GONZALES They lined up Wednesday for one final team photo at home to commemorate the moment. <\/p>\n
A year after a heartbreaking one-run setback on their home field, Ascension Christian celebrated its first postseason victory a 10-5 Division IV regional victory over St. Frederick with a joyous photo opportunity in front of the left field scoreboard. <\/p>\n
Its the best feeling in the world, Ascension Christian catcher Landon Ortego said. We made history. <\/p>\n
The No. 8 Lions (21-9) travel to No. 1 and defending Class 1A state champion Central Catholic of Morgan City, a 9-0 winner over False River, for a quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3. <\/p>\n
Ascension Christian hosted a playoff game for the second straight year, this time looking to make amends for a 5-4 loss to St. Edmund. <\/p>\n
The Lions trailed 2-0 after two innings after a potential big inning ended in a double play. <\/p>\n
When we got down at the beginning of the season, we kind of put our heads down and kind of gave up, ACHS first-year coach Conrad Gayle said. Our motto was from the first pitch until the last one: (every) pitch with a purpose. <\/p>\n
Ascension Christian responded in the third by batting around, taking a 6-2 lead they never relinquished. <\/p>\n
Mason Braud drove in the Lions, first run and a throwing error enabled Jacob Antie to tie the game at 2. Losing pitcher Weston Swanner balked in Braud and Ortego homered for the second time this season a two-run shot to left. <\/p>\n
No. 9 St. Frederick (18-11) made it 8-4 with a pair of runs in the fourth, but winning pitcher Nic Montalbano limited the Warriors to only one run in the sixth thereafter. <\/p>\n
Montalbano (7-3) allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned), walked one and struck out eight. <\/p>\n
ACHS, which piled up 12 hits led by Ortego (3-for-3) and shortstop Peyton Bahlinger (3-for-4, three stolen bases, RBI), stretched its lead to 10-4 with two runs in both the fourth and fifth. <\/p>\n
Ortego drove in his third run with a long single to right in the fourth, while a safety squeeze bunt from Josh Diez scored courtesy runner Jacob Bruder and Antie added an RBI single in the fifth. <\/p>\n
This was a great team win, Gayle said. Im so proud of every, single one of these guys and for this program because I knew we could take the next step and we took it. <\/p>\n
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Ascension Christian breaks through with first baseball playoff victory - The Advocate<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GONZALES They lined up Wednesday for one final team photo at home to commemorate the moment. Continue reading