Laneco Construction (Pope John Paul II) erased a five-run first-inning deficit Tuesday night to clinch a spot in the East Regionals in New Orleans with a 13-8 victory over Advantage Ford (Salmen High) at PJP.

Laneco Construction (9-5, 6-2) will play for the division title Monday night, 6 p.m., at PJP against either Home One Homes (Northlake Christian School), Hood Chevrolet (Fontainebleau High) or Thomas Pump (Slidell High). Hood Chevrolet and Thomas Pump were tied for third with 4-4 divisional records and split in head-to-head competition, therefore a game to determine third place was played yesterday at FHS. The winner of that game plays at Home One Homes (5-3) tomorrow for second place. Then the victor will play at Laneco Construction for the East Division title, but no matter what happens, both of Monday’s teams will have a regional berth. The East Regionals will take place at Kirsch Rooney Stadium and possibly another sight beginning July 19.

Laneco Construction entered the game with its destiny in its hands. A win would clinch a regional berth, but a loss coupled with a Hood Chevrolet win over Home One Homes would have meant a tie at the top and a tiebreaker game to determine first.

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That scenario became a possibility, as things didn’t exactly start the way Laneco Construction had hoped. Advantage Ford (2-8, 1-7) scored five runs on seven hits in the first inning, sending 10 men to the plate.

Ben Himber led off with a single and Matt Moroney got a one-out hit. Himber tallied on a one-out wild pitch to open the scoring. Following a strike out, Advantage Ford came up with five consecutive two-out singles. Dominic Narcisse put runners at the corners and then Andrew Jones, Chris Price, Chad Mistich and Brandon Landry all got RBI hits and Advantage Ford suddenly led 5-0.

When asked what was going through his mind trailing by five runs before his team’s first at bat, Laneco Construction coach Mark Homburg said, “absolutely nothing.”

“We’ve been down before this year to Home One Homes, 6-2. We were also down in prep play a couple times. Fontainebleau had the lead the first round of district, and we were able to come back,” Homburg said.

That lead quickly evaporated as Laneco Construction put up seven runs on four hits with 11 men coming to the dish.

Ross Macaluso began with a walk and then Nate Hewitt grounded a pitch to short, but the throw to second to force Macaluso was dropped. Zack Pohto hit a short fly ball to right-center field, which dropped. Then the center fielder picked up the ball and held onto it. Macaluso took advantage and aggressive base running allowed him to score and trim the lead to 5-1 and runners were at second and third. An RBI groundout by Andre Damiens made it 5-2, moving Pohto to third and he scored on a balk. Bobby Mayfield restarted the rally by drawing a base on balls with one out. Courtesy runner Sidney Corwin stole second and scored on an Andro Cutura’s RBI single. Cutura drove in three runs. James Cousin followed with a run-scoring single, tying the game at 5-5. Then Advantage Ford looked like it had escaped the frame tied when Timmy Turner struck out, but the third strike hit the ground and he alertly took off running for first. The throw to get him was high and into right field, putting runners at second third. Macaluso made Advantage Ford pay for the mistake by clearing the bases with a 2-run triple to center field, giving his team the lead 7-5.

Macaluso said he thought he had homered and talked about the at bat.

“I was looking to get a good pitch to hit and I got a triple. I was really psyched,” Macaluso said. “I thought it was gone. I was looking at it I was turning first and I was like, ‘man that thing’s gone.’ I felt like I got jammed. He gave me a high-fastball up and away. I took it right to center field and gave it a good ride.”

Macaluso said he is excited about getting to regionals especially since it’s been a while since a PJP-based legion team has done it.

“It feels awesome,” Macaluso said. “I feel really honored to be the first team to go to Kirsch Rooney in (more than 20) years. It’s a real pleasure for me because I think it’s a big deal for everyone on this team.”

Laneco Construction never looked back. Advantage Ford got to 7-6 in the fourth, but Laneco Construction put up six runs in its half to break the game open.

Laneco loaded the bases when Macaluso reached on an error, followed by Hewitt and Pohto both getting hit.

Facing a drawn in infield, Damiens, who had three RBIs, laced a 2-run single to right, making it 9-6.

Mayfield reached on a fielder’s choice when he grounded to first, but the throw was late to the plate. Another hit batter loaded the bases and Cutura unloaded them with a 2-run hit. An RBI fielder’s choice by Cousin capped Laneco’s scoring.

Damiens also did yeoman’s work on the mound and got the win in relief of Mayfield. Damiens threw the final four innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits, with four walks and three strikeouts.

“I came in and tried to do my best pitching,” Damiens said. “I walked a lot, but the defense was behind me. So overall, we didn’t do a bad job.”