By Warren Arceneaux, American Press
Merryville’s month of May magic finally ran out as the defending state champions fell to a district rival in a Class 1A semifinal: Oberlin 5, Merryville 2.
Oberlin advances to play Kentwood in the championship game Tuesday.
The Panthers, who won the title as the 11th seed last year, was putting together another postseason run after pulling off upsets in the regional and quarterfinal rounds, but failed to get much going against Oberlin pitcher Trevor Rider, who went the distance to earn the win.
Merryville scored a single run in the fouth innning when Zach Cleveland singled, went to third on a Kole Royer double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blaise Duncan.
Oberlin took a 1-0 lead in the first when Seth Rider doubled and scored on an error. The Tigers tied the game in the third when Tyler Lamkin singled to score Aiden Reed.
In the fourth, the Tigers scored three runs to take the lead for good. Trevor Rider was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored on a single by Alex Fontenot. Fontenot scored on a single up the middle by Levi Peloquin. Kellon McCleon capped the rally with a RBI triple to center.
The Panthers added another run in the top of the seventh when Duncan led off with a single and scored on a two-out single by J.T. Gargis.
Royer had a pair of doubles to lead the Panthers.
Fontenot and Lamkin each had a pair of hits for Oberlin.
The Tigers win backed up the preseason pitch of head coach Greg Manuel, who told the team before the season they had a chance to compete for the state title.
The win was the third of the season for Oberlin over Merryville.
