By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / March 7, 1998

A six-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth led Lutcher past DeLaSalle, 6-2, at Zephyr Field Tuesday evening.

The Bullodogs evened their record at 2-2 with the victory, while the Cavaliers dropped their first game after opening the season with five straight wins.

The Bulldogs had been held to one hit through the first five innings but began to find their range against DeLaSalle starter Corey Poret (1-1) in the sixth as Wess Poche led off with a single to left. Tray Haydel followedwith a sharp grounder to the right side that went through second baseman Ryan Laruso for an error. Bo Louque followed by getting hit by a pitch toload the bases.

Rob Bleakley drove in the Bulldogs’ first run of the game by drawing a walk from Poret. After Mike Minville struck out, Wesley Louque drove inthe tying run by lofting a single into right field.

Lance Roques then delivered the big blow of the inning, a 400-plus foot triple off the center field wall, driving in courtesy runner Jeremy Martin, Bleakley and Louque. Tolly Nassar followed with a triple over right fielderChad Moreau’s head, bringing in Roques and giving the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead.

“Baseball is about timely hitting,” Lutcher coach Matt Dornier said. “I amproud of them. “They are young guys and they are going to make mistakesbut they kept plugging away and hopefully they can learn from them.” DeLaSalle jumped on top in the top of the first as Bruce Larkins drew a two-out walk from Mark Whitney and came around to score on a double into left-center field by Jonah Keller.

Lutcher had opportunities to tie the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the first and runners on first and third and nobody out in the second but failed to score. DeLaSalle threatened in the top of the third butleft fielder went back to the wall to grab a long fly ball by Reggie Taylor.

The Cavaliers built a two-run cushion in the fourth as Keller led off with a double down the third baseline and went to third on a single by Vincent Saylor. After Moreau flied out to short right field, Ben Parsons brought inKeller with a single to right.

Nassar broke up Poret’s no-hit bid with two outs in the bottom of the fifth after Roques had kept the inning alive by reaching on an error.

Whitney settled down in the later innings, retiring 11 of the final 13 batters he faced. He allowed six hits, while striking out five and walkingone in improving his record to 2-0 on the season.

“I can’t say enough about Whitney,” Dornier said. “He kept us in theballgame.” Dornier said winning the game like it did and getting a chance to play in Zephyr Field can only help the team.

“It is definitely a plus,” Dornier said. “Getting the opportunity to play inthis park, hopefully it is something we can build on.”

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