By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

As the second round of district play looms, East St. John is a team in search of a spark.

The Wildcats fell twice last week to River Parish and 6-5A rivals. On Thursday, it was Destrehan, who beat the visiting Wildcats 3-0. Two days later, Hahnville notched a 10-0 win over East St. John.

The losses dropped the Wildcats (8-7-1) to 0-4 in District 6-5A play.

“Throughout district play, we haven’t shown up,” said East St. John Coach Ryan Sims. “We’ve come out flat, not playing to our level. And I take the full responsibility for that. I’m the leader, and we have to get it going.”

It was Destrehan’s Trey Watkins who floored East St. John Thursday. His two home runs proved the difference, all the support starter Bryan Windman needed to notch the victory.

ESJ’s Brighton Trepagnier pitched five innings and allowed one earned run and five hits against Destrehan. He struck out five and walked five.

Corwin Brown notched the only two hits of the game for East St. John.

“We competed well, but we have to piece something together offensively,” said Sims. “We have to put pressure on the opposition, and you can’t do that without scoring runs.”

Offensively, the results were mirrored against Hahnville. Justin Howard accounted for ESJ’s only hit of the game. Lionel Weston went two innings and allowed six runs in a losing effort.

The good news for the Wildcats is that, with two games remaining against each of its district opponents, there’s lots of time to make up ground.

Sims is confident that his team will, and hopes it begins this week: ESJ will host St. Amant on Thursday before traveling to face the Gators again on Saturday.

“We’ll get it straight,” he said. “We’ve had to start all over, reintroduce the kids to our philosophies. They’re responding. It’s an uphill climb, but they’ll never stop fighting.

“I can guarantee one thing, and that’s before this season’s over, these kids will be playing some inspired baseball.”