Ascension Episcopal’s explosive offense ready for quarterfinals – The Daily Advertiser

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Jeffrey Elkins, Ascension Episcopal(Photo: Submitted photo by Shannon Elkins)

Three of the four semifinal teams for the Division IV state playoff tournament in Sulphur have been set.

Thursday, No. 11 Ascension Episcopal is going to try and book that last spot.

The Blue Gators take on No. 3 Covenant Christian at home on Thursday with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. after upsetting No. 6 Hanson Memorial in the Regional round, with whomthey split the regular season district matchup.

Ascension Episcopal coach Lonny Landry said he wasn't worried about his team being too confident after the first-round upset after treating the season like professionals throughout the year.

"One thing about the team this year, they've been pretty even-keeled the entire year," Landry said. "It's what I've tried to preach, don't get too high or too low."

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Landry said the Blue Gators pulled off the upset behind a good performance on the mound by Sean Michael Brady, who gave up five total runs but only three earned, and kept plugging away despite going down early on.

"We continued to play clean baseball after the second inning," Landry said. "We had quality at-bats throughout the game, but we had the right patience in the ninth. Seth Kerstetter tied it up and we got four more in that same inning."

The offense at Ascension Episcopal has been particularly impressive this season, led by future Ragin' Cajun Jeffery Elkins.

Elkins finished the season with a truly outrageous stat line after hitting .652 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 59 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

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As a team, Ascension Episcopal scored 313 runs this season only behind the team it plays on Thursday in Covenant Christian who scored 331 runs as a team this season.

"I think this is the best offensive team we've had at Ascension one through nine in the batting order," Landry said. "One way or the other they are going to be productive whatever it might be, even getting hit by a pitcher. All the guys contribute.

"I've scouted (Covenant Christian) and they are not the three seed by accident. At this point int he bracket everybody is as good as everybody else."

Unlike in other brackets, the quarterfinals remain a one-game, do-or-die elimination situation for Division IV teams.

Landry said he hasn't ever done anything else in the playoffs so he didn't mind the one-game playoff format.

"It's tough. I've never had a three-game series. It's do-or-die at this point," Landry said. "I think with the single game elimination every pitch is just a little more important."

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Ascension Episcopal's explosive offense ready for quarterfinals - The Daily Advertiser