Jefferson Parish falls to Kelso

By Kimberly Engel

CLIFTON PARK – The defending 14-year-old Babe Ruth World Series champions from Louisiana suffered their first loss on Saturday to Kelso, Washington in Clifton Park.

Going into their second game with a record of 1-0 in the World Series tournament, Jefferson Parish hoped to continue their winning ways against the Pacific Northwest Regional Champions from Kelso, Washington.

The Southwest Regional champions failed to produce in key situations, falling to Kelso, 9-6, in a contest that lasted three hours and 15 minutes.

“We were outplayed in every aspect of the game today” said Jefferson Parish catcher Mason Katz.

Beau Zeringue of Jefferson Parish and Evan Pickett of Kelso started the contest for their respective teams.

Pickett went for 2 1/3 innings giving up five hits, two runs, and walking three while fanning one. Zeringue lasted one inning as he struggled with his control, walking three and striking out two. 

“I couldn’t find the strike zone,” said Zeringue, “I wasn’t on my game today”.
Cory Guidry came in to relieve Zeringue in the second inning, but things went downhill from there.

Jefferson Parish allowed six runs on five hits breaking the game open for Kelso in the second inning.

Guidry gave up a single to Kelso’s Garett Crayne, which scored Pickett and tied the contest at one apiece. Chris Whitmire singled to load the bases for Kelly Rice with no outs. Rice reached first on a fielder’s choice that scored Nolan Enriquez, giving Kelso it’s first lead of the game. Kelso added four more runs as more defensive mistakes and a combination of hits put Jefferson Parish in a deeper hole.

“Giving up six runs in one inning, that’s not like us…” said Jefferson Parish manager Bill Babin, “We made too many key mistakes.”

Jefferson Parish continued to chip away at the deficit scoring five more runs, they stranded nine runners on base. 

“We didn’t make the plays we had to today” Zeringue said.

“Good baseball includes good pitching, defense, and timely hitting,” said Babin, “We didn’t have any of those things today. We give all the credit to Kelso. They were the better team today”.

Kelso will continue in the tournament on Sunday playing their second game against Youngstown, Ohio at 5 pm. Jefferson Parish will not play again until Monday night when they face the Ohio Valley regional champion, Youngstown, Ohio at 9 pm.
“We’ve lost and been in this situation before,” said Zeringue, “We just have to regroup, and get everything back together.”