Splitting the bill

Richie Mouret and Hunter Crochet each homered and Shawn Olivier scored two runs as the New Iberia Holiday Sporting Goods Cajuns opened the American Legion campaign Wednesday with a split of a double header against the Southland Hogs at Acadian Ballpark.

The Cajuns won the first game 6-3 but fell in the nightcap 10-0.

Mouret and Crochet each had two run blasts in the third inning as the Cajuns scored four runs to rally from a 2-1 deficit, taking a 5-2 lead and holding on for the win.

“We came out the first game and I talked earlier about the fact that we don’t seem to have much power this year but they proved me wrong,” said New Iberia head coach Shane Faucheaux.

“In the first game we played against kids more our age and in the second game we played against his college kids and that was the difference.

“We were just playing some guys that are older than us and have a little more experience than us.”

In the second game of the twin bill, the Hogs scored seven runs in the third and fourth innings to take the lead and held the Cajuns to two hits. The game was shortened to five innings.

“All in all in the first couple of game I thought we played well,” said Faucheaux.

Mouret and Crochet each had two hits in the first game. Olivier added a single and Jordan Derouen had an RBI double for the Cajuns.

Coby Landry, Lee Hebert and Kyle Hoffpauir each pitched two innings and Zane Migues pitched an inning in the first game.

Landry pitched two innings of no-hit ball, Hebert allowed two runs on two hits, Hoffpauir also pitched two innings of hitless ball and Migues allowed one run on four hits in the seventh.

In the second game, Matt Geoffroy and Mouret had the only hits of the game for the Cajuns while Myles McGhee, Derek Huval, Jordan Derouen and Mitch Dartez each pitched.

The Cajuns will play Rosepine in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and open District 3-Central play Tuesday at longtime rival Franklin.

“We’re going to give the kids off tomorrow (Thursday), have a little practice Friday then come out and try to win two on Saturday,” said Faucheaux.