By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

After losing the majority of its 2011 quarterfinalist lineup, few would have tabbed Riverside to make a run to the Class 2A championship game. Likewise, not many would have picked Calvary Baptist to make the run to Ruston after beginning the season with a 3-11 record.

Both proved their doubters wrong. But only one could emerge with the state championship — they settled that score Saturday.

And on that day on J.C. Love Field, it was Ryan Leone’s complete game effort that paced Calvary to a 3-1 victory and the Class 2A crown.

Leone held Riverside (25-10) to four hits while striking out nine.

The Rebels were coming off of a 3-1 semifinal upset of top-seeded Evangel on Friday night.

“I think that drained us,” said Riverside coach Matt White. “They jumped out early, put up a three-spot and that kind of knocked us down.”

Calvary defeated Dunham, 3-2, on Friday to advance.

The Eagles pushed across three runs in the third inning to overcome a 1-0 deficit.

Ryan Broussard started the game for the Rebels and split time with Tate Scioneaux; Broussard pitched the first three innings and the final inning, while Scioneaux pitched three, from the fourth through the sixth. Broussard took the loss, allowing three runs and five hits.

Scioneaux allowed two hits and no runs, coming on in relief after pitching a complete game two-hitter a day earlier in a victory over Evangel.

“He’s done it all year long. He’s been incredible,” said White. “He told us he wanted the ball and he gave us everything he had.”

Added Scioneaux, “I told them I had three innings in me, and that’s what I had. It was tough, but this was what we’d practiced and worked for all season.”

Riverside got on the board first, scoring in the second inning. Wren Vicknair reached on an error to lead off the frame, then advanced to second on an errant pickoff play. Evan Veron dropped a single into center to set up runners on first and third; Vicknair scored when Calvary (17-14) attempted to catch Veron stealing and made an error on the throw.

That made it 1-0, but the Eagles answered quickly. Colton Glover singled to left, then Leone bunted him over. That led to an RBI double by Robby Horn that tied the game. Weston Steelhammer walked, and after a wild pitch Horn advanced to third.

What may have been the pivotal play of the game came next, on Cameron Burns grounder up the middle. It hit the second base bag, taking a high bounce into the outfield. With two outs, another run scored to make it 2-1 — the lead became 3-1 on Garrett Williams’ RBI single to the outfield.

“It was a routine play other wise. But it took a crazy hop … that gave them momentum,” said White.

Scioneaux entered the game for the Rebels and held the score as it was. It gave Riverside a chance to come back.

The fifth was its best chance. Riverside came to the dugout before its chance to bat in that inning fired up —Grady Gieger had just made a spectacular diving catch in center to end a Calvary threat.

 Faucheux singled to lead off the inning, but the Rebels’ Brandon Hymel was picked off of first as a courtesy runner.

Leone struck out Dustin Madere, but Deuce Wallace walked and Trevor Kenney got on via an error. Leone struck out C.J. Edler to end the threat.

Gieger led off the sixth with a single, but Riverside could not get another runner aboard; Veron fired a shot right back to the mound, but Leone made the play and recorded the out at first. It was the third time on the day that a Rebel batter grounded out on a sharp shot to the mound.

Broussard reentered the game for RA and pitched a clean seventh. With two outs and the Rebels down to their final out, Wallace singled himself aboard. But Leone struck out Kenney to end the threat and the game.

“We had a tremendous year,” said White. “We came out of nowhere and we had a lot of doubters to begin the season, but here we are playing with the big boys … We had great senior leadership and we rode those guys here.”

RIVERSIDE 3, EVANGEL 1 – Tate Scioneaux tossed a 2-hitter and Wren Vicknair and C.J. Edler each doubled twice as the Rebels defeated top-seeded Evangel Friday night, 3-1, in a Class 2A state semifinal game at Louisiana Tech.

“I feel like we played a perfect, complete game today. But it doesn’t matter until we win tomorrow,” said Vicknair.

Added Rebels coach Matt White, “There’s something special about this team. I could feel it all season.”

Riverside scored three runs in the fifth inning, which was more than enough support for Scioneaux. The Rebels’ right-hander dominated against a loaded Evangel lineup that scored 82 runs over its last six games.

The Rebels stopped what had amounted to an Evangel rampage — Evangel had won 17 consecutive games, including three over Parkview Baptist and two over Calvary Baptist.

Trevor Kenney reached on an infield single with one out to begin the fifth inning surge for Riverside. Edler then doubled, putting runners at second and third. Kenney scored Riverside’s first run in the fifth after a wild pitch.

Grady Gieger made it 2-0 on an RBI single. Scioneaux singled, bringing up Vicknair, who drilled a double to the outfield and plated another run, making it 3-0.

Scioneaux struck out eight and walked no batters, hitting one.

“They jumped on me last year,” said Scioneaux of Riverside’s quarterfinal loss last year at Evangel. “I had to get them back … My mentality was, if they don’t score, they don’t win.”

Evangel had a chance to come back in the sixth, after Miller Parker reached after being hit by a pitch and Hayden Jennings got on via a bunt single. Jack Parker’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1. But Gieger made a tremendous play in centerfield, catching a ball over his head, to retire Daniel Cucjen for the innings’ third out.

“I told him, ‘The ball’s coming to you, so go track it down.’ That’s exactly what he did. It was a huge play,” said Scioenaux. “

Scioneaux and the Rebels retired Evangel in order in the seventh.

“I felt like we played a complete and perfect game today,” said Vicknair.

Evangel used three pitchers in the game. Righthander Scotty Harvell started and allowed two hits. But Jennings, a lefthander, relieved him in the fifth and took the loss, allowing all three RA runs.

“We knew they’d do that … they always like to throw two or three arms at you, coming from different angles … We tattooed him a little. And he’s a good pitcher, an LSU signee,” said White.

“If we played them 10 times, I don’t know that they wouldn’t win eight. But today, we gave a tremendous effort. Everyone fed off of each other tonight.”

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