Rebels sweep Tigers to take over top spot
Southern Sports & Travel
Just one week ago second ranked Central Private was glaring at a full two game deficit to defending state champion Centreville in the District 6-AA race. After last night the Rebels now sit atop the district and will take over the top spot in the Class AA rankings heading into next week’s action.
Senior and Nicholls State signee Seth Stevens blasted a Cliff Hurst 1-1 pitch over the right field wall with two men on in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel Central Private to a 3-0 game one win and Stevens provided clutch relief pitching to halt a Centreville seventh inning rally to preserve a 5-4 win in the second game of a double header at Central last night.
(Photo above) Central Private celebrates following Seth Stevens' 6th inning 3 run homer
Top ranked Centreville had ample opportunities in the early going of game one but getting timely hits were at a premium for the Tigers as they stranded six men on base over the first three innings.
Central Private ran the risk of falling behind in the top of the third inning as Brennan Fucich found himself in a jam after walking the first two Tiger batters but the junior closed the door with three consecutive strikeouts to end the Centreville threat.
While Centreville struggled scoring runs senior right hander Cliff Hurst (Photo right) was in full control on the mound allowing just one Central Private hit over his first five innings of work. Hurst saw his pitching performance fall apart quickly in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Central Private senior Ryan Young was nailed by a Hurst pitch to open the inning and Brad Miller reached base on an infield error to give Seth Stevens an opportunity to capitalize and the senior did just that as he sent a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead.
Central Private closed the door in the seventh inning as reliever Grant Wiedeman polished off two and 2/3 innings of work by forcing Centreville into a double play to end the game.
Wiedeman earned the win allowing two hits and picking up one strikeout. Fucich (Photo below) worked four and 1/3 innings, gave up one hit, no runs, five walks and struck out eight.
Hurst picked up the loss going six innings and allowing two hits, three runs, one walk and striking out five.
Game two had all the makings of a slug fest as Centreville looked to salvage one game of the three game series with the Rebels.
Hunter Devall drilled a one out double to right field off of starter Chase Martin and Tyler Towles wasted little time in getting Devall home as he hit a double to left field to give Centreville a quick 1-0 lead. Centreville would increase their lead to 2-0 on an Ethan Noland single that scored Tyler Towles.
Martin worked his way out of a tough first inning by forcing a Hunter Travis ground out.
As quickly as Centreville struck, Central Private did even better in their half of the first inning.
Ryan Young collected a single off the first pitch of Tiger starter Corey Gaulden and Brad Miller reached base on a Centreville infield error.
Seth Stevens then sent a 2-1 pitch to deep center field for a double that scored both Young and Miller to knot the game at 2-2.
Jonathan Nicosia followed up with a single that scored Stevens who had advanced to third base on a passed ball.
Hunter Fauntleroy’s left field single would later score Nicosia in what would be a four run inning for the Rebels.
Central Private would up their margin to 5-2 in the second inning.
After Ryan Bowman was hit by a pitch the sophomore stole second base and advanced to third on a infield single from Ryan Young.
Bowman scored on a Brad Miller single to left field and that would be all for Centreville starter Corey Gaulden who was replaced by junior Randy Bell.
Bell would work four and 2/3 innings allowing just one hit while striking out five.
(Photo above) Centreville's Colby Shaw (#4) nearly gets picked off by Central Private's Brennan Fucich
Centreville had rally on their minds in their half of the seventh inning. Down 5-2 lead off hitter Chance Humphreys reached base on a throwing error and a walk to Gage Chandler spelled the end of the evening for Chase Martin.
Central Private brought in reliever Grant Wiedeman to close the deal but the junior would walk Hunter Devall to load the bases and Centreville would trim the deficit to 5-3 as Tyler Towles was hit by a Wiedeman pitch that would bring in Humphreys. Enter senior Seth Stevens to the mound.
With the bases loaded Stevens made quick work of Cliff Hurst and Randy Bell by striking out both.
A passed ball would score Chandler from third base to cut the Rebel lead to 5-4 but Stevens sealed the deal with a game ending strikeout of Ethan Noland.
Chase Martin got the win going six innings, allowing five hits, four runs, three walks and picking up three strikeouts.
Seth Stevens earned the save with one inning of work and three strikeouts.
Ryan Young led Central Private at the plate going 2 for 3 and Seth Stevens (Photo right) picked up two RBI’s on 1 for 2 hitting.
Central Private improves to 17-3 overall and 7-2 in district play while Centreville falls to 14-4 and 6-3.
Next up for Central Private is District 6-AA foe Oak Forest on Monday while Centreville will travel to Silliman on Tuesday for another important District 6-AA matchup.
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Post Game with Central Private head coach Jason Kinchen
