MCHS beats Ellender

Morgan City High School used a five-run seventh inning to break open a close game for an eventual 8-2 win against Ellender in District 7-4A action Wednesday.
While Morgan City entered the inning leading 3-1, the Tigers loaded the bases and scored two runs on Nick Spinella’s hit to centerfield before reloading the bases and scoring another on Evan Stadalis’ hit to left field.
Morgan City plated two more runs via an error.
Ellender plated a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“The difference in the game was that our defense was errorless,” Morgan City assistant coach Tim Vidos said. “We told our guys yesterday that we will win when we play errorless ball. Our pitching is coming around, and the hitting has been there.”
Earlier in the contest, Morgan City took a 2-0 lead with two runs in the fourth inning, while Ellender cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Morgan City plated another run on Spinella’s groundout to first base in the fifth inning.
Morgan City’s Grant Perry earned the win. In six innings, he surrendered two runs on four hits with four walks and fanned nine.
“Grant pitched well but had to work from behind in the count often,” Vidos said, noting that six of Perry’s nine strikeouts came on 3-2 pitches.
Nick Spinella came on in relief of Spinella in the seventh inning and got the final three outs, the first two via strikeout.
Offensively, Perry finished 2-for-2, while Stadalis was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Spinella, 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Morgan City (9-10 overall, 4-1 in district) is in first place in the district standings with a one-game lead over Assumption by virtue of South Terrebonne’s win against Assumption.
The Tigers and Ellender will resume their season series today in Morgan City with a junior varsity game at 4 p.m. and varsity to follow at 6 p.m.
Riverside edges
Berwick
Riverside connected on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a walk-off 3-2 win against Berwick, in nondistrict action Wednesday.
While Riverside took the early lead with a run each in the second and third innings, Berwick tied the game at 2 in the top of the sixth inning.
Both teams were locked in a pitchers’ duel as both Berwick and Riverside each had three hits.
Of Riverside’s three runs, though, just one was earned.
Tim Shelby suffered the loss in relief. In three innings, he surrendered an earned run on a hit with two walks and fanned one
Nick Duthu started for the Panthers and in three innings, he surrendered two unearned runs on two hits with four walks, one hit batter and five strikeouts.
Offensively, Brooks Richard led the Panthers with a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI, while Neal Theriot also recorded an RBI.
Berwick’s only threat to score was in the sixth inning.
While Berwick put runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings, the Panthers hit into double plays in both frames.
Berwick (13-8 overall) will return to the road today as it travels to face Donaldsonville in a District 9-3A contest set for a 4 p.m. start.
Patterson falls
to E.D. White
A rough start doomed Patterson on the road in a 7-3 loss to E.D. White Wednesday.
Patterson head coach Ryan Jensen said the Lumberjacks hurt themselves both offensively and defensively in the early innings.
“We never really gave ourselves a chance,” he said.
E.D. White, ranked No. 3 in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s latest unofficial power rankings, scored two runs in the second inning and five more in the third for a commanding 7-0 lead.
Patterson responded with a run in the fourth and two in the sixth for the final margin.
“I was proud of the way we responded to my talk after the (third) inning and started to compete in a way I know we are capable of,” Jensen said. “If the team that showed its face the back end of the game can show up for (seven) innings, things could get interesting.”
While Patterson outhit E.D. White 8-7, the Lumberjacks also committed four errors.
Kenny Singleton suffered the loss. In three innings, he surrendered seven runs — four earned — on six hits with five walks and fanned one.
In three innings of relief, Joel Singleton surrendered a hit, walked two and fanned one.
Offensively, Spencer Landry led Patterson with a 2-for-3 performance with a double and an RBI, while Taylor Harris was 2-for-4 with two runs. Other top contributors included Jake Lagrange, 1-for-2, a double and an RBI; Tyrik Singleton, 1-for-3, an RBI; and Sirbatian Charles, 1-for-4, a double.
Patterson (14-7 overall, 2-1) will return to action today when it hosts E.D. White in the second of its district games against the Cardinals. Junior varsity action will begin at 3:30 p.m., while varsity will follow at 5:30 p.m.