Three picture piles are on the cd, )(2) ZHS

							Zachary’s Ben Hernandez is 8-2 on the mound and is hitting .428 with 34 RBIs and 37
steals.

Teurlings eyes Zachary’s title

      By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
      Advocate sportswriter
      Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 8C - UPDATED: 12:40 a.m.

Last year, Zachary High made a big splash by winning its first Class 4A state title
in baseball. Teurlings Catholic would like to emulate that feat.
There is one major problem — No. 2-seeded Teurlings (30-3) takes on No. 4
Zachary (25-14) in the first semifinal game at the Louisiana High School Athletic
Association’s Class 4A baseball tournament today.
Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Shreveport’s Fair Grounds Field. Top-seeded
Neville-Monroe (33-5) plays Archbishop Shaw-Marrero (25-13-1) in the other 4A
semifinal at 7 p.m.
“The make up of our team is different than it was last year,” Zachary coach
Jesse Cassard said. “We play a lot more small ball. We’re all about running and
trying to get guys in scoring position. Considering the size of this field, that’s the
right approach to have. But then Teurlings does a lot of same things, too.”
Teurlings is a team coached by ex-Notre Dame of Crowley head coach Mike
Thibodeaux, a former assistant at both Catholic High and Redemptorist.
Thibodeaux knows the Rebels, who moved up from Class 3A this year, are the
new kids on the 4A block.
A Church Point native, Thibodeaux took over in January after a two-year stint at
Kentucky’s Henry County High located outside Louisville.
“My goodness, there were so many questions before the year started,”
Thibodeaux said. “I wasn’t sure how it would work. This was an experienced
team with a new coach. And the teams in 4A are all different.
“Right now, I feel like we’re playing some of our best baseball. We’ve won 19
straight games. We’re pitching well, playing good defense and executing on
offense which is what you need.”
Cassard says his Zachary team is also peaking at the right time, something that
wasn’t guaranteed when the Broncos started the season with a rash of injuries, a
tough schedule and 10-12 record.
“I had one reporter ask me how it feels to play with a bull’s-eye on your back all
year,” Cassard said. “Even though this was a different team, I guess we did have
that bull’s-eye on us and I think it helped.
“We have 14 losses, but I think we learned something from every single one of
them. We faced everybody’s top pitcher and took their best shot. I think that
helped make us better for the playoffs.”
Though not quite as gaudy as Teurlings’ win streak, the Broncos have won 15 of
their last 17 games, including three playoff games.
There will be no shortage of star power. Junior pitcher-shortstop Zack Von
Rosenberg of Zachary is committed to LSU. Von Rosenberg is 11-1 on the
mound and is hitting .424 with 32 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases.
Ben Hernandez (8-2) is the other pitcher-shortstop for ZHS and is hitting .428
with 34 RBIs and 37 steals. Catcher Jacob Fisher is hitting .411 with a school-
record 11 home runs and 49 RBIs. Infielder Joe Martin is at .409 and has 48
RBIs.
Teurlings counters with a lineup led by Alabama signee Taylor Dugas, a center
fielder hitting .640 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs. Outfielder-pitcher Alex Fuselier
(9-0) is a University of Louisiana at Lafayette signee and will likely get the start
today. Dugas and closer Steven Thomas are other TCHS pitchers.
Third baseman Tyler Girouard (.568), shortstop Jordan Bourque (.521, 30 RBIs)
and second baseman Garrett Maxwell (.450) are other top hitters.
Cassard and Thibodeaux both agree that the key to the game will be how well
each team handles the offensive pressure the other applies.
“We both have pitchers who are capable of dominating,” Cassard said. “If that
happens, it will be a different type of game for both of us.
“Putting pressure on the other team’s defense is the key to what we do. We’ll
bunt, put the ball in play and try to get the other team to make mistakes.”
Thibodeaux adds, “Zachary is a team with a lot of big-game experience. I know
they’ll come in ready to play. I think we will, too.”