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Morgan City High School’s Mitchell Mancuso stole home on a squeeze play, and the Tigers defeated Patterson 3-2 in eight innings in nondistrict action Tuesday at Tiger Diamond in Morgan City.
In the bottom of the eighth with Mancuso on third and Dylan Tingle up to bat, Mancuso took off for home plate on the first pitch from Patterson reliever Reid Perkins.
While Tingle was unable to get the bunt down, Mancuso slid safely into home ahead of the tag by Patterson catcher Noah Bryant for the win.
“Coach told us what to do, and we got to execute what he tells us what to do. He (Tingle) didn’t really execute that, but you can’t give up and you just got to follow through with the play and follow through with the decision, so I didn’t hesitate and just kept going,” Mancuso said of the game-winning play.
Morgan City began the bottom of the eighth when Mancuso walked and advanced to second on a passed ball.
The next batter, Kyle Ring, reached base on a bunt single, which moved Mancuso to third before Mancuso came home one batter later.
The win was Morgan City’s second straight and second consecutive on a squeeze play as the Tigers capped a huge rally across two innings Saturday with a bunt by Logan Metrejean in the bottom of the seventh to win a game.
Tuesday’s win came after some tough outings to begin the season for Morgan City. Morgan City Coach Andrew Madden said he thought that early part of the season was “just an acclimation period” for many of the team’s players, who only received some junior varsity playing time a year ago.
“They’re maturing in front of us, and I’m hoping we can keep that going once we get to district time, which is next week,” Madden said.
Ironically, the game ended on a base-running play after Morgan City had run itself out of two innings on base-running plays.
The Tigers had a runner picked off second base in the bottom of the third on a double play to end one threat and another thrown out by Bryant trying to steal third base in the bottom of the fourth for the third out.
Morgan City also stranded a runner at third base in the bottom of the second when Patterson starter Joseph Larson recorded a strikeout.
However, the Tigers defense and some big pitches on the mound kept Morgan City in the game despite lapses on the base paths and some offensive struggles.
Morgan City escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth inning after giving up just a run in the inning on a groundout by Irvin Celestine for a 2-0 Patterson lead. Morgan City starter Chris Pitre forced a popup to left field to end the inning.
The Tigers also escaped a bases-loaded sixth inning situation, this time unscathed, when reliever Logan Metrejean forced a pop out to left field.
“Errors cost us the game,” Patterson Coach Blayze Romero said. “Made a crucial error at shortstop that gave them the tying run. Left the bases loaded. (We) left too many baserunners (on).”
Patterson left nine runners on base, while Morgan City stranded six.
“We just didn’t execute,” Romero said.
Mancuso, the third of three Morgan City pitchers, earned the win. In two innings, he surrendered no hits and struck out four.
Earlier in the game, Patterson scored single runs in the third and fourth innings.
Bryant, who reached base on a single to left field and stole second and third base, came home after an error by Morgan City’s third baseman on a pickoff throw to third base for a 1-0 Patterson lead.
Celestine’s groundout in the fourth brought home another run.
Morgan City tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the sixth.
With two outs and Morgan City’s Hayden Barron and Ring on second and first base, respectively, after drawing walks, Maurice Martin connected on what was called a ground-rule double after the ball went behind the Tigers’ batting cages.
Barron scored on the play, and Ring stood at third base.
The next batter, Tingle, hit a ball to shortstop on which an error was committed, allowing Morgan City to tie the game at 2.
Morgan City threatened to win the game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out triple to the right field wall by William LaRocca, but Perkins recorded the third out via a strikeout to escape the threat.
Martin and LaRocca led Morgan City’s offense. Martin was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base, while LaRocca was 2-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base.
Perkins suffered the loss in relief. In three innings, he surrendered three runs (two earned) on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Bryant led Patterson’s offense with a 2-for-2 performance with two stolen bases and a run, while Celestine was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Pitre started the game for Morgan City, and in four innings, he surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits with five walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts.
Larson started the game for Patterson, and in four innings, he surrendered three hits, hit one batter and fanned three.

