One brother is an ace pitcher. The other is a spirited catcher and captain.
When they’re both on the field for Saint Louis, they’re playing catch on every pitch. Not many siblings can say that.
“I’m older by 17 months,” Crusaders senior catcher Taylor Meilleur said after Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Mid-Pacific at Central Oahu Regional Park. “Sometimes with his height, it feels like we’re the same age. I’m 5-9, 5-10 on a good day. He’s 6-0 or 6-1. I try not to know that number. I pretend I’m the same height.”
He’s referring to his brother, junior Chase Meilleur, one of the top pitchers in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu who lost in the two-run duel to the Owls’ Alex Oley on Saturday.
Chase, a righty, scattered 10 hits and fell victim to Mid-Pacific’s small ball. Taylor had Saint Louis’ only hit, a double in the first, but he was doubled off second on a pop out that appeared as if it would drop.
After only putting one runner on base, George Gusman, the Crusaders’ head coach, thinks he’ll be making some changes in the lineup, since the team has only scored four runs in its past three games.
“We went through a spell in the preseason where we struggled offensively and it looks like it’s come back around,” Gusman said. “We haven’t practiced (much). Tuesday, we practiced. We played games Wednesday and Thursday, did not practice on Good Friday and played today. Monday, we play again (resumption of a suspended game against Punahou). We’re due for some changes and we’ll look at what we need to do. We’ve tried to give seniors some rope, but it’s not happening and we’ve gotta give some other guys opportunity. It’s tough in the middle of the season to put somebody in that hasn’t played, but we owe it to them to give it a try. We’re knocking our heads on the door and the door is not opening, so we’ve got to do something.”
Taylor Meilleur talked about shakeups to the lineup in general.
“We’ve had some shakeups (already),” he said. “We’re all trying our best, all putting in our extra work. Baseball is a funny game … we just need to power through and stay together as a team and family. … Every game is going to be tough, so we just gotta come ready to play.
“Every year, we talk about (winning the ILH and states). I was on the 2014 team when we won it all. It was such a great experience. I know we have the ability. We just gotta come through and keep playing like we can, stay confident. Here at Saint Louis, we’re a family and we’ve gotta remember that. Circle the wagons and stay together.”
The loss to Mid-Pacific put the Crusaders (6-3) in third place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, behind the Owls (7-3) and Kamehameha (7-3).
Saint Louis has a 1-0 lead in the suspended game against Punahou (6-4) that will resume Monday in the top of the fourth at 3:45 p.m. at Ala Wai Community Park.
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