Pilots cruise to first GCAC Tournament Championship
May 06, 2006
The LSUS Pilots played host to the 2006 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and used their home field advantage to claim their first GCAC Tournament Championship. The Pilots never trailed in the tournament and advanced to Saturday’s championship game by defeating the William Carey College Crusaders 11-2 Friday night. LSUS knocked off the No. 1 seeded Belhaven College Blazers 7-2 in the finals, and won the season series five games to two. The Pilots were 4-0 in the tourney and outscored their opponents 37-10 on the week.
Pilots senior Tyler Lewis toed the rubber for the Pilots and threw the biggest game of his four year career. Lewis scattered five hits and walked just one en route to a complete game 7-2 victory. The 6’2 right hander from Haynesville, LA held the Blazers scoreless through 7.0 innings, but a two out double by David Gilbert scored Forrest Rollins who doubled to right-center field to lead off the inning which cut the Pilots lead to 5-1. BC Rollins scored after a defensive miscue by Pilot infielder Bryan Cooksey who misplayed a Thomas Royals ground ball for the Blazers second run.
The Pilots opened the scoring in the top of the 4th after Tyler Williams led off the inning with a bunt base hit and promptly stole second. Williams advance to third on a Steffan Primeaux ground out, and scored on a Riley Cook sacrifice fly giving the Pilots a 1-0 lead.
Brent Lavalee led off the top of the 5th with a solo blast to left field of Blazers starter Robert Young to give the Pilots a 2-0 lead. Young responded with two quick outs but walked Dusty Maddox with two outs. Williams followed with a single to center field to advance Maddox to third but a bubble by Shawn Anderson opened the door for Maddox to keep heading for home and he scored just ahead of the relay throw. Williams advanced to third on the play and scored on an RBI single by Riley Cook making the score 4-0.
Back-to-back doubles by Lavalle and Cooksey in the 6th accounted for the Pilots 5th run, and a two RBI single by Primeaux in the top of the 9th stretched the Pilots lead to 7-2 which proved to be the final score as Lewis tossed a scoreless 9th which ended in an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, and putting the lock on the Pilots GCAC Tournament Championship.
Williams led the Pilots offense going 4-5 with three runs scored and two stolen bases while Lavalee finished 2-3 including a solo homerun in the 5th.
With the win the Pilots improve to 38-21 on the year and guaranteed themselves a spot in next week’s Region XIII Tournament which will be held in Montgomery, AL. The six team double elimination tournament will begin Wednesday. Game times and schedules will be announced Monday, May 8th.
