By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Riverside entered district play this week riding a tidal wave of momentum after securing perhaps its biggest win of the season Saturday – the Rebels downed Holy Cross in a 13-11 slugfest and now turns its attention to district archrival St. Charles.

The Tigers are the third ranked team in Class 3A by power points. Riverside is currently seventh in Class 2A power points. The Comets are second behind top ranked Northlake Christian.

“It was huge in terms of power points, to beat a 3A team with 16 wins already,” said White. “It also does a lot for the team’s confidence going into this week, knowing these guys had beat St. Charles already”

The Rebels and Comets were set to face one another yesterday at St. Charles. They will play Thursday at Riverside and then again at Comet Field Saturday.

The game between the Rebels (12-6) and Tigers (16-6) was wild from the first inning. Holy Cross took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first but Riverside answered and then some – eight first inning runs put the Rebels ahead entering the second.

“It could have been even more when you look back,” said Riverside coach Matt White.

“We had the bases loaded and Austin Vicknair hits one into a seam … their shortstop backhanded it and made a nice play to get out of it.

“For our kids to come back and answer was big. 5-0 to a team like Holy Cross, you could easily find yourselves fighting uphill all day.”

Holy Cross rallied back to score four in the second, but Riverside scored three in the third to reclaim the lead, 11-9.

“It was a see-saw game. You just try to keep your composure and get your players to understand that hey, as long as we still have an out left, we’re in this,” said White.

The Tigers plated a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game up. But Riverside took the lead for good in the sixth inning on Taylor Brignac’s RBI double. That put RA ahead 12-11.

Brignac had just entered the game in the top half of the inning to play third base.

“It’s a case of a senior coming up in a big spot,” said White. “He slices one into the right field corner gap and knocks one in.”

The Rebels would plate another run and leave things up to pitcher Dylan Martin, who came on in relief. He retired the side without allowing a hit and Riverside secured another victory.

“That was huge for us,” said White. “He came in and had his breaking stuff really working.”

Martin’s finest moment in the game, however, came in the sixth inning. He came in relief to pitch with the bases loaded and no outs and got out of the jam with no damage, Riverside eventually completing a double play to get out of the inning.

Martin allowed no hits over his two innings and struck out one. He also went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored at the plate.

Tate Scioneaux went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs.

Two days earlier, Riverside made quick work of Class 4A Tara (4-8-1), 17-4.

Wren Vicknair was 4 for 4 with a run scored. Grady Gieger was 3 for 3 with a home runs and two RBIs. Tate Scioneaux also homered and collected three RBIs.

Bryant Tassin notched the win. He went four innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits. He struck out four.