CCHS to host Grand Lake in regional round Saturday

Central Catholic head coach Tyler Jensen said he had hoped to avoid No. 16 Grand Lake in the postseason.
But as the top seed in this year’s Class 1A playoffs, the Central Catholic Eagles find themselves facing the southwest Louisiana 1A school Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Amelia Recreation Center.
While Grand Lake is a No. 16 seed, it recorded 21 wins in the regular season, the most of any 16 seed in any class this baseball postseason.
The Hornets picked up with No. 22 on Monday when they defeated No. 17 LaSalle, 8-4.
“Grand Lake is not your typical 16 seed,” Jensen said Thursday of his opponent, which comes into Saturday’s contest with a 22-7 mark. “I was talking to their coach today. He thinks they’re a top five seed. He has a lot of confidence in his guys. I was really hoping to avoid these guys in the postseason. I was hoping they would make it to 15 or maybe fall to 18 and not draw them, but they’re definitely going to be a tough test. I’m glad it’s here and not there.”
Grand Lake, who was a traditional playoff contender at least the last decade or so in Class B and in recent years, Class 1A, missed the playoffs a year ago after finishing the regular season with a 6-15 record.
However, the school has responded this year with a turnaround under first-year coach Chance Mistric. Grand Lake finished the season with an 11-1 record in District 4-1A to clinch the district title.
In the Hornets first-round victory against LaSalle, Grand Lake senior first baseman Tyler Lavergne connected on a grand slam, his second in three days at the time. The home runs are his only two this season.
Meanwhile, Grand Lake pitcher Kyle Delcambre (9-1) allowed just four hits and fanned five in the victory. During the final four innings of the first-round contest, he held LaSalle without a hit.
“They have a senior pitcher,” Jensen said of Delcambre. “He’s their guy. He’s a real good competitor. He’s nothing overpowering. Has a really good breaking ball. The common thing that everyone has said about them is that they are mentally tough, and they don’t quit.”
Jensen noted that in a game this season, Grand Lake was down 8-0 after the first inning and came back and won 17-12. That victory was against East Beauregard, who also qualified for the playoffs.
“They’re the type of guys that just stay in a game,” he said. “They believe they have a chance at all times, and they just find a way to get it done. Once again, sounds a lot like us a couple years ago. Just some hard-nosed guys that play really hard, and he’s getting the most out of them. They’re very well coached.”
Central Catholic and Grand Lake have one common opponent, North Vermilion. Central Catholic defeated the Patriots, 9-6, while Grand Lake topped the Acadiana area team 7-4.
While Jensen respects Grand Lake, he also is confident in his team.
“I like our chances against anybody whenever we play the best we can, but that’s the key: showing up, playing to the best of your ability and seeing what happens,” Jensen said.
Jensen said his team started off a little slow in the first round against No. 32 Logansport. Central Catholic used a five-run second inning to jumpstart them en route to a 10-0 victory in five innings.
The Eagles received a solid performance on the mound from senior Charlie Solar, who pitched a complete-game two-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk. Solar threw just 55 pitches.
Offensively, senior Samuel Guarisco led Central Catholic with a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and a run.
Additional reporting by www.americanpress.com.