CROWLEY – The Notre Dame Pioneers are one step closer to their ultimate goal of winning a state championship.

Notre Dame, the No. 2 seed in the Class AAA playoffs, opened postseason play Wednesday and cruised to a 10-0 victory over No. 31 Ben Franklin at Miller Stadium.

The game was halted after the sixth inning due to the mercy rule.

Ben Franklin was no match for Pio hurler Austin Robichaux. The hard-throwing junior recorded seven strikeouts in tossing his first no-hitter of the season.

Robichaux was backed by the Pios’ offense that banged out 13 hits, including four triples and a double, on the day.

Ryan Leonards and Connor Goss each went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI while Blaine Richard and Luke Bourgeois each had two hits and one RBI.

Mitch Corzine was 2-for-2 with a double and a triple; Ricky Stoma had one hit and three RBI; Robichaux had one hit and a RBI and Pete Petitjean had a triple.

The Pios will take on either No. 15 Albany or No. 18 North Vermilion next week in the second round.