Late rally lifts VC over St. Ed Blue Jays

EUNICE  – The Vermilion Catholic Eagles clawed their way to a hard-fought 7-6 victory over the St. Edmund Blue Jays on Saturday, using timely hitting and a strong bullpen to seal the win.
The Eagles wasted no time getting on the board. In the top of the first, Dominic Gautreaux and Jacob Dubois were hit by pitches before Jackson Trahan executed a sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position. Brice Lege then ripped a single to left, bringing in Gautreaux and Dubois for an early 2-0 Eagles lead.
The Eagles added another in the second when Cayden Dehart reached on an infield single, and Ross Dartez followed with a bunt single. Gautreaux then delivered an RBI groundout, plating Dehart to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jays answered back in a big way. In the bottom of the second, they strung together four hits to push across five runs, flipping the scoreboard in their favor, 5-3.
The Eagles chipped away in the third as Lege singled, and Alexander Marceaux reached on an error, allowing Lege to cross the plate and cut the deficit to 5-4.
The fourth inning saw the Eagles regain control.
Gautreaux singled to right, Dubois was hit by a pitch, and Lege came through  with an RBI single to right, scoring Gautreaux from second  to knot the game at 5-5. With courtesy runner Hudson Hebert advancing to third, William Simon laced an RBI single down the third base line to bring in Hebert, putting the Eagles back on top, 6-5.
St. Edmund wouldn’t go quietly, taking advantage of an Eagles miscue in the fifth to tie it at 6-6.
The Eagles responded at the top of the sixth with a decisive blow. Gautreaux led off with a line drive doubled into the right-center gap, stole third, and then scored on a Trahan RBI groundout, reclaiming the lead, 7-6.
The Eagles bullpen took care of business from the middle of the second on. Alexander Marceaux earned the win in relief, tossing 3 1/3 innings while allowing just three hits and an unearned run. Ayden Beraud got the start, going 1 2/3 innings and surrendering five earned runs on five hits. Cruz Hebert worked a clean inning of relief facing five batters before Cole Albert slammed the door in the seventh, striking out two of the three batters he faced to notch the save.
Lege led the Eagles with three hits and three RBIs. Gautreaux and Ross Dartez had two hits apiece, while Gautreaux led the team with three runs scored.
The Eagles return to action at home on Friday for a doubleheader against the Beau Chene Gators. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.