The No. 18 Sam Houston Broncos will face a familiar opponent in the Class 4A quarterfinals when they travel to Houma to take on the No. 7 Vandebilt Catholic Terriers on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Saturday’s game marks the second consecutive year Sam Houston will face the Terriers in the playoffs. The Broncos (24-11) defeated Vandebilt Catholic 4-3 at home in the regional round of the 2009 Class 4A playoffs.
“It seems like with my time in DeRidder and here at Sam Houston, we run into those guys a lot in the playoffs,” said Broncos’ head coach Brad Book. “They have a really good team. They play defense very well, they swing the bat well, and they have a very good pitcher this year.”
Vandebilt’s senior pitcher Cory LaPeze led the Terriers (22-6-1) in their regional win over Leesville on Monday. LaPeze held the Wampus Cats’ bats in check for six innings allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Book said that he and the Broncos are grateful to be playing as one of the final eight teams left in Class 4A while making their third straight trip to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
“It’s always fun to be playing baseball deep into May,” said Book. “We have been very blessed here to have three deep runs in the playoffs. You have to have crazy things happen when you are the 18th seed.”
As the No. 18 seed, the Broncos have dominated one of the best pitchers in the state when they defeated Breaux Bridge’s Chaz Hebert in the first round, then held the No. 2 Haughton’s bats in check to advance deep into the postseason.
The Broncos have outscored playoff opponents 14-2 led by catcher Garrett Logan. He leads Sam Houston in homeruns and RBI’s while batting .500. Evan Powell leads the Broncos in extra base hits on the year including a 2-for-4 performance with a double on Tuesday against Haughton.
With a win on Saturday, the Broncos will take on the winner of the West Ouachita/Teurlings Catholic in the semifinals to be played on May 14th at Louisiana Tech’s J.C. Love Field in Ruston.-
