Teurlings eyes Zachary’s title

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 8C - UPDATED: 12:40 a.m.

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Last year, Zachary High made a big splash by winning its first Class 4A state title in baseball. Teurlings Catholic would like to emulate that feat.

There is one major problem — No. 2-seeded Teurlings (30-3) takes on No. 4 Zachary (25-14) in the first semifinal game at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A baseball tournament today.

Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Shreveport’s Fair Grounds Field. Top-seeded Neville-Monroe (33-5) plays Archbishop Shaw-Marrero (25-13-1) in the other 4A semifinal at 7 p.m.

 “The make up of our team is different than it was last year,” Zachary coach Jesse Cassard said. “We play a lot more small ball. We’re all about running and trying to get guys in scoring position. Considering the size of this field, that’s the right approach to have. But then Teurlings does a lot of same things, too.”

Teurlings is a team coached by ex-Notre Dame of Crowley head coach Mike Thibodeaux, a former assistant at  both Catholic High and Redemptorist. Thibodeaux knows the Rebels, who moved up from Class 3A this year, are the new kids on the 4A block.

A Church Point native, Thibodeaux took over in January after a two-year stint at Kentucky’s Henry County High located outside Louisville.

“My goodness, there were so many questions before the year started,” Thibodeaux said. “I wasn’t sure how it would work. This was an experienced team with a new coach. And the teams in 4A are all different.

“Right now, I feel like we’re playing some of our best baseball. We’ve won 19 straight games. We’re pitching well, playing good defense and executing on offense which is what you need.”

Cassard says his Zachary team is also peaking at the right time, something that wasn’t guaranteed when the Broncos started the season with a rash of injuries, a tough schedule and 10-12 record.

“I had one reporter ask me how it feels to play with a bull’s-eye on your back all year,” Cassard said. “Even though this was a different team, I guess we did have that bull’s-eye on us and I think it helped.

“We have 14 losses, but I think we learned something from every single one of them. We faced everybody’s top pitcher and took their best shot. I think that helped make us better for the playoffs.”

Though not quite as gaudy as Teurlings’ win streak, the Broncos have won 15 of their last 17 games, including three playoff games.

There will be no shortage of star power. Junior pitcher-shortstop Zack Von Rosenberg of Zachary is committed to LSU. Von Rosenberg is 11-1 on the mound and is hitting .424 with 32 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases.