Doiron, doubles push Barbe to 5A title

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Published: May 11, 2008 - Page: 14C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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DENHAM SPRINGS — Three fifth-inning doubles and the third workman-like pitching performance in two days by ace Ryan Doiron carried Barbe of Lake Charles to a 7-5 victory over Jesuit of New Orleans in the championship game of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Class 5A State Tournament.

Jesuit loaded the bases in the bottom of the bottom of the seventh. After Barbe coach Glenn Cecchini went to the mound and met with the Bucs, Doiron, a Tulane signee, struck out the next two batters to end the game.

The 2 1/2-hour game completed the two-day tournament Saturday night at A.B. Netterville Field in North Park. The win gives Barbe (35-7) its second 5A title in three years and fifth in the last decade.

Doiron (11-1) picked up his second win of the tournament, pitching five innings in relief of starter Tanner Mathis. He received the tourney’s Outstanding Defensive Player award.

It was the second relief appearance of the day for Doiron. He pitched the final two innings to pick up the save in a the Bucs’ semifinal win over Airline of Bossier City on Saturday afternoon. Doiron also pitched six innings as the starter to notch a quarterfinal win over Ponchatoula on Friday.

Jesuit’s Mason Katz, who finished 2-for-2 with two home runs and three runs batted in, was voted the Outstanding Hitter for the tourney. Katz had three home runs during the two-day event for the defending champion Blue Jays (26-12).

Mathis led Barbe at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Hommy Rosado, Nick Doty and Gavin Cecchini also had RBI hits for the winners. Joe Morse finished 2-for-4 for Jesuit.

Jesuit jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, thanks to Katz’s two-run home run to center in the top of the first. The Blue Jays added another run in the second, as Cory Guidry’s two-out single scored Scott Cronin.

Back came Barbe in the bottom of the second. The Bucs scored four runs in the inning. Bubba Hoffpauir started the scoring with an RBI single. Cecchini followed with a another RBI single before Mathis hit a two-RBI double down the left-field line.

Barbe’s 4-3 lead did not last long. Katz slammed a 1-2 pitch from reliever Doiron over the left-field fence to tie the game in the top of the third.

Jesuit pushed another run across in the top of the fifth. Katz was intentionally walked to open the inning. Back-to-back singles by Morse and Joe Palmer gave Jesuit a 5-4 lead.

Once again, the lead was short-lived. Barbe exploded for three runs in the bottom of fifth. Mathis doubled with one out and scored on a double by Doty, tying the game at 5-5.

Jesuit then brought in its third pitcher, ace lefty Jordan Rittiner. Doiron greeted Rittiner with a single that scored another run. Another double, this one by designated hitter Rosado, scored the final run of the inning, giving the Bucs a 7-5 lead.