COVINGTON, LA  ̶  Thursday the Prep Baseball Report Louisiana scouting staff headed over to St. Paul’s high school, as the Wolves played a double header against West Ouachita HS at 4:30 PM and Ruston HS at 7:00 PM.

Louisiana State recruit, 2019 RHP Jacob Scherer (St. Paul’s HS, LA) faced off against Louisiana State recruit, 2019 RHP Thomas Wilhite (West Ouachita HS, LA) in the 4:30 PM matchup. Neither pitcher surrendered a run in their outings, however Scherer, and the Wolves, picked up the victory as the future Tiger collected seven strike outs in a complete game, one-hit shutout. Scherer attacked the strike zone all night with his fastball, pitching 85-88 mph with the offering. Although Wilhite got the no-decision, the physical right-hander was impressive for an early season contest, pitching 90-93 mph with his fastball, and showing increased sharpness and depth to his breaking ball. The future Tiger collected four strikeouts in four innings of work, allowing no runs on two hits.

The lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the 6^th, as 2018 OF Cameron Cluney (St. Paul’s HS, LA) reached base on an error to lead off the frame, then stole 2^nd base, and then moved to 3^rd base with one out. Louisiana State recruit, 2021 SS Connor Simon (St. Paul’s HS, LA) then sent a fly ball to left field deep enough that Cluney was able to tag and score, giving the Wolves the 1-0 advantage, and ultimately the win.

Offensively the Wolves also collected hits from 2019 OF Nick Vitale (St. Paul’s HS, LA) who finished the game 1-for-3, 2018 OF Grant Grosch (St. Paul’s HS, LA) who finished 1-for-3, and 2019 RHP/3B Jacob Scherer (St. Paul’s HS, LA) who finished 1-for-1.

The 7:00 PM matchup featured one of the country’s top prospects in Louisiana State recruit, 2018 C CJ Willis (Ruston HS, LA). A PBR Draft 100 prospect, the left-handed hitting catcher reached base in all six of his at-bats Thursday, ultimately finishing the day 2-for-3 with four runs scored, and a stolen base.

Ruston eventually defeated the Wolves, 11-5, in a wild contest that saw runs come in bunches late in the game. Down 4-0 heading into the bottom of the 6^th, St. Paul’s exploded for five runs on five hits, including a booming double off the left field wall by 2021 SS Connor Simon to take the lead 5-4. However, the Bearcats would answer with a run in the top of the 7^th, and the game would ultimately head to extra innings. In the top of the 8^th, the Bearcats offense would explode for six runs to take an 11-5 advantage, which would be the final scoring of the contest.

In addition to Willis, Ruston was led offensively by New Orleans recruit, 2018 SS Kasten Furr who finished the day 2-for-5 with a triple, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored, as well as, DH Parker Madden who finished the day 3-for-5 with a double, 1 RBI, and a run scored.

In game two, St. Paul’s was led offensively by 2019 3B Jacob Scherer who finished the contest 2-for-3 with a run scored, 2018 OF Grant Grosch who finished the contest 2-for-4 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored, 2021 SS Connor Simon who finished the contest 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, and 2018 DH Paul Gremillion who finished the contest 2-for-3.

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