Imperial Sugars advances to Swampland title series

The infield sprinkler system was accidentally set off in the top of the fifth inning of Lutcher Imperial Sugars Swampland playoff game against Central Lafourche-based Source International.

It was almost fitting, as the Bulldogs were already in the process of drowning the Trojans’ hopes of advancing to the Swampland title series.

Pitcher Jordan Hymel mixed an inside fastball with a knuckleball and changeup to near perfection en route to leading Imperial Sugars past Source International, 6-1, Friday in Lutcher.

&#8220I was just hitting my spots,” he said.

And the Trojans paid the price.

Hymel surrendered only one run and four hits for the Bulldogs (11-0), who advanced to the first game of the Swampland best-of-three championship series Monday against South Lafourche.

The results were unavailable by press time.

&#8220Jordan had a couple of bad games earlier on, but he’s been throwing really well lately,” said Imperial Sugars coach Davey Clement. &#8220He likes to throw hard inside and then throws a good knuckleball that makes it tough on hitters. As long as he can control his walks, he can be a tough guy to hit.”

Hymel, however, also got a lot of assistance from a Bulldogs’ batting order that brought a lot of bite to the diamond.

Source International carried a little momentum from its earlier afternoon 7-3 playoff victory over E.D. White-based Capital One into the first inning against Lutcher when a Garrett Danos blast to right field scored Shane Bergeron to put the Trojans ahead, 1-0.

But Imperial Sugars responded in the bottom of the inning when a Taylor Duhe single to right field scored Adam Michel. Moments later, Jordan Hymel scored on a wild pitch to put the Bulldogs ahead, 2-1.

The bats came alive again in the third. Duhe crossed home plate when Source International pitcher Jake Ledet threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded.

After walking the next batter, Ledet gave up two RBI bunt singles to Jordan Roussel and Reginald Jackson, bringing Imperial Sugars lead to 5-1.

The Bulldogs got a final insurance run in the fourth when an Austin Roussel groundout scored Duhe.

Imperial Sugars only has two seniors-to-be in its starting lineup.

This, according to Clement, makes Lutcher’s baseball future look extremely bright.

&#8220We have some young kids who can really play,” he said. &#8220They really go to work.”

Hymel likes his team’s chances of eclipsing its 27-4 spring finish.

&#8220With some of the new people we have coming up, we should be really good for the upcoming season,” he said. Our program is all about leadership, and once we find that, we have a good chance to go a long way.”