By Jake McCoy
Welsh spoils DeQuincy’s championship quest in semifinals
On Tuesday, May 13, the DeQuincy Tigers played the Welsh Greyhounds in the Division IV Non-Select Semifinals in Sulphur.
The Tigers had beaten the Hounds 7-3 earlier this season. However, the Tigers knew that this game would be a little harder than the first time with a lot more at stake.
Welsh scored first on a DeQuincy errors taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning and it would remain that way until the top of the 5th. The Tigers would add a run to threaten the Greyhounds lead.
Welsh would score two more in the bottom half of the 5th to extend their lead 4-1. However, the Tigers answered back scoring two runs of their own in the top of the 6th to make it a one run game again.
DeQuincy would score two more runs in the top of the 7th to take a 5-4 lead as it would appear the Tigers were going to hold on and win the game. But in the bottom half of the inning with 2 outs and a 1 ball and two strike count with a runner on 2nd the Greyhounds answered with a base hit to tie the game 5-5. We went to extra innings as the Tigers would retake the lead 6-5 in the top of the 8th. It appeared again as the Tigers were going to hold off the Hounds but Welsh tied the game and a pitching change was made. Welsh would get on base thanks to a ball four walk and the runner stole second base and then third base. Then two pitches later the Hounds hit a line drive into center to walk it off and spoil DeQuincy’s championship quest.
It was a tough pill to swallow, the Tigers did commit three errors in the game but they had battled back. Questionable calls were also a factor in the game as the DeQuincy faithful were not very pleased with the home plate umpire and neither was the Tiger coaching staff. However, the kids played extremely hard and gave everything they had and left it all on the field. We couldn’t be more proud of their efforts!
Carson Rainwater was 1-5, Noah Pettifield was 2-4, Turner Rodriguez was 1-4, Andrew Dowden was 2-4 with 3 RBIs, Nolan Schrader was 1-3, Diron Valentine was 1-4 with an RBI, Rahley Royer was 1-2, Hayz Hext was 1-3 with an RBI, and Rowdy Griffin was 2-4 with an RBI.
Carson Rainwater pitched 6.2 innings and recorded 6 strikeouts, Grant Rainwater pitched 0.1 innings, Diron Valentine pitched 0.1 innings and recorded one strikeout.
The Tigers scored 6 runs on 12 hits and 3 errors, Welsh scored 7 runs on 6 hits and 1 error.
Welsh 7, DeQuincy 6
DeQuincy baseball reigns in all-district honors
The 2025 District 4-2A All-District list has been released after the competition of the LHSAA state baseball tournament last week. The DeQuincy Tigers are more than well represented on the list as 11 different Tigers were named.
First team: pitcher Carson Rainwater; pitcher Turner Rodriguez; 3rd baseman, Diron Valentine; catcher, Andrew Dowden; outfielder, Rahley Royer; and outfielder, Nolan Schrader.
Second team: pitcher, Grant Rainwater; outfielder, Hayz Hext; 2nd baseman, Noah Pettifield; and utility, Rowdy Griffin.
District 4-2A Coach of the Year is Brady Carlson and the District 4-2A Most Valuable Player is Andrew Dowden!
We know the season didn’t end quite like we’d all hope but these young men competed extremely hard through the cold weather early in the season to the hot temperatures of April and May. They have made us all proud here in DeQuincy and a big shoutout to head coach Brady Carlson and his staff on the tremendous job they do coaching up these youngsters!
Geaux Tigers!
LHSAA Baseball State Championship Scores
Class C – Ebarb 8, Harrisonburg 3
Class B – Pitkin 9, Family Community 6
Division IV Non-Select – Oak Grove 10, Welsh 0
Division IV Select – Vermilion Catholic 4, Ouachita Christian 1
Division III Non Select – Sterlington 5, Erath 3
Division III Select – Catholic-New Iberia 7, University Lab 4
Division II Non-Select – North DeSoto 7, Brusly 4
Division II Select – Teurlings Catholic 14, E.D. White 3
Division I Non-Select – Sam Houston 4, Live Oak 2
Division I Select – Catholic-Baton Rouge 8, Brother Martin 1
