Guienze, Tigers surge by Trojans

Left-hander John Guienze turned in another stellar performance, pitching and hitting the No. 5 seed Hanson Memorial Tigers past No. 28 seed East Beauregard 14-3 in the first round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs at the Amar Lancon Field.
Guienze, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, dominated the rest of the way to record the mound victory while improving to 8-2 on the season.
Guienze also went 3 for 3 to help his own cause while teaming with reliever Evan Thibodeaux on a three-hitter.
Hanson spotted the East Beauregard Trojans a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first frame before rallying for five runs in each of the first two innings for a 10-3 advantage.
Guienze opened the game with consecutive strikeouts before the Trojans managed to reel off three straight runs on a pair of soft liners along with two doubles for a 3-0 lead. Hanson catcher Chase Mensman stopped bleeding when he caught a fly ball close to the backstop.
Hanson struck back with a vengeance, taking a 5-3 lead when Guienze delivered Luke Lancon and Bo Barrilleaux on a two-run double. A short time later, courtesy runners Brock Broussard and Payton Trahan along with Spencer Bishop all tagged home plate to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead. Bishop brought home Broussard with an RBI-single before John Higdon lined a run-producing double of his own giving Hanson a 5-3 lead.
Lancon sparked the Hanson Tigers’ five-run second inning with a lead-off double. Barrilleaux followed with a single before Guienze plated Lancon with an RBI-single. Chase Mensman, who delivered Barrilleaux with a single, gave way to courtesy runner Broussard, who later scored on a passed ball to hand Hanson an 8-3 advantage. Britt Young, Luke Rodriguez, Spencer Bishop all reached to load the bases for the Tigers. Higdon slapped a 1-0 pitch to left field driving home Young and Rodriguez before tagging home plate on a passed ball as the Tigers led 10-3 in the bottom half of the second inning.
Guienze, Britt Young and Bishop all scored in the bottom half of the third inning as the Tigers moved ahead by a 13-3 margin.
Guienze polished off a terrifice performance with a solo homer in the bottom half of the fourth frame, giving the Tigers the 14-4 victory in five innings.
Guienze, who struck out seven of the 13 batters he faced, struck out the side in the top half of the second inning. Guienze found his rhythm in the second frame, retiring the first two batters in the third inning by way of strikeouts. He faced a total of 13 batters, striking out seven on a total of 39 pitches, including 39 strikes and 14 balls. Guienze, who improved to 8-2 on the season, surrendered only two earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks on the day.
Evan Thibodeaux appeared in relief of Guienze, working two scoreless innings, facing seven batters, thowing 16 strikes and 13 balls while not allowing a hit with one walk.
Top hitters for the Tigers were: John Guienze, 3 for 3, homer, double, single, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; John Higdon, 2 for 2, double, single, 4 RBIs; Spencer Bishop, 2 for 3, run, RBI; Bo Barrilleaux, 2 for 4, 2 runs; Luke Rodriguez, 1 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Luke Lancon, 1 for 2, double, 2 runs; Chase Mensman, 2 for 4, RBI; Evan Thibodeaux, RBI; Payton Trahan, run and Brock Broussard, 2 runs.
Hanson (19-8) will travel to face Southern Lab in the second round of the State Class 1-A playoffs next week.