A six-run fourth inning helped Central Catholic pull away en route to a 14-4 run-rule victory against Morgan City in six innings in Amelia Monday.
Ahead just 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Central Catholic (10-1) scored six runs in the frame to give itself a 10-3 lead.
The Lady Eagles utilized Morgan City walks, an error, a passed ball and two hits to jump out to the big lead.
“We always capitalize on that,” Central Catholic Coach Linda Sanders said. “Once we can get some walks, we capitalize. Usually we can get the steals in there. …. We have a fast team. We run the bases well, and we will capitalize on those solid hits. Our girls are strong, one through nine. If somebody gets out, the next person picks them up.”
After Amaya Williams walked and Halley Crappell singled, Williams came home on an error on a ball hit by Olivia Black.
Two batters later with the bases loaded after a walk, Haley Fontenot’s sacrifice fly brought home another run for a 6-3 lead.
After another walk loaded the bases again, Brooke Lipari connected on a two-run single, while a run apiece scored on a groundout by Bailee Lipari and a passed ball for the 10-3 lead.
Morgan City (1-7) scored a run in the top of the fifth when Hallie Blanchard’s popup near the plate fell in fair territory despite a diving attempt by Central Catholic catcher Rylie Jeau Theriot and a run came home.
However, the Lady Eagles added two runs in the fifth on Alanni Landry’s single to left field and two more runs in the sixth to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.
Early on, Central Catholic scored two runs in the bottom of the first — one each on Lipari’s double to left-center field and a sacrifice fly by Bailee Lipari for a 2-0 Central Catholic lead.
Morgan City responded with three runs in the top of the second.
With the bases loaded, back-to-back singles by Blanchard and Dru Gros scored a run apiece to tie the game at 2. With the bases still loaded, a walk to Madison Bonner brought in another run.
The Lady Eagles responded with two runs in the bottom of the second via Fontenot’s triple to the centerfield wall.
Crappell earned the win. In six innings, she allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Offensively, Brooke Lipari led Central Catholic with a 3-for-4 performance with a double, three RBIs and two runs. Other top Central Catholic offensive contributors were Fontenot, 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and a run; Landry, 1-for-2, two RBIs, a stolen base and two runs; Crappell, 1-for-3, a double; Bailee Lipari, two RBIs; and Caitlyn Picou and Shelbie Mabile with an RBI apiece.
Blanchard suffered the loss. In five innings, she surrendered 12 runs — six earned — on eight hits with six walks and two strikeouts.
Offensively, Lightfoot and Gracie Verrett led Morgan City’s offense. Lightfoot was 2-for-3 with a run, while Verrett was 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Other top Morgan City offensive contributors were Blanchard and Gros, each 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Bonner, an RBI.
Central Catholic will return to action Tuesday when it resumes District 7-1A play at Hanson Memorial in Franklin. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.
Morgan City will return to action Wednesday when it hosts Loreauville at 4 p.m.

A 36-year-old Houma man was arrested in Morgan City after police located marijuana intended to be sold and cash believed to be from illegal drug sales, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Eric Scott Stelly, 36, of Canal Street in Houma, was arrested at 9:03 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and transaction involving proceeds from drug transactions.

Narcotic detectives conducting an investigation came into contact with Stelly in a parking lot on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

During the investigation, detectives located suspected marijuana, which was intended for sale in the Morgan City area, Blair said. Detectives also seized $492 in cash, which was suspected sales from illegal narcotics, Blair said. Stelly was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 28 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Davontraye Jacoby Johnson, 24, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with three counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Johnson was located at St. Mary Parish jail and arrested on a city court warrant. He was jailed.

—Anquino Michael Weston, 19, of Lori Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday on charges of no seat belt, possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Sixth Street and Brashear Avenue and identified the driver as Weston. During the stop, officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Weston’s possession, Blair said. He was jailed.

—Olivia Stewart Guarisco, 25, of Arenz Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:25 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of Xanax. Guarisco turned herself in at the police department on a warrant and was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 33 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Christopher Pollard, 33, of Shannon Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:29 p.m. Wednesday on four warrants charging him with failure to appear in court.

Pollard was located at the Monroe jail on warrants. Pollard was transported to the St. Mary Parish jail with bail set at $206,781.35.

—Jennifer Britt, 43, of Sunset Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:03 p.m. Tuesday on charges of driving under suspension and expired or no inspection sticker.

A deputy patrolling the Bayou Vista area observed a vehicle with no inspection sticker. A traffic stop was conducted, and Britt, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Smith said. She was issued a summons to appear in court June 19.

—Julia Bailey, 58, of Two Brothers Street in Amelia, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

A deputy responded to a medical emergency at a home in Amelia. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Bailey who was non-responsive, the sheriff said.

Acadian Ambulance and first responder personnel arrived and rendered aid. Upon further investigation, several items of drug paraphernalia were located, Smith said. Bailey was issued a summons to appear in court June 19.

—Chad Michael Bertrand, 34, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:13 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear in court.

A deputy received information that Bertrand was at a business in Berwick. The deputy went to the business and made contact with Bertrand. He was jailed with bail set at $66,065.62.

—Joseph Jude Harris, 38, of Friendship Alley in Amelia, was arrested at 5:46 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone). Bail was set at $10,000.

—Edward Lamont Williams, 43, of Friendship Alley in Amelia, was arrested at 5:46 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone). Bail was set at $14,000.

On Tuesday, narcotics detectives conducted a search warrant in the 100 block of Friendship Alley in Amelia and located Harris and Williams. During the investigation, drugs were found in the home, which is within 2,000 feet of a church, Smith said. Harris and Williams were jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:

—John LaCoste, 34, of Lipari Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:22 p.m. Tuesday on charges of domestic abuse battery and a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with simple criminal damage to property. No bail was set yet.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:

—Nolberta Mejia, 40, of Aucoin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday on charges of no driver’s license and headlights required. Mejia posted $252 bail.

Connie Hardaway was welcomed as the newest princess during the Krewe of Hephaestus Princess luncheon held Feb. 26. Princesses are wives of kings of Hephaestus. They were greeted with a toast from King Hephaestus LVIII Derald Hardaway and Hephaestus Captain Gary Stansbury.