LAPLACE —Some thought this might be a “down” year for the St. Charles Catholic Comets after losing eight starters from last year’s Class 2A runner-up squad.

This week they showed what youth can do by sweeping cross-town district rival Riverside Academy in a pair of games.

The Comets defeated Riverside 10-1 Wednesday at home in LaPlace, then went to Reserve Thursday to take a 4-0 win.

With the wins, St. Charles (15-8, 6-0) takes control of the District 10-2A title race.

Riverside fell to 18-9, 4-2 in district.

Comets pitcher Evan Pfister pitched a complete game Wednesday, scattering six hits, striking out two and walking one. The Rebels left eight runners stranded.

St. Charles pounded 10 hits off of Riverside starter Conner Poche and put the game away with a 5-run fifth inning.

Jayce Tamplain was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Nick Lorio was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Rhett LeBlanc was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Nick Roberts hit an RBI triple in the fifth.

Bryce Geiger scored the Rebels’ lone run with a solo home run in the first inning. The Rebels managed only one hit in Thursday’s game off of a pair of Comets pitchers.

Nick Roberts got the win after pitching five and two-thirds innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Kaile Levitino came in with the bases loaded in the sixth but got the out and threw the seventh.

Delary Oubre went 3-for-4, Lloyd Nash went 2-for-4 and Tamplain was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Rebels’ Jordan Loving took the loss, giving up all four runs and seven hits. He struck out four and walked none.

Comets coach Wayne Stein said his team has grown up quickly.

“We’re playing pretty good,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep winning.”

In 2016, the teams split wins, then finished in a three-way tie with Newman for the title.

St. Charles then beat Riverside 3-0 in the Class 2A semifinals to advance to the state championship game.