By ROBERT L. LEE

DESTREHAN – The Fighting Wildcats battled through some “tough luck” in the early innings Tuesday, but constructed a 6-1 lead to hold back the Brother Martin Crusaders for a 6-3 Class 5A bi-district playoff win at home.

The Crusaders left Destrehan runners stranded through the first three innings with double plays closing the first and second innings, and an unlucky Destrehan bounce to second base to end the third. Although the Fighting Wildcats had the opportunity to score almost twice as many runs, they did grasp the first run of the game in the second inning and a 3-1 lead after the third inning.

For each of the following three innings, Destrehan managed to increase the lead by one point, slowly shifting control to the garnet and gray. The Crusaders drove in one last effort with two runs in the seventh inning, but Destrehan’s defense pulled the plug and dropped Brother Martin out of the championship hunt.

“Brother Martin’s a good, solid team. I think there was only one error in the whole Marty Luquet. “Anytime you play a good catholic league team, you have to do your job. I think we came out OK with our long ball, three home runs in a high school game is a lot.”

Destrehan’s Larry Matherne was the first batter to hit a home run. His two-run homer answered Brother Martin’s run and broke the 1-1 tie in the third inning. Fred Smith and Trey Simon would follow in the fourth and sixth innings with solo home runs for the only points by the home team.

“As long as we are hitting the ball hard, I know we’ll score runs,” said Luquet. The Fighting Wildcats will have to face Mandeville, likely on Monday at Destrehan. Mandeville (24-4) finished off Riverdale (16-11) in the top of the fifth inning by way of the 10-run rule and a score of 11-0. Luquet said the Mandeville pitcher will be a “big road block” for Destrehan to overcome. The Skippers’ leading pitcher has an ERA of just above 1.

“We will have to scratch for every run,” said Luquet. “We faced them earlier this season with him pitching and lost 12-8. We might have been the only team to score on him. But we’re healthy and ready to go,” added Luquet. He said his pitchers have fresh arms from splitting time on the mound and throwing only half the total innings of most other opponents lately.