CCHS punches ticket to Sulphur

Central Catholic jumped on the bats in game one and got some solid pitching performances in both games of its Division IV doubleheader to sweep the series with St. John Thursday and advanced to the Division IV semifinals next week in Sulphur.
The Eagles won game one 9-5 before taking game two 5-3.
In game one, Central Catholic got a solid six innings from ace Luke Barbier before Caleb Menina entered the ballgame in relief and closed the door after St. John’s seventh-inning attempt at a rally.
In game two, Menina came in again in relief and earned the win to lift the Eagles back to the state tournament after a one-year absence.
“We asked him after the first game if he wanted to start or be in relief in game two,” Central Catholic Coach Tyler Jensen said of Menina. “I figured the answer would be start. He told me relief. He’s on fire right now. The guy’s pitching really well. … He’s been really good out the pen, so it’s nice to have a guy that can come in and throw strikes. He’s pitching with a lot of confidence right now.”
Asked what was working for him Thursday, Menina said, “I was better out of the wind up than I was out of the stretch. I felt like I was more accurate.”
While Central Catholic’s defense had some miscues Thursday in both games, the squad also made its share of solid plays.
Particularly, freshman Carter Williams came up with several solid plays, including the final out on a ground ball.
“You can see he’s getting more and more confidence on defense every day,” Jensen said. “He’s gotten some big hits for us. He’s been a great addition for us, at the plate, on defense, whatever else, and he’s not really playing like a freshman. I guess he’s played enough this year you can’t really consider him a freshman anymore.”
In game one, Central Catholic pounded out 15 hits in all.
The Eagles scored two runs in the top of the first — one each on a ground out by Nathan Hebb and a single by Williams for a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles added two more run in the fourth via an infield single by Williams and a bases-loaded walk to Hunter Daigle.
St. John plated a run in the bottom of the third on Collin Barbee’s single to left to cut the home team’s deficit to 4-1.
However, Central Catholic scored three runs in the fourth and two more in the top of the seventh for a 9-1 lead.
Things got interesting to start the bottom of the seventh as Central Catholic reliever Brooks Thomas gave up a grand slam to Barbee to cut St. John’s deficit to 9-5.
However, Menina came in and got three straight outs to end game one.
“I was a little concerned with the last inning they had scoring those runs, because in these series when you play two games, momentum shifts,” Jensen said.
However, he pointed to a play in game two in the top of the first inning when the Eagles converted a double-play to give them the momentum back. On the play, Central Catholic game two starter Trent HIllen struck out a batter, and then Bryce Grizzaffi threw down to second base where Thomas applied the tag to complete the double play.
In game two, Central Catholic scored all of its runs in the bottom of the second.
The Eagles got on the board on a single by Thomas to left field in which a run scored on an error.
Grizzaffi connected on a two-run single to centerfield and two more runs scored one batter later when Williams reached on an error.
St. John scored two runs in the third and another in the fifth.
Menina earned the win in game two in relief. In 4.1 innings, he surrendered one unearned run on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts.
Barbier earned the win in game one. In six innings, he surrendered one unearned run on six hits with two walks and fanned five.
“They’re unbelievable,” Grizzaffi, the team’s catcher, said of the duo. “That’s what’s good about us. We’ve got pitching and the three-game series really helps us because all the pitching we have.”
Hebb led Central Catholic in game one with a 3-for-4 performance with a double and two RBIs. Other top Central Catholic offensive contributors were Williams, 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run; Grizzaffi, 2-for-4, a double, two RBIs, a stolen base and three runs; Daigle, 1-for-3, a double and two RBIs; Grant Stansbury, 1-for-4, an RBI and a run; Philip Guarisco, 2-for-3, a run; and Thomas, 2-for-5, two runs.
In game one, Adam Blanchard suffered the loss. In three innings, he surrendered six runs (six earned) on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Barbee led St. John’s offense with a 2-for-4 performance with a grand slam, five RBIs and a run, while Blanchard was 2-for-4.
In game two, Hillen started the game, and in 2.2 innings, he surrendered two runs (two earned) on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Grizzaffi led Central Catholic with a 1-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a run, while Williams had an RBI.
Taylor Dupont suffered the loss. In 1.1 innings, he surrendered three runs (three earned) on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
In 4.2 innings of relief, Grant Blanchard surrendered two unearned runs on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts.
Barbee led St. John with a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs and a stolen base.