VC defeats Riverside to advance to championship game

By Rosco Harrington

SULPHUR – The No. 2 Vermilion Catholic Eagles came from behind twice to defeat the No. 11 Riverside Academy Rebels 9-8 in the Division IV Select semifinals at McMurry Park.

The Eagles (24-7) fell behind 4-1 and 6-3 before storming back in a four-run fifth inning to claim a 7-6 lead. Riverside scored twice in the sixth to go back on top 8-7 before VC answered two more times in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead for good.

VC skipper Ben Harrington lost track of how often his team had to pick themselves up this season. Whether they were dealing with freak injuries or falling behind in a game, they always found a way.

“This team is resilient,” Harrington said. “Everything we have gone through this season has just made us stronger. There is no quit in these guys. It doesn’t matter what’s on the scoreboard. They play like it’s 0-0 for seven innings.”

Jackson Trahan put the Eagles ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first when he sent a groundball up the middle for a single that scored Jonathan Dartez. That score held until the top of the third when Riverside broke through for four runs.

Trahan picked up his second RBI of the game in the bottom half of the inning when he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Ross Dartez. VC got to within 4-3 in the fourth when Dom Gautreaux grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Will Simon.

Riverside countered with two more runs in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 6-3. The Eagles rallied again in the bottom of the fifth. Will Simon got it started with an RBI double to left that scored Trahan. Caden DeHart followed with a seeing-eye single that plated Byrce Lege and Simon to tie the score at six. Jacob Dubois then sent a rope to leftfield for an RBI double that scored DeHart and put VC back on top, 7-6.

The Rebels plated two more runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead 8-7 before VC rallied one last time. Lege tied it up with an RBI double off the leftfield wall that scored Jonathan Dartez. Simon then hit a single to left field that was misplayed and allowed Lege to score the go-ahead run.

Riverside threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with only one out. Gautreaux snagged a sure hit from the pitcher’s mound and started a 1-2-3 double play. He threw home to Dubois for the first out. Dubois then fired to Trahan at first for the final out.

Simon led the team with three hits and an RBI. Jackson Trahan had two hits and two runs knocked in, while Caden DeHart had one hit and two RBI. Bryce Lege had two hits and an RBI, while Dubois had one hit (double) and an RBI.

Gautreaux pitched the final two innings of relief to earn the win, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks while striking one.

In a rematch of the 2024 football state championship game, VC will face the No. 12 Ouachita Christian Eagles on Wednesday at 2 P.M. for the Division IV Select state championship. OC defeated top-ranked and undefeated Covenant Christian 12-7 to advance.

“You couldn’t write a better story,” Harrington said of the rematch. “I haven’t done my homework on OC yet. I will start scouting and making some calls on the bus, but we’re ready for whatever. We’re one of the most resilient teams in the state. They can throw whoever, we’re coming.”