The Jena Giants traveled to Westlake this past weekend in the second round of the Division III Non-Select baseball state playoffs. The #10 Giants defeated Port Allen in the first round while #7 Westlake had a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Westlake came in with a 21-11 record on the season. The two teams would play a three-game series to decide who would advance to the quarterfinal round.
On Friday, April 26, the two teams were scheduled to play at 6:00 at Westlake High School. But as fans arrived they realized that a power line had fallen to the ground. After much discussion on if the game could be played the teams could not get approval to play at Westlake due to the dangerous situation with the line down near the parking lot. The two teams agreed to move the game to Iowa which is about 10 miles east of Westlake and would start the game at 8:00 p.m. So, everyone packed up and made their way to Iowa High School. Finally, at 8:00 p.m., we were able to start the game.
The Giants would get on the board first as Zerrick Jones reached base on a walk and Cayden Mursch would hit a double to left field to score Jones and give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Westlake would answer with two runs in the bottom of the first and three runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
In the top of the third, Zerrick Jones would once again reach base on a walk and would come in to score on a throwing error by Westlake to make the score 5-2. Westlake would go on to score four runs and would win the game 9-2. Cayden Mursch and Collin Jensen got the Giants only hits in the game as they both had a hit each.
On Saturday, April 27, the two teams would meet for Game 2 of the series. Westlake would have to win one game to advance while the Giants would have to win Game 2 to force a Game 3, winning both of those to advance.
Jena would be the home team for Game 2 and the two teams would return to Westlake High School for the second game. Westlake would score one run in the first and two in the top of the second to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Zoyle Gemar would hit a long homerun over the left field fence to put the Giants on the board. Collin Jensen would hit a double to left field to score Hayden Williams and the Giants would pull to within one at 3-2.
In the top of the fifth, Westlake would score a run to make it 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth Jena would answer as Zerrick Jones would come in to score on an RBI single by Brayden Oakes. Westlake would go on to score one run in the sixth and three in the seventh to go on to win 8-3.
Freshman Collin Jensen pitched very well for the Giants as he pitched all seven innings and had three strikeouts. Zoyle Gemar finished one for three with a homerun and an RBI. With the win Westlake advanced to the quarterfinal round where they will take on the Sterlington Panthers.
Congratulations to Head Coach Clay Mc-Guffee and his entire staff on another great season of Jena Giants baseball.
