Notre Dame dominates 5-AAA All-District team

CROWLEY – The Notre Dame Pioneers have been the dominant force in District 5-AAA the last two years, winning the league title both years in impressive fashion.

So it should come as no surprise that the Pios dominate the selections on the 2011 5-AAA All-District team which was selected by the league’s coaches.

The Pios nailed down seven spots on the first team and claimed the top two individual awards - Coach of the Year Timmy Robichaux and Most Valuable Player Austin Robichaux.

“This was the third straight district title for this group,” said coach Robichaux, who has won the Coach of the Year honor now for four straight years. “We played very good, especially early on. We didn’t play quite as well offensively in the back half of the district, but we still did very good throughout the whole district season.”

Robichaux guided Notre Dame to 16 straight victories to start the season. Following a loss to Class 4A St. Louis, the Pios went on an eight-game winning streak that ended with a 2-1 loss to Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.

They then went on to win their final six regular-season games and earn the No. 1 seed in the Class AAA playoffs where they were eliminated by eventual state champion Livonia in the quarterfinals.

Of Notre Dame’s three losses, two were against eventual state champions - Class 4A St. Louis and Class 3A Livonia .

The Pios’ final record of 32-3 was not only the best record in the state in all classes, but it also set a school record for most wins in a season.

“We were the only team in the state, in any classification, to win 32 games this year,” said Robichaux. “For our record to end up what it is, with the schedule that we play and just the uncertainty of the game of baseball, I think that’s a great accomplishment.”

Coach Robichaux’s nephew, Austin Robichaux, played a big role in the Pios’ success.

The senior hurler/shortstop went 10-1 on the season with a mind boggling 0.37 earned run average. Robichaux, who also had one save to his credit, gave up just 28 hits while striking out 98 and walking 13 in 75 innings of work.

The UL-Lafayette signee was also a threat at the plate, hitting a team-high .419 with a slugging percentage of .675. He finished the season with 11 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 48 runs driven in.

“We kind of knew and saw his potential and development as a pitcher, but I think what helped us the most was the hitting side with him this year,” said Robichaux. “He really improved as a hitter. And hitting in the four-hole behind Connor (Goss), it was real important that he have a good year.

“Coming off a year that Connor had, we were afraid that we wouldn’t be able to protect him. But that’s the thing that Austin did for us besides all his accomplishments on the mound.”

Austin is joined on the first-team pitching staff by teammate Mitch Corzine.

Corzine,went 9-0 on the season with an ERA of 1.53. He struck out 46 and walked 15 in 64 innings of work.

“Mitch has always been a battler and he just has the mental toughness and the guts,” said Robichaux. “He might not have as much pitchability as Austin has, but what he lacks there a little bit, he makes up for it with his guts to get up there and battle people. And he’s had some wins against some big teams early in the season.”

Corzine, like Robichaux, was also a tough out at the plate. The Nicholls State signee hit .355 from the two-hole with two doubles, two triples and four RBI. He also had 14 stolen bases.

Erath’s Rynn Touchet and North Vermilion’s Colby Roy are the other first-team pitchers.

Goss is also a repeat performer, earning a spot at third base for the second straight season. The junior slugger was second on the team behind Robichaux with a .391 average. He also had a .652 slugging percentage to go along with 40 RBI, 12 doubles, three triples and four home runs.

“Connor had a great year last year and sometimes it tough because of that sophomore jinx and you don’t do as well the next year,” said Robichaux. “That wasn’t the case for him this year. He did really good. I think, from a mental standpoint, it’s probably not the year he thinks he’s capable of having, but what he had to understand is that they knew about him this year. He’s in the three-hole so he was pitched so much harder. So with all that involved, to still hit .391 with 40 RBI is really a fantastic year.”

Junior Nick Gossen also made the squad at shortstop after hitting .310 with five doubles, one triple, one home run and 19 RBI.

Gossen was also part of Notre Dame’s pitching rotation, going 5-2 with one save. He had an ERA of 2.02 to go along with 33 strikeouts in 45 innings.

“Nick really did a great job this year,” said Robichaux. “He is going to project out to be a very good pitcher and will be a real good No. 1 for us next year. He has a lot of upside to him as a pitcher.”

Also making the team on the infield was Abbeville catcher R.J. Frederick, Erath first baseman Scott Duplantis and second baseman Joshua Pillette.

Notre Dame’s Luke Bourgeios made the unit in the outfield along with Erath’s Mikey Seymour and Kaplan’s Josh Green.

Bourgeois hit .374 from the leadoff spot with eight doubles, three triples, 17 RBI and a team-high 16 stolen bases.

“Luke had a really good year for us, which means the leadoff is getting on a lot,” said Robichaux. “He really helped us in the leadoff spot and played great in the outfield, making so many hard catches.”

