Ascension Christian breaks through with first baseball playoff victory – The Advocate

GONZALES They lined up Wednesday for one final team photo at home to commemorate the moment.

A year after a heartbreaking one-run setback on their home field, Ascension Christian celebrated its first postseason victory a 10-5 Division IV regional victory over St. Frederick with a joyous photo opportunity in front of the left field scoreboard.

Its the best feeling in the world, Ascension Christian catcher Landon Ortego said. We made history.

The No. 8 Lions (21-9) travel to No. 1 and defending Class 1A state champion Central Catholic of Morgan City, a 9-0 winner over False River, for a quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3.

Ascension Christian hosted a playoff game for the second straight year, this time looking to make amends for a 5-4 loss to St. Edmund.

The Lions trailed 2-0 after two innings after a potential big inning ended in a double play.

When we got down at the beginning of the season, we kind of put our heads down and kind of gave up, ACHS first-year coach Conrad Gayle said. Our motto was from the first pitch until the last one: (every) pitch with a purpose.

Ascension Christian responded in the third by batting around, taking a 6-2 lead they never relinquished.

Mason Braud drove in the Lions, first run and a throwing error enabled Jacob Antie to tie the game at 2. Losing pitcher Weston Swanner balked in Braud and Ortego homered for the second time this season a two-run shot to left.

No. 9 St. Frederick (18-11) made it 8-4 with a pair of runs in the fourth, but winning pitcher Nic Montalbano limited the Warriors to only one run in the sixth thereafter.

Montalbano (7-3) allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned), walked one and struck out eight.

ACHS, which piled up 12 hits led by Ortego (3-for-3) and shortstop Peyton Bahlinger (3-for-4, three stolen bases, RBI), stretched its lead to 10-4 with two runs in both the fourth and fifth.

Ortego drove in his third run with a long single to right in the fourth, while a safety squeeze bunt from Josh Diez scored courtesy runner Jacob Bruder and Antie added an RBI single in the fifth.

This was a great team win, Gayle said. Im so proud of every, single one of these guys and for this program because I knew we could take the next step and we took it.

Read this article:

Ascension Christian breaks through with first baseball playoff victory - The Advocate