Spartans hold off S. Terrebonne in Stephen Richardson Memorial

East Ascension built an early lead and held off South Terrebonne late for a 7-4 victory Saturday night in the Stephen Richardson Tournament at Johnny Ambeau Park.

Ethan Guidry pitched a complete game giving up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six.

“Ethan threw a lot of strikes and let the defense play behind him,” East Ascension head coach Wayne Grenfell said. “He was very efficient in his pitch count so he was able to go the distance. That is twice in a row he has done that and I am proud of him. He has had a rough two years but now has a chance to become our ace. He did a great job tonight.”

Guidry walked the first batter he faced, Michael Barba, who later scored on Alex Prestenbach’s grounder pass short to put South Terrebonne ahead 1-0.

East Ascension answered in the bottom half when Levin Fairchild lined off third baseman Jonathan Dupre`s glove before Adam Trahan drew a walk off starter Gilbert Bergeron. Jared Kleinpeter’s liner to center plated two runs after Bradly Day’s sacrifice bunt.

The Spartans padded the lead in the third when Fairchild reached and scored on Day’s two-out grounder. Kleinpeter then beat out a grounder and stole second before scoring on Tim Robinson’s drive to left to give East Ascension a 4-1 lead.

Barba beat out a grounder to third to open the fifth inning and stole second before Dupre` reached on an error that allowed a run. One out, later Prestenbach’s groundout to short crossed another run to cut it to 4-3.

The Spartans added three runs in the fifth inning when Day led off with a liner to center. Bergeron then walked Kleinpeter before Robinson reached on a bunt to load the bases. Day was thrown out at home on a grounder to third before Miles Holley’s groundout plated a run.

Robinson scored on a pass ball before Austen Waguespack drew a walk and Marcus Bailey lined pass second to cross another run giving East Ascension a 7-3 lead.

“That is way we have to be able to play,” Grenfell said. “We have to scratch and claw for every run we get. We have to hit strikes and take balls and if they are going to give us a walk, we have to take it.”

Guidry gave up a two-out walk to Tyler Naquin in the sixth inning, then hit consecutive batters to load the bases but struckout Dupre to get outof the inning unscathed.

Brock Hebert lined through the left infield to open the seventh inning and scored on Zach Hebert’s liner pass short two outs later to reflect the final tally. Guidry struckout Carl?LeBlanc to end the game.