that too brought home a run to make it 7-2.

“We had chances to get out of each inning only allowing one run,” said Riverside coach Britt Waguespack. “In both cases, a case of simple pitch and catch cost us. We gave up seven as a result.”

Said Bonnecarre: “We had the momentum at that point, and we just started getting hits.”

Roussel would single home a run for Riverside in the next inning, but Cody McMurray allowed no more in two innings of relief.

“Cody came in and threw strikes, and that’s all we want him to do,” said Paul Waguespack. “We’re not worried about blowing everyone away. Just throw strikes, and he did that for us.”

Each team collected nine hits, but the Comets’ were timelier. Riverside missed on early opportunities to forge ahead: a bases loaded at bat in the first inning with one out resulted in a double-play, and in all Riverside had runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings without coming away with a run.

Reine finished his day allowing three earned runs on six hits and seven walks in five innings. Reine struck out nine.

Terrio (0-1) allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks in four innings.

Britt Waguespack said the difference came down to the clutch hitting by St. Charles.

“There was no timely hitting for us,” he said. “They came through with two outs, we didn’t, and it was the difference. Good teams get it done there.”

Roussel went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in Riverside’s win over Sterlington. Scioneaux, Bryant Tassin and Terrio each collected three RBIs. Roussel, Tassin and Terrio each homered.

Martin notched the win, going 3.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits.

In SCC’s win over Sterlington, Matt Eymard homered. Henri Faucheux struck out five in five innings to earn the win.