By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur
RESERVE – Riverside seems to have developed a knack for late game heroics.
The Rebels notched their latest dramatic victory Thursday and as a result advanced to the regional round of the Class 2A baseball playoffs, toppling visiting Springfield 4-3 in an eight inning bi-district playoff game.
The 14th-seeded Rebels were scheduled to travel to face No. 3 Evangel Tuesday, after L’Observateur press time. Results of that regional game will be in Saturday’s edition.
Riverside’s Brandon Hymel came up with the game-winning hit, a walkoff RBI single that scored Evan Veron in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“He’s been doing it all year long,” said Riverside coach Matt White of the sophomore. “Even when he’s out, he’s hitting it hard.
“When he got that hit … it felt like a championship-type game. It’s still a first round game, but everyone got charged up. I had to reel them in a little afterwards, because we’re looking to keep this thing going. But it was an exciting moment.”
Veron got into scoring position after nearly getting picked off of first – he was hung up in a rundown and broke for second. Springfield overthrew the play and Veron was primed to score the game-winner.
Riverside (13-14) led 1-0 in the game, but had to rally from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits before coming away with the win.
“We never were in a position to feel comfortable all game,” said White. “Springfield has three guys signing (Division I), two pretty good guys on the mound. They’re a pretty tough matchup to draw for a 19 seed.”
Sophomore lefty Tanner Lawson went all eight innings, allowing seven hits while striking out eight. He walked two.
Senior Andre Faucheux doubled home the run that tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating Jeremiah Berteau.
Faucheux and Hymel each collected two hits.
“(Faucheux)’s been leading us in hitting, right at around .430,” said White. “He’s a guy we like to have up in that spot.”
Mason Vicknair and Cameron Bivona also knocked in runs for Riverside.
White said that the plan, like last year with then-senior ace Tate Scioneaux, is to “ride Lawson” as far as the Rebels go this postseason. Scioneaux and the Rebels reached the 2A state championship game last season.
“Tanner’s our ace,” said White.
“He did another unbelievable job for us (Thursday).”