STERLINGTON, La. — The wins keep coming for the Diamond ‘Cats of Ruston High.
Now winning their eighth game in a row, the Bearcats (14-6, 2-0 District 2-5A) most recently knocked off Sterlington 5-3 Tuesday night, the top team in Non-Select, Division III, on the road.
For Ruston High head coach Bryan Beck, his team’s success is driven in large part by the pride the players and coaches are feeling for the program.
“This was a big time win for our ball club and our school,” Beck said. “We’re really proud to be Ruston Bearcats, and we don’t take that for granted when we wear it across our chest. Every time we take the field, we try to represent our school and our community in the best way we can. You’re starting to see a bunch of kids believe in that same thing. And there’s just some tough dudes on our team. We got a bunch of guys who can play the game the right way.
“We went with a different lineup tonight, and the nine guys we put on the board are the nine everybody in that dugout believes in day in, day out. We’re just playing with a lot of confidence right now. “
The Bearcats opened with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after junior Lander Smith hit a single to left field to score junior Jackson Lee, which was followed by sophomore John Parker Moak grounding out to second and scoring senior Peyton Martin.
After Sterlington got on the board in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1, neither team would plate any runs until the top of the sixth. Ruston would get a pair of runs to take a 4-1 lead — first after senior Jake Simmons grounded out to shortstop to score Moak from third base. Junior Hudson Wood would single in the next at-bat to score sophomore Dillion Williams.
Sterlington answered with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Bearcat lead to 4-3. Ruston, however, would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning after Martin singled to center field and scored Lee for the 5-3 win.
Sophomore Tyler Roach got the start on the mound for Ruston, throwing five innings, striking out two batters and giving up two earned runs.
“Tyler had a big time start again for us,” Beck said. “He started a week ago against North DeSoto, and he knocked off that really good team, and then he went on the road tonight. We’ve had a tough time with (Sterlington) over the last few years. They’re a really good baseball team over there. (Sterlington head coach Mark) Sims does an incredible job with those guys. We saw an LSU-commit on the mound in Devyn Downs, and we were just locked in and attacked him.”
Bearcat senior Samuel Specht came in to relieve Roach after five innings and got Ruston out of a bases load jam and finished the game off.
Beck also highlighted Simmons, who gave quality at-bats despite not registering an official hit while making great plays in the outfield.
“Jake had a lot of quality at-bats,” Beck said. “He had a big-time RBI for us on a fielder’s choice, and he made a game-changing (defensive) play to lay out down the right field line on a line drive in the bottom of the seventh and catch a ball to prevent Sterlington from getting some momentum.”
Both Lee and senior Carter Love finished with multiple hits on the night for the Bearcats.
Ruston will try to extend its streak and resume district play Thursday, March 20, against Neville for Bearcat Buddy Night at home.
“We’re confident, and we’re relaxed,” Beck said. “The kids love the game and we’re tough, man. And we’re Ruston Bearcats and we’re proud of it.”
