U-High cruises over Plaquemine

• By KRYSTEN OLIPHANT
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Mar 14, 2008 - UPDATED: 7:24 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Cheers pouring out of the away team’s dugout in the early innings Thursday afternoon ended abruptly as University High ran away with a 13-2 nondistrict baseball victory over Plaquemine in five innings.

Austin Southall finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and four runs batted in for the Cubs. Jake Stockinger was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs for the winners.

U-High scored early and often, starting with a two-run home run by first baseman Southall, the third batter of the first inning. Two batters later, third baseman Stockinger doubled to center field. An infield hit by senior center fielder Mike Sands scored Stockinger.

“I moved Stockinger down from the two hole and put him in the five hole (a few games ago),” U-High coach Burke Broussard said. “He’s done a really good job there for us. He’s the senior captain, and that’s what you expect from your leaders.”

The Class 2A Cubs (10-2) broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning.

Second baseman Turner Hunter laid down a bunt, and after sophomore left fielder Matt Burland was hit by a pitch, Southall singled to center to score Hunter.

Catcher Bryant “Tank” Denison scored two runs with a triple to left field. Denison, Stockinger and designated hitter Troy Collins scored as well. Only two of 10 U-High batters went hitless in the game.

“Our hitting’s carrying us right now,” Broussard said. “The kids have been working hard on it. They’ve worked on hitting with two strikes and that’s been paying off for us.”

U-High pitcher Michael LaSalle (4-0) allowed four hits and one earned run in the game.

The 3A Green Devils’ first run came in the third inning. Third baseman Cody Devillier hit a single to left field, and he stole home as Denison was distracted by center fielder Kendall Hines stealing second.

Plaquemine’s second run came in the fifth, nearly preventing the run-ruling. Hines came home from second base on a passed ball after getting on base in a fielder’s choice.

“(Denison is) a great defensive catcher,” Broussard said. “Michael (LaSalle) just threw a ball in the dirt, and it kind of got by him. With the big field we have, sometimes that happens. There was nothing he did wrong.”

Stockinger said although the Cubs’ bats have been hot, they had to be on target on defense as well to get the solid win.