The Barbe Bucs used their patented small ball offense to break the ice Saturday and handed the Tors their first District 3-5A loss, 5-3.

With two runners on and no outs after a hit batter and a walk, Owen Galt put a bunt down the third base line. He beat the throw to first, and the ball sailed past him, allowing J.C. Vanek and J.D. Alexander to score for a 2-0 lead.

The Bucs (30-1, 12-1) kept with the short game despite having two runners thrown out at third base in the second and third inning after both moved into scoring position on sacrifice bunts.

“It is exciting and a great game,” Barbe head coach Glenn Cecchini said. “We put pressure on people.

“…Galt getting that bunt down was huge…We kept with it. We have been doing this for a long time. I say this humbly, we will change our approach if we see something that is going work better, but we are going to stay committed to what we are doing.”

Barbe leadoff batter Donovan LaSalle crushed a two-run home run in the fifth inning to build the Bucs’ lead to 4-0, and Kasen Bellard had an RBI single in the sixth inning.

“All the time getting up at 5 a.m. in the morning and working out, Donovan is really strong, and he is having a great year,” Cecchini said. “He stepped up.”

Starting pitcher Landon Victorian walked his first batter of the season in the first inning but held strong to pitch a complete game. He scattered six hits while striking out five batters.

“Victorian, to his credit, battled through,” Cecchini said. “He never flinched.

“That is what makes Victorian special. He was able to throw 3-2 curveballs and sliders, and he never flinches. He is a man, and he just competes and stays focused. I went out there to talk to him, and he was as calm as could be.”

The Tors (25-3, 12-1) knocked four ground ball singles through the infield in the top of the sixth inning to get back into the game. Pierce McCormick scored when Luke Benoit was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Dillion Bird hit a two-run single to get the Tors within a run, 4-3.

Bird had two hits as the Tors outhit Barbe 6-3. Tor starting pitcher Jake Brown (7-1) took his first loss after striking out 11 batters and walking five.

“We all knew they were a good bunting team,” Sulphur head coach Sam Moore said. “The guy laid down a perfect bunt.

“We were there and just didn’t finish the play off. The thing about Barbe is they put pressure on you. I am real proud of our guys. Against a very good pitcher, Landon Victorian, we had some good swings all game. I know he had his punch outs, but our outs were still tough, so we can carry that over and build on that for sure.”

The Tors will host the Bucs on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at McMurry Park.

Barbe 5

Sulphur 3

Sulphur 000 003 0 — 3-6-2

Barbe 000 221 x — 5-3-0

PITCHING — W: Landon Victorian. L: Jake Brown.

TOP HITTERS — Sulphur: Dillion Bird 2-3 (2 RBI). Barbe: Donovan LaSalle 1-3 (run, 2 RBI, HR), Owen Galt 1-2 (run).

RECORDS — Sulphur: 25-3, 12-1. Barbe: 30-1, 12-1.

District 3-5A

District Overall

School W-L W-L

Barbe 12-1 30-1

Sulphur 12-1 25-3

Sam Houston 10-2 23-2

Acadiana 8-6 14-11

Southside 7-6 18-9

Carencro 5-10 9-18

Lafayette 3-10 6-17

New Iberia 1-11 9-19

Comeaux 1-12 10-18