Lukinovich’s arm, bat propel Jays past Bears
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DENHAM SPRINGS — Stephen Luckinovich was set to be Jesuit’s closer when the season started.
The senior infielder-pitcher almost single-handedly closed out Catholic High’s season Saturday afternoon.
Besides pitching a five-hitter, Lukinovich (3-2) smashed a three-run double as Jesuit ousted Catholic 4-1 in the second semifinal game at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 5A Tournament at A.B. Netterville Field in North Park.
“I haven’t pitched that many (games), but I did it when it counted,” Lukinovich said.
With the victory, Jesuit advanced to play Barbe, of Lake Charles, an 8-7 semifinal winner over Airline of Bossier City, in the other semifinal, in the 5A title game Saturday night.
Lukinovich’s pitching, along with a four-run fourth inning powered defending 5A champion Jesuit.
Catholic (33-7) was seeking its first title-game appearance since 1992.
“Part of winning high school baseball games is staying out of the big inning and we weren’t able to do that,” Catholic coach Kyle Achord said. “We were in control of the game for six of the seven innings and Ryan Lewis gave us a great effort on the mound. But that one inning was the difference.”
Lukinovich and Scott Cronin each had run-scoring doubles in the fourth inning. Mason Katz finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Blue Jays.
Alex Facundis was 1-for-3 with a seventh-inning double that led to Catholic’s only run. Matt Coye was 1-for-3 and knocked in that run in the seventh. Ryan Lewis (7-2) allowed just four hits for Catholic.
Lewis had a no-hitter for three innings, retiring the first nine batters he faced. Lukinovich yielded one hit in three innings.
The game changed in the top of the fourth when Jesuit strung together three hits, including two doubles, and drew three walks to score four runs.
Adding to the drama was the fact the Bears came close to turning a double play that would have ended the inning before Jesuit scored.
Leadoff batter Cory Guidry walked for the Blue Jays and moved to second on a ground out. Katz reached on an infield hit.
Joe Morse walked to load the bases. Joe Palmer then hit a ground ball to third baseman Micah Podorsky who threw home for a force out. Catcher Christian Bonds threw to first, trying to compete the double play, but Palmer was called safe.
Luckinovich then helped his cause with a three-run double to left center. After another walk, Scott Cronin’s double brought home the fourth run.
Catholic mounted a threat in the bottom of the fifth. Coye reached on an error with one out and Bonds drew a walk. However, Luckinovich struck out the next two batters.
“He (Lukinovich) is a tough kid,” Jesuit coach Tim Parenton said. “He was going to be our closer, but early in the year we didn’t have a lot of opportunities, so he became one of our starters.”
Facundus doubled to start a Catholic rally in the bottom of the seventh. A single up the middle by Coye made it 4-1. Lukinovich got a pop up and a ground-ball double play to end the game.
“We picked a tough time for our bats to go silent, but (Lukinovich) had something to do with it,” Achord said. “Our expectation was to play for a state title. But I couldn’t be prouder of our season. They’ve represented Catholic High the baseball program well.”
BARBE 8, AIRLINE 7: Barbe (35-7) rallied from a 4-1 deficit by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning in the first semifinal game.
Airline scored two runs in the top of the sixth and pulled within one, but Barbe retired the Vikings in order in the seventh to close the game.
Nick Doty finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs to lead Barbe. The Bucs’ Daniel Zaunbrecher was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Airline (27-14) was led by Taylor Pittman, who was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
The senior infielder-pitcher almost single-handedly closed out Catholic High’s season Saturday afternoon.
Besides pitching a five-hitter, Lukinovich (3-2) smashed a three-run double as Jesuit ousted Catholic 4-1 in the second semifinal game at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 5A Tournament at A.B. Netterville Field in North Park.
“I haven’t pitched that many (games), but I did it when it counted,” Lukinovich said.
With the victory, Jesuit advanced to play Barbe, of Lake Charles, an 8-7 semifinal winner over Airline of Bossier City, in the other semifinal, in the 5A title game Saturday night.
Lukinovich’s pitching, along with a four-run fourth inning powered defending 5A champion Jesuit.
Catholic (33-7) was seeking its first title-game appearance since 1992.
“Part of winning high school baseball games is staying out of the big inning and we weren’t able to do that,” Catholic coach Kyle Achord said. “We were in control of the game for six of the seven innings and Ryan Lewis gave us a great effort on the mound. But that one inning was the difference.”
Lukinovich and Scott Cronin each had run-scoring doubles in the fourth inning. Mason Katz finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Blue Jays.
Alex Facundis was 1-for-3 with a seventh-inning double that led to Catholic’s only run. Matt Coye was 1-for-3 and knocked in that run in the seventh. Ryan Lewis (7-2) allowed just four hits for Catholic.
Lewis had a no-hitter for three innings, retiring the first nine batters he faced. Lukinovich yielded one hit in three innings.
The game changed in the top of the fourth when Jesuit strung together three hits, including two doubles, and drew three walks to score four runs.
Adding to the drama was the fact the Bears came close to turning a double play that would have ended the inning before Jesuit scored.
Leadoff batter Cory Guidry walked for the Blue Jays and moved to second on a ground out. Katz reached on an infield hit.
Joe Morse walked to load the bases. Joe Palmer then hit a ground ball to third baseman Micah Podorsky who threw home for a force out. Catcher Christian Bonds threw to first, trying to compete the double play, but Palmer was called safe.
Luckinovich then helped his cause with a three-run double to left center. After another walk, Scott Cronin’s double brought home the fourth run.
Catholic mounted a threat in the bottom of the fifth. Coye reached on an error with one out and Bonds drew a walk. However, Luckinovich struck out the next two batters.
“He (Lukinovich) is a tough kid,” Jesuit coach Tim Parenton said. “He was going to be our closer, but early in the year we didn’t have a lot of opportunities, so he became one of our starters.”
Facundus doubled to start a Catholic rally in the bottom of the seventh. A single up the middle by Coye made it 4-1. Lukinovich got a pop up and a ground-ball double play to end the game.
“We picked a tough time for our bats to go silent, but (Lukinovich) had something to do with it,” Achord said. “Our expectation was to play for a state title. But I couldn’t be prouder of our season. They’ve represented Catholic High the baseball program well.”
BARBE 8, AIRLINE 7: Barbe (35-7) rallied from a 4-1 deficit by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning in the first semifinal game.
Airline scored two runs in the top of the sixth and pulled within one, but Barbe retired the Vikings in order in the seventh to close the game.
Nick Doty finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs to lead Barbe. The Bucs’ Daniel Zaunbrecher was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Airline (27-14) was led by Taylor Pittman, who was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
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