By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

DESTREHAN – It was a battle to remember. Great pitching, great defense and timely hitting. Not to mention an enormous crowd. The Hahnville-Destrehan game lived up to its billing as the Wildcats held on for an exciting 2-1 victory over the Tigers last Saturday afternoon.

Destrehan junior Beau Jones picked up the victory for Destrehan, who are ranked third in the nation. Hahnville starter Aaron Loup (4-2) took the loss for Hahnville.

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Destrehan got three straight hits to start off the inning. A walk to catcher Jacob Long plated home Brandon Stevens from third to give the Wildcats the go-ahead run.

Jones was on the top of his game, allowing only one run and two hits through four innings.

Hahnville got on the board first. In the top of the first, the Tigers sent seven hitters to the plate but only managed one run.

After lead-off hitter Ryne Madere flied out to start the game, the next three Hahnville batters reached base safely. The Tigers had runners in scoring position when Landon Braud and Jordan Brown walked in the first. A single by Aramie Melancon scored Braud from second. After a walk to Jordan Stephanie, Jones struck out Steven Burns to end the first.

In the bottom of the first, Tyrone Wethers reached base on an error, but was left stranded when Loup retired the side.

Third baseman Alex Boudreaux did not waste any time getting the Wildcats on the board in the bottom of the second. He hit the first pitch he saw over the left-centerfield fence to even the score 2-2. A single by designated hitter Anthony Richoux was all the Wildcats could muster for the remainder of the inning as Loup was able to get the next three DHS batters out.

Jones remained in control for the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. In the three innings, he only gave up one hit and striking out three.

The lone baserunner Hahnville had during that time was when Brown singled to center with two outs in the top of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Jones struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Loup threw all seven innings and gave up two runs on eight hits.