Home One Homes (Northlake Christian School) found itself in a must win situation Tuesday in American Legion East Division play, and took care of business on the road. Home One Homes squared off first with Thomas Pump (Slidell High) to complete an earlier season game from June 3 played at NCS that was called due to darkness with the score tied 4-4 after eight innings. It was agreed between the coaches, the completion game would be held at the Fontainebleau Bone Yard before the division regular season ending game between Home One Homes and Hood Northlake Chevrolet (Fontainebleau High).

Home One Homes’ Zac Hawkins, who had entered the game back on June 3 to record the final out in the eighth inning after relieving Juan Diaz, retook the mound on Tuesday facing Mike Reich (3-2) of Thomas Pump. Reich had entered the June 3 game in the fourth inning in relief of starter Matt Conn.

Tuesday the teams battled through two and a third-scoreless innings before Home One Homes, the home team, was able to generate the game-winner in the bottom of the eleventh. Reich retired the first hitter in the inning on a strikeout. Bryan Picou stepped in, and worked the count to 3-1 before drawing what proved to be a crucial base on balls. Hawkins followed drilling an 0-1 pitch to the left-center field gap for a stand up double, advancing Picou to third. Thomas Pump decided to intentionally walk catcher Ryan Pfefferle to load the bases. With the infield playing in, Tyler Clark, hit the first pitch to the second baseman, who bobbled the ball allowing Picou to tally the winning run.

Hood Northlake Chevrolet'€™s runner Lincoln Gros is tagged out at home plate by Home One Homes'€™ catcher Ryan Pfefferle in the first inning of Tuesday'€™s American Legion East Division game played at the Bone Yard. (Staff Photo by Mike Pervel)

Hawkins said it was a big win for his club.

“It helped us to have a chance to take second place. We are playing well together, trying to gel for next year’s prep season. It was a good team effort in coming out with a win,” Hawkins said.

By virtue of the 5-4, 11-inning victory, Home One Homes put itself in position to battle Hood Northlake Chevrolet with both clubs holding 4-3 East Division records entering the game, trailing division leader and eventual East Division champion Laneco Construction (Pope John Paul II) by one game.

Home One Homes jumped on Hood Northlake Chevrolet starter Eric Priola for four runs in the top of the first on three hits after sending 10 batters to the plate. Home One Homes took a 10-5 victory over Hood Northlake Chevrolet. Shortstop Seth Laigast beat out an infield single and Grant McGovern drew a walk.

Clark reached on an infield grounder. Pfefferle lofted a medium-range fly ball to right that was dropped scoring Laigast. Taylor Bazzell reached on a ball that got past the second baseman plating McGovern to make it 2-0. Chris Craighead ripped an RBI single to center scoring Clark to push the lead to 3-0.

Second baseman Jordy Bloodsworth contributed an RBI on a fielder’s choice grounder, scoring courtesy runner Jared Duckworth to close out the scoring in the first. Hood Chevrolet answered with a run in the bottom of the first off Home One Homes’ winning pitcher Juan Diaz (2-1). Center fielder David Fiegel playing with a sprained ankle, doubled to left-center field. Lincoln Gros followed with a hit to center, scoring Fiegel on a throwing error. Diaz, who went four and a third innings, got out of the inning without any further damage as Craighead threw out a runner at the plate from left field.

Home One Homes increased its lead to 7-1 with three runs in the third. Bloodsworth walked and designated hitter Jake Long singled. Timmy Broussard put down a perfectly placed bunt for an infield hit. Laigast produced an RBI on a fielder’s choice grounder. Following a fly ball for the second out, Clark, 3-for-4 with a walk, delivered a clutch two-run double to right to give Home One Homes a six-run lead. Clark, a designated hitter and catcher, who played third base, talked about his two-run double.

“I got a fastball outside. I just went with it, and took it the other way. I thought we played a good game. Getting the early four-run lead, we were able to play relaxed baseball. We were able to capitalize in the first inning,” Clark said.

“Our pitchers did a good job. They hit the ball decently, but we were able to make most of the plays when we had to,” Clark added.

Hood Northlake Chevrolet cut the lead to 7-3 with two runs in the bottom of the third. Fiegel doubled followed by Gros, who singled. Klay Galloway reached on an error.

Fiegel, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, said he was seeing the ball well.

“You just go out there and hope for the best. I just try to put the ball in play. I’ve been swinging the bat pretty good lately,” Fiegel said.

Hood Northlake Chevrolet tallied once in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 7-4. Brennan Marque singled. He appeared to be picked off, but he broke for second and Home One Homes was unable to get him. Marque stole third base, and scored on Rolston Bergeron’s RBI single to left.

Shawn Lockhart relieved Priola in the top of the fifth with a runner on first. He allowed three runs on six hits. With Home One Homes leading 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Diaz walked Galloway. Reliever Brandon Cazaubon replaced Diaz.

He got Derek Acaosta to hit into a taylor-made 6-4-3 double play. Cazaubon walked the next hitter, and gave up a single to Lockhart before retiring the next batter on a grounder to short. Cazaubon said it was a good team effort.

“Pitching with a lead, I just wanted to throw strikes, and stay ahead of the batters,” Cazaubon said.

Home One Homes added an unearned run in the sixth inning before tallying two runs in the seventh. Pfefferle produced an RBI double, and Bazzell came through with a run scoring single.

Hood Chevrolet closed out the scoring with a run in the seventh. Galloway doubled with one out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He ended up scoring on a wild pitch.

At press time, Hood , which finished tied for third with Thomas Pump at 4-4 in the East Division, won a coin toss, and were scheduled to play yesterday to determine the third place finisher.