Falling short

MAMOU – The Mamou Lady Demons knew it would be a tough year, considering all of the young players that take the field day in and day out.
But, for head coach Kim Manuel, she still expects these girls to compete every time they take to the diamond.
The Lady Demons showed that they can certainly do that, even in a loss.
Mamou scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to put a scare into the DeQuincy Lady Tigers, but fell just short of tying the game in an 8-7 district loss Thursday.
“We just need to cut down on the costly mistakes,” said Manuel after the game. “A couple of times we had two outs and made some crucial errors that gave them a chance to score some runs. We have to close out those innings when we have the opportunity.”
Manuel understands that it is just a growing process for her Lady Demons, considering that she has to play five eighth graders on the field at one time.
“We are very young right now,” stated Manuel. “But they work hard every day. We are going to have to continue to improve and games like these will eventually turn out in our favor. I am proud that we did not give up and kept battling.”
Starting pitcher Maggie Soileau got DeQuincy to go down in order in the top of the first inning.
The Lady Demons threatened in the bottom of the inning when Soileau got on with two outs on a base hit and stole second base. However, Lady Tiger starter Madison Dykes enticed a strikeout to end the threat and keep the score at 0-0.
DeQuincy was able to plate two runs in the top of the second inning. Hannah Turnage led things off with an infield hit.
After two ground outs, Meghan Dyer drove a ball to right field to put runners at first and second. Khloe Doyle walked and Lindsay Blanks drove in Turnage and Dyer to put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.
Soileau issued another walk, but got Ashley Marcantel to ground out to shortstop for the final out.
Mamou got a one out single from Madison Fritz, but could not capitalize, stranding Fritz at first base and coming up empty in the bottom half of the inning.
DeQuincy added a runs in the top of the third and fourth innings to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Lady Demons answered in the bottom of the fourth, plating two runs and cutting the Lady Tiger lead in half.
Soileau led off with a single to center field, and reached second base on a throwing error. Kourtnie Deshotel flied out to the third baseman for the first out, bringing Maddie Fontenot to the plate.
Fontenot ripped a Dykes pitch to the gap for a double, scoring Soileau. Fritz then reached on an throwing error from the catcher after a called third strike was dropped, allowing Soileau to score from second base. Dyer retired the side on two ground balls.
Both squads were able to pick up single runs in the fifth inning to make the score 5-3 DeQuincy as the game headed into the final two innings of play.
DeQunicy was blanked in the sixth inning by eighth grade pitcher Dacia Richard, who came in relief of Soileau in the top of the third inning.
Mamou could not add to their total either in the bottom of the sixth, as Dyer sent the Lady Demons down in order.
The final inning of the game saw plenty of action, as the two teams combined to score seven runs.
Richard looked as if she would not give DeQuincy much, retiring the first two Lady Tiger hitters. However, a single, two huge errors and double later, Dequincy had scored three runs to pull ahead 8-3 going into the bottom half of the inning.
But the resiliency of the Lady Demons showed through in the bottom of the sevneth.
After an initial strike out for the first out, Mamou rattled the Lady Tigers into committing an error, which put Kaitee Bertrand at first base. A single from Angel Menier and a walk issued to Lauren Soileau was followed by a double from Richard.
Richard scored on a base hit from Deshotel, who was thrown out trying to reach second base.
Dyer got Fontenot to fly out to center field to end the game.
With the loss the Lady Demons fall to 3-9 on the year and 2-1 in District 4-2A.