By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Though this past weekend’s Fatty’s Invitational tournament at Riverside was largely washed out by rain, Rebels coach Britt Waguespack feels that momentum may finally be on his team’s side.

That’s because while Riverside may have only split its last two games, Waguespack says the Rebels are playing their best baseball of the season. The Rebels began last week with a 7-5 victory over St. Martin’s on Tuesday before falling victim to a Thibodaux rally Thursday, 11-10 in the team’s only Fatty’s Invitational game. Both games were in Reserve.

The win over St. Martin, Waguespack says, could be a turning point for his team.

“It was by far the best game we’ve played all year,” he said. “They’re the fourth ranked team in Class 1A, and they can hit. But for the first time, when they answered us, we came back and answered them.”

Riverside (3-8) led 5-0 after two innings, but the Saints scored two in the third inning and three more in the fifth to tie the game.

But Dylan Becnel’s two-RBI double lifted the Rebels to a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Riverside held on from there.

Kane Keller was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, including an inside-the-park home run. Dylan Martin and Becnel collected 2 RBIs as well. Bryant Tassin went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Becnel picked up the win in relief, going four innings and allowing two runs on five hits.

Against Thibodaux, the Rebels again stormed out to a big lead, scoring two runs in each of the first four innings to go ahead 8-3.

But Thibodaux tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then exploded in the sixth, scoring seven runs on eight straight hits to make it 11-8.

“We made no errors, we had no walks. They just hit the baseball,” Waguespack said. “When you go against a team like that, all you can do is try to answer what they have to offer.”

Riverside was able to add two more runs in the sixth to cut the Thibodaux lead to one. But after the Rebels’ Tate Scioneaux pitched a scoreless seventh inning, Riverside’s was down to its last chance. After two walks to lead off the inning, Thibodaux retired the Rebel side in order.

“Jake Roussel hit a ball straight to the right fielder. The hardest hit ball we had all day,” Waguespack said. “Then Chase Bazile hits a hard one right to the shortstop. If either ball gets through, we win it right there.

“But,” he added, “that’s baseball. When you’re 3-8, you’re looking for those things to fall your way, and they didn’t there.”

Martin was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Roussel and Ritchie Terrio each added two RBIs of their own. Terrio and Bazile each homered in the game.

Tassin took the loss for Riverside.

RIVERSIDE ROAD TRIP ENDS WITH 1-3 MARK — On Mar. 7, the Rebels fell, 7-5, on the road at St. Frederick despite a late Rebel rally.

Riverside trailed 4-2 entering the fifth inning, where the Rebels scored three runs to go ahead 5-4. But the Warriors scored three runs over the fifth and sixth innings to take control of the game.

Kaleb Bush went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Riverside. Terrio, Roussel and Austin Vicknair each added an RBI.

Ashton Perret started and took the loss for Riverside. He pitched two innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits. Scioneaux pitched in relief and allowed one earned run on five hits in four innings while striking out six. He walked no batters.

That same day, Riverside lost 7-1 to host Eunice.

The Rebels led 1-0 in the first inning, but Eunice took a 3-1 lead in the second inning and wouldn’t look back.

Terrio went 1-for-1 with an RBI.

Tassin took the loss in a complete game effort. He allowed four earned runs on six hits in six innings.

A day earlier, Riverside topped Mangham 5-3 at Sterlington.

Bush and Roussel each collected two hits and an RBI in the win.

Martin picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits and striking out 11.

That win was coupled with a 10-0 loss to Menard.

Menard scored eight runs over the last three innings of play to win by the 10-run rule in six innings.