Cane Cutters News

YOUNGSVILLE, LA - The Acadiana Cane Cutters completed their second sweep of the season, shutting out the visiting Victoria Generals (2-3) 6-0 to improve to 5-1 this summer. The Lafayette team sits atop the TCL with the best overall record and highest winning streak, having won their last five matchups back-to-back. 

Gavin LeBlanc was a major asset on the mound in his first outing this season. The John Melvin Miller collected six strikeouts and gave up just a single hit through the first five innings of play, walking away with his first win. LeBlanc is in his second year with the Cane Cutters, making him one of the seven returners on this year’s squad. In 2023, he threw 21.1 innings across his seven appearances, finishing with a 5.90 ERA. His ERA through one game this summer sits at a strong 0.00.

Fellow slingers Noah Melancon (1.0 IP), Carson Fair (1.0 IP), and Hank Howard (2.0 IP) combined to collect four more strikeouts, contributing to the team’s total 10 that night. They allowed just three more hits by the Generals through the final four innings.

Tanner Hornback walked in for Acadiana’s first run as General Will Johnson issued his third free base of the inning in the bottom of the third. Caleb Ougel and Ashton Quiller tack on two more after Dylan Biddick singled into right field. Biddick improved to four RBI on the season, the second highest on the team behind Bennett Mittelsteadt’s seven. 

Mark Collins extended the Cane Cutters’ lead to four runs by stealing on a passed ball in the fourth inning. Right behind him is Hornback, who scores another on an RBI single from Ashton Quiller. 

Hornback added Acadiana’s sixth and final run in the eighth inning, pushed across after Biddick was hit at the plate with bases loaded. Victoria’s pitching staff issued a total of 12 free bases in the second game and 22 total throughout the series. Starting pitcher Will Johnson (0-1) was charged with the loss.

The Cane Cutters were electric on the basepath as well: they stole seven bags on the night, with Bryce Calloway and Hornback taking two each. Calloway leads the team with a total of eight stolen bases, contributing to the team’s current 22 overall.

The Acadiana Cane Cutters will hit the road to take on the Victoria Generals in a two-game stint June 6-7 in Victoria, TX before returning home to face the Baton Rouge Rougarou June 8-9. All of these games can be streamed live on TCL TV.

Fans can keep up with the Cane Cutters on X (@CanecuttersBB), Instagram (@canecutters.bslb), and Facebook (@Acadiana Cane Cutters Baseball).

Special thanks to Sports Writer Maddy Branning