By Jake McCoy
Tigers beat Hornbeck
On Monday, Apr. 7, the DeQuincy Tigers traveled to northern Vernon Parish to take on the Hornbeck Hornets in non district action.
The Class C Hornets played the 2A Tigers very tough as Hornbeck’s outstanding outfield robbed a few DeQuincy hits. However the Tigers were fortunate to have a handful of quality base hits that scored several runs. It certainly didn’t come easy as the Hornets’ off speed pitching was hard to hit at times but the Tigers overcame the adversity!
Nolan Schrader pitched very well throwing 6.1 innings and recorded 7 strikeouts, Bryce Dyson closed pitching 0.2 innings and record 1 strikeout.
Carson Rainwater was 1-2 with an RBI, Andrew Dowden was 2-3, Turner Rodriguez was 2-3 with an RBI, and Noah Pettifield was 2-4 with 2 RBIs.
DeQuincy 7, Hornbeck 2
Tigers stunned by Vinton
On Tuesday, Apr. 8, the DeQuincy Tigers traveled down Edgerly road to take on the Vinton Lions in the final district game of the season.
DeQuincy would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. However, that’s all the runs the Tigers’ would scratch across the board as the Lions’ defense put pressure on the Tigers’ base runners. Vinton would score one run in the 3rd inning thanks to an error on the Tigers. The Tigers had a chance to extend their lead in the 4th inning with bases loaded and no outs. But Vinton’s star pitcher Gage Guidry and his infield shut the door on the Tigers. The Lions would tie the game up in the 5th thanks to another error on the Tigers which was ultimately the difference in the ball game. DeQuincy committed 4 errors and made a couple of other uncharacteristic mistakes, Vinton had bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th with 1 out when the Lions’ Kortlin Kyle hit a ball in the gap and scored the winning run upsetting the TigerS.
Carson Rainwater did exceptionally well on the mound going the distance while recording 10 strikeouts.
Andrew Dowden was 2-3 with an RBI, Turner Rodriguez was 2-2, Noah Pettifield was 1-3, and Rowdy Griffin was 1-3.
Vinton 3, DeQuincy 2
Tigers walkoff Kinder 3-2
On Thursday, Apr. 10, the DeQuincy Tigers hosted the Kinder Yellowjackets in non district action.
The Tigers came into the game looking to right the ship after falling to Vinton two days earlier. Indeed they did just that as DeQuincy collected 9 crucial hits as well as an outstanding defensive performance at every position including freshman Grant Rainwater’s dominant performance on the mound going the distance only allowing 4 hits and striking out 5 batters in a low scoring affair as the Tigers would win the game on a bases loaded walkoff ball four!
This was the Tigers’ first win over Kinder since the 2011, so of course some would imagine this is a huge weight lifted off the shoulders of the baseball program.
It was certainly a great day to be a DeQuincy Tiger!
Carson Rainwater was 1-3, Noah Pettifield was 1-3, Turner Rodriguez was 2-2 with 2 RBIs, Andrew Dowden was 2-3, Rahley Royer was 1-3, and Rowdy Griffin was 2-3.
DeQuincy 3, Kinder 2
Tigers – out right District Champions
The DeQuincy Tigers baseball team are the 2025 District 4-2A champions!
Despite last week’s loss to Vinton, the Tigers had already clinched the outright district title two weeks ago with a win over Rosepine 9-3.
With the playoffs starting later this week, the Tigers will have a first round bye. However they will play an exhibition game against the Hicks Pirates this Thursday Apr. 17, at 5 p.m., here in DeQuincy, this game will not count on a record and as some coaches say, it’s just a glorified scrimmage.
The Tigers will likely enter the Division IV Non-Select playoffs as a top 4 seed.
Geaux Tigers!!
Area Baseball Scores
DeQuincy 7, Hornbeck 2
Vinton 3, DeQuincy 2
DeQuincy 3, Kinder 2
DeRidder 11, Singer 1
Singer 21, South Cameron 2
Singer 11, South Cameron 9
Hackberry 14, Starks 2
Hackberry 7, Starks 1
Midland 14, Starks 8
Starks 18, Abbeville 8
Grand Lake 23, Merryville 6
Grand Lake 12, Merryville 2
St. Louis Catholic 5, South Beauregard 4
South Beauregard 7, Hemphill 1