Ricky Stoma, another Pio outfielder, grabbed a spot as a utility player after hitting .318 with four doubles, four triples, one home run, 17 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

“Ricky already was a great outfielder, but on the hitting side, he made good advances as a hitter,” said Robichaux. “Just two years ago, he was being DH’ed for. So to come from that and move himself up from nine to six (in the lineup) and hit .318, he definitely had a lot of improvement at the plate.”

Other utility players include Erath’s Jimmy Jordan, Kaplan’s Matt Greene, Abbeville’s Brett meaux and North Vermilion’s Brylan Suire.

Notre Dame’s Pete Petitjean, Peyton McBride and Brennan Corzine each made the second team.

“The biggest thing with Peyton was his developement as a hitter, pitcher and outfielder,” said Robichaux. “And Pete, just the energy that he brought to the team was the most valuable thing about him.

“And Brennon, just stepping up and having to get back there and handle Austin . He got better as the season went on and really did a good job at catcher for being just thrown in there as a sophomore.”

The second team pitching staff consists of Kaplan’s Justin Broussard, Erath’s Peter Broussard, North Vermilion’s Donald Comeaux and Abbeville’s Ross Duhon.

Kaplan’s Steven Sparkman is the second unit catcher while the infield is made up of Petitjean at first base, Kaplan’s Trey Choate at second, North Vermilion’s Justin Champange at third and North Vermilion’s Landon Duprey at shortstop.

McBride is joined in the outfield by North Vermilion’s Kayne Hargrave and Kaplan’s Teal Richard.

Corzine is listed as a utility player along with Abbeville’s Jon Eric Clostio, Erath’s Brett Delcambre, Kaplan’s Matt Landry and Rayne’s Tyler Lejean.

Notre Dame’s Gavin Bourgeois, Luke Broussard, Ross Holston and Matt Venable were tabbed to the honorable mention list as well as Rayne’s Andrew Abshire, Aaron Chaisson, Billy Marcantel, Grant Menard and Jacob Stelly.

Erath’s Quentin Blanchard, Tyler Broussard, Coy Clostio and Eric Mallet also made the honorable mention list along with North Vermilion’s Trey Broussard and Abbeville’s Logan Landry and Ethan Dubois.

First Team

Pos. Name School Cl. Avg.

P Austin Robichaux Notre Dame Sr. 3-0

P Mitch Corzine Notre Dame Sr. 4-0

P Colby Roy N. Vermilion Jr. 2-3

P Rynn Touchet Erath Sr. 5-0

C R.J. Frederick Abbeville Sr. .287

1B Scott Duplantis Erath Sr. .387

2B Joshua Pillette Erath Sr. .441

3B Connor Goss Notre Dame Jr. .429

SS Nick Gossen Notre Dame Jr. .364

OF Luke Bourgeois Notre Dame Sr. .375

OF Mikey Seymour Erath Sr. .333

OF Josh Greene Kaplan Sr. .428

UT Ricky Stoma Notre Dame Sr. .346

UT Jimmy Jordan Erath So. 323

UT Matt Greene Kaplan Sr. .424

UT Brett Meaux Abbeville Sr. .429

UT Brylan Suire N. Vermilion So. .323

Most Valuable Player: Austin Robichaux, Notre Dame

Coach of the Year: Timmy Robichaux, Notre Dame

Second Team

P Justin Broussard Kaplan Jr. N/A

P Peter Broussard Erath Jr. N/A

P Donald Comeaux N. Vermilion 8th N/A

P Ross Duhon Abbeville So. N/A

C Steven Sparkman Kaplan Sr. N/A

1B Pete Petitjean Notre Dame Sr. .329

2B Trey Choate Kaplan Jr. N/A

3B Justin Champange N. Vermilion Sr. N/A

SS Landon Duprey N. Vermilion Jr. N/A

OF Kayne Hargrave N. Vermilion Sr. N/A

OF Peyton McBride Notre Dame Sr. .295

OF Teal Richard Kaplan Jr. N/A

UT Brennan Corzine Notre Dame So. .275

UT Jon Eric Closito Abbeville Jr. N/A

UT Brett Delcambre Erath Fr. N/A

UT Matt Landry Kaplan Jr. N/A

UT Tyler Lejean Rayne Fr. N/A

Honorable Mentions: Notre Dame’s Gavin Bourgeois, Luke Broussard, Ross Holston, Matt Venable; Rayne’s Andrew Abshire, Aaron Chaisson, Billy Marcantel, Grant Menard, Jacob Stelly; Erath’s Quentin Blanchard, Tyler Broussard, Coy Clostio, Eric Mallet; North Vermilion’s Trey Broussard; Abbeville’s Logan Landry and Ethan Dubois.

*Stats on the chart are from district games only.