By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / March 28, 1998

BOUTTE – Mike Roger hit his first home run of the season to break a tie game and made a diving shoestring catch in center as Hahnville defeated cross-parish Destrehan, 9-5, Tuesday afternoon.

Hahnville improved to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in District 6-5A with the victory. Destrehan fell to 0-8 overall and 0-2 in district.Roger drove a 2-2 pitch from Destrehan starter Craig Naquin (0-3) over the left field fence to break a 3-all tie in the bottom of the fifth. The shotstarted a four-run outburst by the Tigers in the inning.

Brandon Kelly followed by reaching first as third baseman Mike Bierman’s throw pulled Nathan Maggiore off the bag. Kade Rogers and Tommy Theriotfollowed with singles to load the bases with nobody out.

After Dewey Matherne flied out to right, Eric Rasnic dropped a single into left field to bring in Kelly. Rogers and Theriot came in as Chris Hawkinswas hit by a pitch and Lane Troxler walked. Corey Marcel came into relieveNaquin and struck out Chris Toups and Roger to get out of the inning.

Destrehan rallied to pull to within 7-5 in the top of the sixth. Bierman ledoff with a walk against Hahnville starter Brian Risinger and was forced at second by Danny Krieger. Jason Pick followed with a single through thebox, sending Krieger to third.

Pick then broke for second to draw a throw from Hawkins allowing Krieger to score. Pick was safe at second when Toups dropped the throw at thebag.

Kenny Perrier followed with a grounder over second base. Kelly was ableto get to the ball but his throw skipped past first as Pick scored.

Joby Hogan came in to relieve Risinger and got Justin St. Pierre to line outto Theriot at third on his first pitch. Theriot fired across the diamond todouble up Perrier at third to end the inning.

The Tigers used their running game to get those two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Kelly led off with a walk and one out later, stolesecond. Theriot followed with a walk but was forced out by Matherne toput runners at the corners with two outs.

With Rasnic batting, Matherne broke for second and drew a throw from Marcel. Kelly dashed for the plate and beat the throw home as Mathernereached second. Matherne then stole third and came home as BenMcClaren’s throw went past the bag.

Hogan retired the side in order in the seventh to preserve the victory.

Hahnville coach Britten Oubre said Destrehan’s record scared him a bit.

“Destrehan was due for a win and it would probably come against Hahnville,” Oubre said.

For a while, it looked like Oubre’s fears might be realized. The Wildcatsrallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score in the top of the third. With oneout, Todd Picou dropped a single into center and Roberto Martinez was hit trying to lay down a bunt. Marcel followed with a double into the right-center field gap to score both runners.

After McClaren grounded out to move Marcel to third, Bierman grounded to second. Toups fielded the ball but threw into the dirt at first, allowingMarcel to come in to score. Risinger got out of the inning by getting Naquinto pop up to the mound.

Destrehan threatened to take the lead in the top of the fifth as Picou and Martinez singled to open the inning. But Risinger was able to get Marcel tohit into a double play and struck out McClaren to end the inning.

Risinger also pitched out of trouble in each of the first two innings. In thesecond, Pick lined a single to center with two outs and Perrier followed with looping fly ball to center. Roger raced in and made the catch at hisshoestrings to end the inning.

Risinger (3-2) allowed eight hits while striking out two and walking two in 5 1/3 innings of work.

“Brian got into trouble a little bit but was able to battle back,” Oubre said. “He kept us in the game.”Hahnville took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Matherne and Rasnicopened the inning by blooping singles into center field. Hawkins then laid abunt down that was fielded by Naquin, whose throw to get Matherne skipped into the left field bullpen. Matherne came in to score as Rasnicand Hawkins moved up a base.

After Lane Troxler walked, Toups singled to center to score Matherne.

Roger followed with a fly ball to center, but a strong throw by Pick kept courtesy runner Seth Simmons at third. Kelly followed with another flyball to right, and this time Simmons was able to race home with the third run of the inning.

Naquin pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits while striking out three and walking two. Marcel came in to pitch 1 2/3 innings, holding the Tigershitless while striking out three and walking two.

“We are not getting very good breaks right now,” Destrehan coach Mark Willoughby said. “The guys are playing hard but we are just not getting thebreaks. When you are down you are down. We just have to keep swingingthe bats and something will break through.”

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