Lutcher blanks Iowa in semifinals
Published 1:05 am Thursday, May 9, 2024
Lutcher's Marshall Louque hits three-run home run in the first inning of the Bulldogs 5-0 win over Iowa on Wednesday in the nonselect Division II semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
Iowa third baseman Tyler Lavergne went 2 for 3 on Wednesday in a 5-0 loss to Lutcher in the nonselect Division II semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
Iowa's Cole Corbello throws a pitch during the Yellow Jackets' 5-0 loss to Lutcher in the nonselect Division II semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur on Wednesday. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
Lutcher's Marshall Louque pitched a complete game shutout to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-0 win over Iowa on Wednesday in the nonselect Division II semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
Lutcher's Chaduthaddeus Carter dives back to the bag before Iowa first baseman Reggie Ball can apply the tag on Wednesday at McMurry Park in Sulphur. Lutcher beat Iowa 5-0 in the nonselect Division II semifinals. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
SULPHUR — No. 12 Iowa’s chance at defending its nonselect Division II state championship ended at the hands of Marshall Louque and No. 1 Lutcher on Wednesday in the semifinals at the LHSAA state baseball tournament at McMurry Park.
Louque pitched a complete game shutout in the 5-0 win and contributed at the plate as well.
Louque, an LSU commitment, hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to put the Bulldogs (30-7) up early.
“Play that game 10 times, I like our chances, but they got us fair and square today,” Iowa head coach Daniel Hennigan said. “I think we were really close.
“It is just playing down by three makes it a little tough. We had a game plan. We made a lot of solid contact. I think if it is a 0-0 game or a 1-1 game, things go quite a bit different for us offensively.”
Iowa had a runner in scoring position in two of the first three innings, including Tyler Dartez’s two-out triple in the third inning, but was shut out for the first time this season.
“I think our guys are tough enough to overcome that,” Hennigan said. “I don’t think the three runs made them cash out, but it changes the baseball side of things.
“Louque can get more aggressive and get ahead more. That is kind of the opposite of our game plan.”
Iowa (22-13) tried to rally in the top of the seventh inning when Tyler Lavergne and Reed Dupre led off with back-to-back singles, but Louque struck out three consecutive batters to end the game. Louque struck out eight batters and walked one.
After consecutive trips to the state tournament, Iowa will lose eight seniors but return five starters in 2025.
“I am super proud of these guys, especially the eight seniors being able to navigate a whole bunch of adversity, injuries, family members passing away this week and just all sorts of bad stuff over the course of their career and they are tough enough,” Hennigan said. “They are not necessarily the flashiest group by any stretch of the imagination, but No. 1 they are our group and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
“And No. 2, there is a little bit like a coat of many colors in them. Individually not particularly exceptional, but when you put them all together the results speak for themselves. You have a chance in May, you upset somebody and you get a chance in Sulphur, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Iowa 000 000 0 — 0-5-1
LHS 301 001 x — 5-8-1
PITCHING: W — Marshall Louque. L — Cole Corbello.
TOP HITTERS: Iowa — Tyler Lavergne 2-3, Tyler Dartez 1-3 (triple). Lutcher — Brock Louque 2-4 (2 runs), Marshall Louque 1-3 (run, 3 RBI, HR).
RECORDS: Iowa — 22-13. Lutcher — 30-7.
