DeQuincy blanks Lakeside in quarterfinals, gets rematch with Oak Grove
Published 12:50 am Friday, May 3, 2024
- DeQuincy right fielder Shiloh Cotlong chases down a fly ball in the top of the sixth inning that stopped Lakeside from scoring the tying run on Friday at Westlake High School. DeQuincy won 4-0 to advance to the nonselect Division IV semifinals next week at the LHSAA state baseball tournament in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
WESTLAKE — No. 4 DeQuincy made some big plays late in its nonselect Division IV quarterfinal game against No. 5 Lakeside to punch its second ticket to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament next week in Sulphur.
“We graduated a bunch from last year, but this young bunch has really battled through,” DeQuincy head coach Brady Carlson said. “We only have two seniors.
“It was just excellent execution by everybody.”
DeQuincy (19-9) gets a rematch with No. 1 Oak Grove in the semifinals on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Oak Grove beat the Tigers 11-10 in 12 innings in the nonselect Division IV finals last year.
The game was moved to Westlake High School’s all-artificial turf field after heavy rains soaked the area most of the day.
Lakeside threatened in the top of the sixth inning, putting runners on second and third with one out. But senior right fielder Shiloh Cotlong chased down a fly ball near the foul line hit by M Aguilera and Carson Rainwater picked up his fourth strikeout to close the half inning.
“That was huge,” Carlson said. “He has to come a long way, and he did a great job.
“He came in about three-quarters of the way through the season and did an excellent job for us. He has been really focused. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
With the Tigers nursing a 1-0 lead, Nolan Schrader hit a two-run double with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and DeQuincy picked another run on a bases-loaded walk.
“It was a big hit by him (Schrader),” Carlson said. “He has been trying real hard.
“There was a big bunt in the first inning by Andrew. That was to get runners over, and we got the first run in on a passed ball, I think.”
Rainwater retired the Warriors in order in the seventh, including two strikeouts for his second complete game in as many playoff games. He struck out six batters, walked four and held Lakeside to three hits.
“Rainwater did a great job,” Carlson said. “He had that little struggle in the first inning.
“Once he got through that, he settled in and did an excellent job. I am proud of him.”
