Barbe's Grant Loupe is embraced by Braedon Barrett after the Bucs beat Archbishop Rummel Sunday. (Associated Press)
Players empty a cooler onto Barbe coach Glenn Cecchini after the Bucs defeated Archbishop Rummel in the state Class 5A baseball tournament championship game Sunday in New Orleans. (Associated Press)
Barbe baseball wins Class 5A state title
Last Modified: Monday, May 14, 2012 1:43 PM
By Warren Arceneaux / American Press
NEW ORLEANS — The wait is over.
Barbe won its sixth baseball state championship, and first since 2008, with a 3-2 win over Rummel in the Class 5A state championship game at Turchin Stadium on the Tulane campus.
Bryce Jordan drove in all three Barbe runs and Taylor Butler (6-1) earned the win with five scoreless innings of relief.
Barbe took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Gavin Cecchini led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a squeeze bunt by Bryce Jordan.
Rummel (26-11) answered with two runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Scott Hale and Zachary Schmidt.
Barbe (33-6) regained the lead in the third inning. Kennon Fontenot walked and Beau Jordan was hit by a pitch with two outs to start the rally. They advanced to second and third on a double steal. Bryce Jordan hit a two-out single to center to score both runners. It was his only hit during the three-game state tournament.
“Coach told me that no matter if you are 0-for-4 or 0-for-5, you are always going to come up and do something special for the team,” Jordan said. “It was amazing to get that hit.”
Jordan was voted Most Outstanding Player for the game.
Butler encountered trouble only once, walking Ross Budenski and Connor McWilliams in the sixth inning, but escaped with a fly ball out to end the inning. The only hit he allowed was a two-out single in the seventh by Raymond Veit, but the next batter, Justin Sinibaldi, flew out to center to end the game.
“When that ball was hit, all their fans were screaming and I was like ‘Oh no!’, but when I turned around my good center fielder was there and it felt amazing,” Butler said.
Gunner Leger started the game for Barbe and gave up two runs in two innings with a walk and strikeout.
Butler, a starter for three seasons, moved to the bullpen midway through this season. He won two of the three games at the state tournament.
Sinibaldi (2-1) took the loss for Rummel, allowing three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.
“This was a special group, they had player-driven Bible studies before every practice and game,” said Barbe head coach Glenn Cecchini. “Yesterday’s scripture was ‘Weather the storm’ and we had to sit through a five-hour storm. Today’s was “Perseverance — there’s adversity, you have to overcome it and victory will be guaranteed,’ and we did. These kids had faith. I love these kids, they buy in and do whatever we ask them to do. They are united and believe in themselves.”
Cecchini said it was no surprise to see Butler excel in a pressure situation.
“He begged for this game,” Cecchini said. “The summer team I helped coach won the national championship, he was on the mound for the championship game and threw a shutout. He said he knew he could do it, and he did it.”
Cecchini said he will stay on as head coach despite the upcoming graduation of shortstop Gavin, his youngest son.
“I’m back,” he said.” “This is what I love. Not just winning ballgames, that is just a by-product of what we do. It is about impacting kids’ lives. I love what I do.”
Baseball Playoff Schedule
Class 5A
at Tulane University in New Orleans
Friday’s Games
Quarterfinals
Acadiana 7, Lafayette 1
Barbe 2, Dutchtown 1
Rummel 4, Hahnville 2
Jesuit 7, C.E. Byrd 6
Saturday’s Games
Semifinals
Rummel 4, Acadiana 1
Barbe 4, Jesuit 1
Sunday’s Game
Championship
Barbe 3, Rummel 2
Class 4A
at McMurry Park in Sulphur
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
Teurlings Catholic 10, Neville 5
Holy Cross 5, St. Thomas More 2
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Teurlings Catholic 11, Holy Cross 1
Class 3A
at McMurry Park in Sulphur
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
North DeSoto 2, E.D. White 1
Iowa 3, Loranger 0
Saturday’s Game
Championship
North DeSoto 7, Iowa 5
Class 2A
at La. Tech in Ruston
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
Calvary Baptist 3, Dunham 2
Riverside Academy 3, Evangel Christian 1
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Calvary Baptist 3, Riverside Academy 1
Class 1A
at La. Tech in Ruston
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
Central Catholic 3, Metairie Park-Country Day 0
Ouachita Christian 2, Mangham 1
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Ouachita Christian 10, Central Catholic 0
Class B
at McMurry Park in Sulphur
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
Forest 3, Converse 0
Hornbeck 6, Fairview 1
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Hornbeck 7, Forest 6, 10 innings
Class C
at McMurry Park in Sulphur
Friday’s Games
Semifinals
Claiborne Christian 3, Georgetown 1
Family Christian 9, Elizabeth 0
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Family Christian 7, Claiborn
Posted By: Debra Young On: 5/17/2012
Title: Poor Losers
The Barbe player also probably did that in response to that section of fans yelling "you suck" after Barbe won the game. That made Rummel look horrible, shame on those fans.
Posted By: Nancy Jones On: 5/16/2012
Title: POOR SPORTSMANSHIP
I too was at the game. The Barbe player who raised the trophy to the section of Rummel fans did not say a word. In fact, he probably did that in response to what those fans did during the entire game. That particular section in unison named each player's mother, girlfriend, or sister, in a chant saying " We want (insert name here)" or "( insert name here) was good last night" in an effort to rattle the Barbe players as they pitched or came up to bat. Talk about poor sportsmanship! Rummel is a Catholic school. Like it or not, Christian/Catholic schools are held to a higher standard by society because they are supposed to represent Christ. That day, those fans did nothing of the sort. They represented Rummel and all Rummel stands for VERY POORLY. Ultimately, the players are teenagers, and we all know teenagers are impulsive and sometimes do things without thinking it through first. However, I understand that section of Rummel fans were not teenagers but young adults, and if they were Rummel students, I am sure the administration has or did address it. I am very proud of the Barbe players for maintaing composure and winning the game despite the attempts of that section of fans.
Posted By: Joanna Theriot On: 5/14/2012
Title: Poor Sportsmanship
I was horridfied when i witnessed a Barbe player run over to the Rummel fans with the trophy and raise it and shake it in their faces. There are poor losers but that was a POOR WINNER. Shame on that kid. It made Barbe look terrible.
Posted By: Chris Riendeau On: 5/13/2012
Title: Barbe baseball
Glenn and Raissa Cecchini are the greatest teachers, coaches, human beings and leaders of young men that I know. Their record speaks for itself.
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