Live from the 5A Semis: Jesuit wins 4-1, moves into finals

"I haven't pitched very much but I did what I can," said Lukinovich, who improved to 3-2. "My curveball and fastball were locating."

Lukinovich came on in relief Friday in Jesuit's 9-7 quarterfinal win over Acadiana, picking up the final two outs in that game.

"He's a tough kid," Jesuit head coach Tim Parenton said. "The big thing for him was the hit."

Lukinovich came through with a three-RBI double in the top of the fourth to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead.

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Stephen Lukinovich held Catholic off the board in the bottom of the sixth.

Here's the thing - we're a questionable call at first from this being a 0-0 game in the final inning of regulation. Instead, the guy was safe and Jesuit went on to score 4 runs in the fourth.

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Jesuit went down 1, 2, 3 in the top of the 6th. The Blue Jays are six outs from moving back into the finals of the 5A state tournament.

So far, pitcher Stephen Lukinovich has been brilliant, giving up only one hit, that coming in the second inning. No base runner has made it past second.

He has six outs left for a complete game.

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Stephen Lukinovich is playing beautiful baseball from the mound. But an error in the outfield almost destroyed the day.

It appears there's little communication in the field for Jesuit. The right fielder, Scott Cronin, charged in to catch a high fly to shallow right. Meanwhile, second baseman Cory Guidry retreated to catch the ball.

Instead, both ran into each other and the guy reached. Lukinovich walked the next batter, but then head coach Tim Parenton called time out. Brilliant move.

Lukinovich struck out the next two batters. Inning over. No damage done.

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Jesuit had three fly outs in the top of the fifth, but did get a double off of Ryan Lewis.

We'll see what Jesuit can do defensively this inning.

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I know much can change in 3 innings, but the way Stephen Lukinovich is pitching, it appears Jesuit has a strong shot at making the finals to defend its state championship.

In the bottom of the fourth, he picked up a pop out, a ground out and strike out. So far, he has given up only one hit and walked one. No Catholic runner has advanced past second.

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Just when it looked like this one was going to fly through to the end, Jesuit worked some runners on base, blew open the no-hitter and got the benefit of a questionable call that would have ended the inning with no runs.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Joe Palmer hit a sizzler to third. Catholic's third baseman threw home, getting Cory Guidry out at the plate. The catcher threw to first, attempting to get Palmer out. It appeared from up here Palmer was out, but he was called safe.

A batter later, Stephen Lukinovich roped a double to the gap, helping his cause out from the mound by bringing home three runners - Mason Katz, Joe Morse and Palmer.

Scott Cronin's single to left scored Lukinovich from second and gave Jesuit a 4-0 lead.

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We're looking at a pitching battle here in Denham Spring in Game 2 of the Class 5A semfinals.

Both Jesuit pitcher Stephen Lukinovich and Catholic starter Ryan Lewis are keeping batters in the dugouts.

Lewis is tossing a no-hitter, while Lukinovich is pitching a one-hitter and has walked one.

No runner has moved past second.

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Catholic pitcher Ryan Lewis is showing his mastery of the position from the mound this afternoon, keeping Jesuit guessing at the plate and off the bases.

So far, it's nine up, nine down for the Blue Jays.

Jesuit tried to manufacture a base runner when Scott Cronin put down a bunt down the first-base line, but Lewis got the ball and barehanded it to first to get the out.

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Catholic's second batter of the second inning picked up a single up the middle and advanced to second on a stolen base.

But that's it. Jesuit starter Stephen Lukinovich picked up three weak pop up outs to keep the game 0-0 heading into the third.

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So far, Catholic's pitcher has seen six batters, and all six batters have been sat down. He has four ground outs, a strike out and a fly out.

Jesuit pitcher Stephen Lukinovich has seen three batters, getting three fly outs.

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Catholic starting pitcher Ryan Lewis (7-1) is on top of his game today. He threw nothing but strikes in the top of the inning to begin the game. The result - two groundouts and a strike out.

None of the grounds were hit particularly hard. This could be a tough game for Jesuit today, not that three batters tell the story, especially at the beginning of a game.

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I'm here again at North Park in Denham Springs. Beautiful, but hot day at the park. Glad I'm up in the air conditioned press box.

I'll be coming to you again at each half inning.

Here are your lineups:
Jesuit (25-10)
Cory Guidry, second base
Chad Guidry, center field
Mason Katz, first base
Joe Morse, catcher
Joe Palmer, left field
Stephen Lukinovich, pitcher
Manny Estrada, short stop
Scott Cronin right field
Ethan Oddo, third base

Catholic-B.R. (33-6)
Micah Podorsky, third base
Gannon Arnold, second base
Austin Nola, short stop
Ryan Lewis, pitcher
Greg Judice, first base
Alex Facundus, right field
Matt Coye, left field
Christian Bonds, catcher
Spencer Horrell, center field