By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

After pitching through in a key spot in relief during an early season win over Riverside, St. Charles’ Corey Reed said that his coaches put him in because they “know I don’t want to lose.”

In 2008, Reed’s play showcased that desire to win, time and time again.

Reed was more than just a bullpen arm this season. The senior infielder hit .431, led St. John Parish in home runs and RBIs, and led his Comets to its third championship game appearance in five seasons.

Those accomplishments helped to establish Reed as the L’Observateur’s choice as St. John Parish’s Most Valuable Player for baseball in 2008, topping the All-Parish team.

He is joined by St. Charles Coach Paul Waguespack, who has been chosen as the St. John Coach of the Year after guiding his team deep into the playoffs yet again.

 Reed drove in 45 runs this season, and tied Riverside’s Wade Delaneuville for the lead in home runs with eight. His .431 average placed him third among parish hitters.

“He definitely had an outstanding year,” said Waguespack. “When he got on base, he found a way to score.”

SCC finished the season 23-10-2, its run only ending after a loss in the Class 3A championship to Parkview Baptist.

Waguespack said that he wasn’t sure what the season would bring at its beginning, but that it was soon apparent to him that his team could make some noise this season.

“Nobody expected us to make it as far as we did. I didn’t, before the season. But I realized early on that we had something special with this team.”

Joining Reed and Waguespack are junior Alex Marse, sophomore Marc Picciola, and senior Jonathan Cancienne.

Marse was the team’s shortstop and lead off hitter, hitting .385 with 31 RBIs. Picciola split his time between second base and, late in the year, pitcher. He batted .380 with 32 RBIs. On the mound, his ERA was 0.50 and he was 5-0, including three playoff victories. Cancienne was the parish’s premier base thief, stealing 31-of-32 bases.

Few pitchers could navigate through the top of Riverside’s order unscathed this year. Seniors Jade Falgoust, Wade Delaneuville and Timmy Teague made it treacherous for the opposition, and all represent the school on this team.

Falgoust was the parish’s batting champion, hitting .464 while scoring 36 runs, and adding 18 stolen bases. Delaneuville ended his RA career with eight home runs and 38 RBIs while scoring 35 runs. He hit .447. Teague almost mirrored those numbers, hitting .429 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. He also scored 26 runs and stole 11 bases.

East St. John had a tough year as part of a deep, difficult District 6-5A. But it didn’t slow down senior Corwin Brown, who had a tremendous year against some of the state’s top teams.

Brown hit .416 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. He scored 16 runs and stole 15 bases. Brown was also extremely tough to strike out, only doing so six times in 87 chances. He tripled three times.

West St. John returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Sophomore Kenneth Taylor had a lot to do with that. Taylor hit .410 with 18 RBIs (25 overall) in district play.