Broncos strengthen hold on first in Dist. 4-4A

The Sam Houston Broncos tightened their grip on the top spot in District 4-4A on Thursday with a 6-0 win over the Eunice Bobcats.

Eunice looked like it would strike first as they got two runners on in the top of the first inning on a walk and a single by Tyler Fontenot, but Sam Houston’s Phillip Menou struck out the next two batters he faced and Tyler Theriot smashed a two-run home run over the left field wall to give Sam Houston an early 2-0 lead.

After being held scoreless in the fourth and leading 3-0, Sam Houston got a little breathing room in the fifth with some clutch hitting.

Eunice’s Austin Young struck out the first two batters he faced but then gave up consecutive singles to Theriot and Evan Powell. Possibly the hit of the game came next when designated hitter Grant Cox planted a two RBI double in the left field corner to give Sam Houston a 5-0 lead.

“That was huge,” Sam Houston head coach Brad Book said of Cox’s double in the fifth. “Another big game for Grant (Cox) were he had to come up with a big hit and that was clutch for us.

““It was really a well played game. Both teams made big plays and both pitchers pitched extremely well. Their pitcher pitched backwards tonight. He only uses his fastball when he has too. We had some trouble adjusting to it but we had some big hits with Tyler (Theriot) in the first and Grant (Cox).”

After giving up eight runs in the first inning of a 27-1 district opening loss to the Broncos earlier in the season, Young (4-4) kept the Class 4A No. 1 Broncos guessing most of the night as he allowed just six runs on eight hits along with seven strikeouts and three walks. But the Bobcats could not take advantage of Young’s pitching, as they left nine runners stranded in the game and had just five hits against Menou.

“I thought that my left hander (Young) battled and he gave us a chance,” Eunice head coach Scott Phillips said. “We just did not swing the bat.

“Menou is a great pitcher. I have seen him since he was a freshman. Any other pitcher we would have probably swung the bat but he was the total difference in the ball game. I really do not see anyone better than them (Sam Houston) in 4A.”

Eunice (14-10, 4-5) made some noise in the fifth inning, as Kendall Sam led off the inning getting hit by a pitch and Jacob Fontenot laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line but Sam Houston intentionally walked Stewart Turner to load the bases and Menou got Chris McCoy to ground out to second to end the inning.

Sam Houston (22-3, 8-0) tacked on single run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Skylar Barrentine.

Young got some defensive help in the fourth one a double play with one out and two runners on. Dillon Johnson hit a line drive that nearly hit the field umpire but shortstop Mitchell Fuselier was able to make the catch and throw to second for the inning ending double play.

Sam Houston got one more run in the sixth on an RBI single from Andrew LaFosse.

Theriot was the only player to record multiple hits in the game going 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and two runs scored.

Menou improved to 9-0 and finished with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

In an attempt to beat the rainy weather expected for this weekend, the Broncos double-header against LaGrange scheduled for Saturday has been move up to today. The first game will start at 4 p.m. in Moss Bluff.