Ned Eades Field was packed Tuesday afternoon as inner-city rivals Northshore and Slidell met to determine the 7-5A district champion in the regular-season finale. Both came in with 10-3-district records, but in the end, the Panthers took advantage of Slidell errors for a thrilling 7-5 victory and the district title. The Panthers had just four hits, two by Andrew Cosse, who drove in three runs.

Northshore heads into the playoffs with a 21-12 overall record, while Slidell is 17-9-1 going into postseason.

Northshore coach Rick Mauldin said the game was a win-win for the city of Slidell no matter who won the contest.

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"This is absolutely fantastic. The entire community of Slidell wanted this," Mauldin said. "What a finale for the seniors on both teams. This is a wonderful thing for everybody."

The game came down to the sixth inning. The Tigers had come back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game at 3-3 with a run each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Sean Nelson replaced starting pitcher Shane Riedie, who threw 108 pitches in five innings, but Nelson struggled as the Panthers answered SHS' run with a four spot in their half of the frame. Northshore pitcher Ryan Eades led off by reaching on an error. Taylor Campbell was hit, and Steven Comeaux advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line.

Nelson came back to strikeout the next hitter. Andrew Bates followed with a walk to load the bases. Then sophomore Chase Compton, who was 0-for-3 coming into the plate appearance, hit an RBI infield single to shortstop on a 1-2 count to score Eades and give NHS a 4-3 advantage.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Compton said. "I was trying to relax up there."

He added his excitement in being the District 7-5A champion.

"Words can't explain it. I've been dreaming about this since I was a little kid," Compton said.

After Compton's hit, with the bases still loaded, Chad Gough-Fortenberry provided some insurance by splitting the right-center field gap and getting a three-run double to giving his squad a 7-3 lead.

"Coach Mauldin, before the at bat, called timeout and told me if the pitch was there, just drive it. It was an inside curveball that didn't break that much. I just drove it where I was supposed to drive it. I knew it was a base hit right when I hit it," Gough-Fortenberry said.

Gough-Fortenberry added that he was proud of the way the team played.

"I was happy for the team. The team did really well, and I'm glad we came through with the district championship," Gough Fortenberry said.

Despite leading 7-3 heading to the seventh, things got a little too close for comfort for Panther fans. Eades came out for the seventh and retired the leadoff batter. Then he gave up singles to Chad Livingston and Shane Riedie. Catcher Lance Swearns walked to fill the bases, ending Eades' day.

Cody Deckwa came in from first base to pitch. With the potential tying run at the plate, he hit Nelson to start, scoring Livingston. Randal Meyer collected an RBI fielder's choice. Then Deckwa came back to strike out Blake Forbis and earn his first save of the season.

SHS coach Sam Abney said mistakes cost his team.

"You make four errors in a big game, you get beat, that's the bottom line," Abney said. "They got four hits, two by Cosse. He had some big hits, but if we take care of what we're supposed to, there isn't anybody on base both times he gets up. The errors and the walks will beat you anytime."

Things didn't start out well for Northshore as Slidell took a 1-0 lead when James Davis, who posted two hits, homered to left-center field.

Northshore responded with two in the bottom of the first. Andrew Bates led off with a walk, and with two outs, Deckwa was hit.

Cosse came up and drove both of them in with a double. Eades tried to make it 4-1 as he belted a pitch to center field, but Shad de St. Germain leaped and robbed Eades of a two-run homer.

NHS went ahead 3-1 in the third when Gough-Fortenberry reached on an error and courtesy runner Jean-Luc Desselle advanced to second on a wild pitch. Deckwa walked and an errant pickoff throw by Riedie advanced the runners for Cosse, who came up with an RBI single.

Slidell tied the game before NHS had the big sixth inning.

Eades (4-3), who threw 119 pitches, got the win, going six and a third innings and giving up five runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.

Eades pitches in a ballpark named after his late father, Ned, and he also wears his dad's number 37.

"It means a lot that I got to pitch on my dad's field in the district championship," Eades said. "I'm just very happy for the team that we were able to get a district championship for him."