Morgan City 11s win 2 straight, clinch district title

The Morgan City 11-year-old All-Stars rebounded from a rough start two win back-to-back games en route to a district championship at the District 3 Tournament at Peltier Park in Thibodaux Saturday.
While Morgan City fell 13-3 in game 1 of the best of three series with Thibodaux, the squad rebounded with a come-from-behind 8-7 victory in game two to keep their summer postseason alive before jumping out to a big lead and then holding off Thibodaux Saturday, 21-16 in the championship game that lasted nearly four hours.
“The thing about the team from when I first started coaching them is they have come together as a team,” Morgan City coach Tim Hebert said today. “They work well trying to keep each other up, and they don’t give up.”
That was evident Friday as the team plated three runs in their final at bat for a victory against Thibodaux to force a deciding game three before taking the series with Saturday’s win.
“It’s a great group of kids, and I’m really enjoying coaching them,” Hebert said.
Hebert also credited assistant coaches David Nolting and Chris Boudreaux for their work.
Morgan City now will advance to the Louisiana Dixie Youth Minor State Tournament, which will be held Friday through Sunday at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
At the finale of the district tournament Saturday, Morgan City scored runs in each of the first three innings, jumping out to a 16-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third.
However, Thibodaux began to rally as they plated four runs in the third and two each in the fourth and fifth innings to cut their lead to 16-10 after five innings.
Morgan City gave itself some cushion in the top of the sixth inning with a five-run frame for a 21-10 advantage and were able to win the game despite a six-run Thibodaux rally in the bottom of the frame.
Spencer Hebert led Morgan City with three singles and three RBIs, while Jeanluc Barkley had a double and two RBIs, and Ethan Blanchard, two singles and three RBIs.
Other top offensive contributors included TyJae Vaughns, Caleb Menina and Robbie Boudreaux, each a single with two RBIs; Rylie Theriot, a single and an RBI; and Tate Matherne, a single.
On the mound, Morgan City used five pitchers in the win. Mekhi Branton pitched two innings, while Blanchard, Vaughns, Matherne and Boudreaux each pitched an inning.
In Friday’s win, Morgan City rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn a 7-5 deficit into an 8-7 victory.
Morgan City led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single by Matherne, and after Thibodaux forced the first out via strikeout, Hebert connected on a double to score Matherne and cut the deficit to 7-6.
Barkley then walked before Boudreaux hit a double to drive in two more runs to win the game.
“It was a team effort,” Hebert said. “It was not one person that drove this win.”
Offensively, Boudreaux led Morgan City with a double, a single and two RBIs, while Hebert had a double and two RBIs.
Other top offensive contributors included Menina, a single and an RBI; Matherne, two singles; Vaughns and Barkley, each a double; and Blanchard and Branton, each a single.
On the mound, Blanchard threw one inning and Menina tossed five innings.
On Thursday, Morgan City fell 13-3.
Barkley led Morgan City with a double, while Vaughns had a single.
Branton pitched two innings and Blanchard, one in the loss.