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April 6, 2010
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April 8, 2010
The Vandebilt baseball team knows what’s being said in the papers and they hear what’s being whispered in opposing dugouts.
They’re just not paying any attention to it.
The Terriers are currently 14-5 on the season and are one of the Top 10 teams in the latest LSWA rankings.
That fast start has led virtually everyone, including opposing coaches to regard the Terriers as the best team in District 8-4A.
“On paper, yes, they are probably the best team in the district,” said Ellender coach Gus Brown.
But despite the lofty predictions for his team, Vandebilt coach David Constant said the Terriers are keeping their eyes straight ahead on the rest of the season.
“We certainly had the high expectations to start the year,” Constant said. “But I think these kids each week are trying to get better, even though those expectations are pretty big. We’re just trying to get better each week and hopefully make a run later in the year.”
The Terriers are No. 8 in the latest unofficial power rankings released by prep athletics Web site kenramsey.com.
Third baseman Eric Marmande said the team knows its position, but it’s just a number to the Terriers.
“We don’t pay attention to where we’re ranked,” Marmande said. “We’re just having fun and playing baseball. I like the pressure. I like taking the field and the other team knowing you’re good.”
One of the strengths of the Terrier team this season has been offensive balance.
Everyone up and down the Vandebilt lineup does their part each game to string together hits and ultimately runs.
The team has scored 10 or more runs in seven games this season, including last week’s duo of victories against Ellender.
“I think we have one of the best lineups in the state,” catcher Sam Pitre said. “One through nine, we crush the ball.”
Pitre, the team’s cleanup hitter, put a charge into one last Tuesday and hit a center field home run in Vandebilt’s 14-2 win against Ellender.
But the lower half of the lineup has seen success this year as well.
“Actually, the bottom half of my order has been carrying me this year,” Constant said. “I know the top half sees that, and I know they’re turning things around as well.”
Marmande agreed and said the offensive balance is the strength of the team.
“It’s coming around for us,” he said. “We’re consistently getting better, every single one of us.”
Pitching has also been a staple for the team as well. Senior pitcher Cory LaPeze has already committed to extend his career and play at Panola Junior College.
But Stephen Kelleher has also toted the ball for the Terriers and has had success. He pitched a complete game and allowed just two runs against Ellender.
“He did a great job on the mound for us,” Constant said. “He keeps battling out there and he keeps the score low so our hitters can step back to the plate.”
The coming week will be a big one for the Terriers.
The Terriers play a game against Morgan City Thursday. The Tigers have been just as hot as Vandebilt in the early season and have rolled to a hot start in district, including a pair of mercy rule wins against Ellender and a 22-0 blowout against Helen Cox.
Vandebilt then takes on Lutcher Tuesday. Like Morgan City, the Bulldogs have been impressive this year and won their first three games of the district season.
Conquering the week ahead would bring the Terriers one step closer to their season’s biggest goal.
“The district championship, that’s what we want,” Pitre said. “That’s our first goal.”
The baseball team’s success comes in lieu of what has been a dominant year for Vandebilt athletics.
The school made the second round of the football playoffs, were state runners up in both boys’ and girls’ soccer and won the 4A girls basketball state championship.
But despite what has been a golden year for Terrier athletics, the team is looking to make its own identity.
“There’s never any pressure,” Pitre said. “Our goals have been the same all year before all of those other things happened. We’re going to do our best but there’s no pressure.”
Vandebilt baseball player Brady Domangue slides under the tag of an Ellender infielder during last Tuesday’s 14-2 Vandebilt win. Vandebilt is currently considered one of the top teams in Class 4A. * Photo by CASEY GISCLAIR
