By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

BELLE CHASSE — If there was any hangover whatsoever for St. Charles Catholic after a disappointing end to the prep season, it certainly hasn’t lingered.

The school’s Anerican Legion team, Townsend Homes, has been on absolute fire this summer.

It extended its winning streak to seven this past week, scoring a combined 39 runs in wins over Lil Dizzy’s (Ben Franklin), Gulf Coast Bank (Chalmette) and Pelican Waste (Belle Chasse).

“We’re playing well. We’re all enjoying going out to the park right now,” said Townsend Homes coach Paul Waguespack. “When you’re winning games and scoring like we’ve been, it’s a lot of fun.”

Townsend Homes (7-2, 5-0) is in line to perhaps earn the top seed in the Second District tournament. As of presstime, regular season ending matchups with Valero (Destrehan) and GNO Vending (St. Martin’s) remains. The district tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, but the top seed would earn a bye.

The team’s win over Gulf Coast Bank on Wednesday at Belle Chasse came in five innings by the 10-run rule, 15-2. Townsend Homes racked up 16 hits and Chad McNeil earned his first win of the summer, going a complete game and allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out six.

A two-run home run by Brady Hitt highlighted a first inning that saw Townsend Homes go ahead 3-0. Then things broke wide open in the third, as Townsend Homes scored eight more. Jared Keating homered, Donnie Savoie doubled in two runs, Austin Ourso doubled in three more, and Dustin collected an RBI single.

Ourso and Savoie each finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Macky Cortez was 3-for-4 with an RBI and McNeil also went 3-for-4.

Over these last three games, Ourso and Savoie are a combined 13-for-18.

“They’ve really stuck out,” said Waguespack. “They’re making a difference for our team. When one starts hitting, it seems like everyone starts hitting. I’m just excited about it.”

Belle Chasse-based Pelican Waste acquitted themselves better against Townsend Homes on Monday, but five runs over the fourth and fifth innings for the St. Charles-based club was enough to earn the win.

Townsend led 2-1 after a first inning that saw them score first on an error, then a double steal.

Pelican Waste tied the game in the second inning on a tough series for Townsend that saw back-to-back catcher interference calls and an injury to catcher Shane McNeil —McNeil should miss a week of action, according to coach Paul Waguespack.

But a two-run home run in the fourth by Chad McNeil and another in the fifth by Zimmer were the major decisive blows.

Cody McMurry earned the win, going 4.1 innings. He allowed one hit, walked four and struck out five. He allowed four runs, one earned.

Chad McNeil pitched in relief to finish, allowing no hits walking one and striking out three.

“He stepped up for us this week,” said Waguespack.

The offense exploded last Saturday against Lil Dizzy’s.

Ourso finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Savoie was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Hitt was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two doubles.