HAMMOND – Bogalusa took a “wild” win over Hammond in the Little League 11-12 year-old District Tournament July 2 at Stire Field.

Bogalusa scored four runs on wild pitches and stole home for another in wrapping up the district title with a 9-2 victory.

Bogalusa, which opened the tournament with wins over Hammond and Amite, now advances to the state tournament beginning July 20 in Alexandria.

Bogalusa’s Jalen Jefferson held Hammond to two runs and three hits over the first 5 1/3 innings. He walked three while striking out 10.

Bogalusa staked him to a 2-0 lead in the first as Errol Varnado lined a two-out triple to center and scored on a wild pitch. Jo’Mon Roberts then reached on a wild pitch while striking out, stole second and came around on two more wild pitches.

Hammond pulled to within 2-1 in the second after Jacob Bordok drew a two-out walk, stole second, then raced around on a throwing error on the play.

Bogalusa used another two-out rally to get the run back in the third. Roberts singled to right and went to third as Jefferson reached on a throwing error. Pinch-runner Desmond Harry then drew the throw on a steal of second, allowing Roberts to steal home to make it 3-1.

Xavier Moses opened the Bogalusa fourth with a walk and pinch-runner James Williams came around on three wild pitches to extend the lead to 4-1.

Bogalusa broke the game open with five runs in the fifth. JaQuarius Baham doubled to left with one out and scored as Varnado reached on an error. Roberts followed with an RBI double to right-center. One out later, Roberts scored on a wild pitch before Moses doubled to center. After Gary Crumedy and Williams walked to load the bases, Sylas McGowan singled to second to plate Williams. Harry drew another walk to force in Crumedy to make it 9-1.

Hammond got back on the board with a run in its half of the inning. Basil Williams led off with a single to second and advanced on a throwing error. One out later, Williams scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-2.

Travis Varnado drew a one-out walk in the sixth but Errol Varnado came in to close out the win.

In the opening game of the tournament on June 29, Roberts and Jefferson had back-to-back home runs in a six-run second inning as the Bogalusa out-slugged Hammond 16-11.

Jacob Bordok and Travis Varnado also had consecutive home runs in the sixth for Hammond but it was not enough to overcome a 14-hit attack by Bogalusa.

Bogalusa jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead after loading the bases as Varnado and Jefferson walked and Roberts was hit by a pitch. Two runs scored as Moses reached on an error and two more came in on an error on Crumedy’s single to third.

Bogalusa added six runs in the second. Baham led off with a bunt single and Varnado doubled to left before Roberts lined a three-run shot over the right-center field wall. Jefferson followed with a drive high over the right field wall to make it 8-0. Crumedy later singled and scored on a wild pitch. Bobby Robinson walked and came in on a ground out by Williams to give Bogalusa a 10-0 lead.

Roberts drew a two-out walk and scored on Jefferson’s double to left-center to make it 11-0 in the third.

Hammond rallied with seven runs in its half of the inning. John Francis started the inning with a walk and scored on Basil Williams’ triple to center. Williams came in as Jordan Wyble walked. After Trent Swift walked, courtesy runner Taj Banks scored as Travis Varnado reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Reggie Griffin walked and Isaiah Simpson reached on an error to score Varnado. Griffin and Simpson both came in as CJ Austin grounded out to first, cutting the deficit to 11-7.

Bogalusa came back with a run in the fourth as Charles Allen reached on an error and scored on Baham’s two-out single in front of the plate. Roberts led off the fifth with a single and scored on Crumedy’s two-out single to left to build the lead to 13-7.

A walk by Patrick Davis and a wild pitch got Hammond back on the board in the bottom of the fifth.

Bogalusa tacked on three runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Roberts and Moses and an error.

Swift led off the bottom of the inning with a double and scored on Bordok’s home run to right. Varnado followed with a shot over the center field wall to make it 16-11. But Roberts struck out the next three batters to end the game.

Crumedy had four hits for Bogalusa while Baham and Roberts had three apiece.

Bogalusa advanced to the title game with a rout of Amite on Saturday.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Star