Lady Trojans advance in thrilling fashion

A match-up that looked to be a thrilling showdown on paper did not disappoint the fans that came out to see the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans and the St. Ed’s Lady Blue Jays clash in a regional playoff game Wednesday at Lady Trojan field. The two familiar opponents went toe-to-toe in one of the most evenly matched games this year, as the winner was not decided until the very end of the contest.
The Lady Trojans scored in their very last at bat and had to hold off a serious St. Ed’s threat, in order to seal the 4-3 win. Sacred Heart now moves on to the quarterfinals in Sulphur, and will face off against the number two seeded Mangham Lady Dragons. As of press time, the date and time of the quarterfinal game was not available.
In a preview of the parity in the contest, the Lady Blue Jays and the Lady Trojans both scored a single run in the first inning. St. Ed’s plated their first run when Baylee Lafleur singled and Kasey Lafleur doubled to start the game. Sacred Heart scored in the bottom of the first as Erin Fontenot, courtesy running for Elizabeth Soileau, crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Gabbie Andrepont. Soileau doubled to lead off and Fontenot stole third to get in position for the tag up.
Continuing the equity theme, neither team could produce a run in the second inning. The symmetry of the game was sustained in the third inning, as each club added another run to their totals. Errors by Sacred Heart were the contributing factor in allowing St. Ed’s to score their run. For the Lady Trojans, déjà vu was on tap in the bottom of the third as Elizabeth Soileau once again doubled with one out. Fontenot, courtesy running for Soileau, stole third and scored on a passed ball. With that run the game was now tied for the second time at 2-2.
The fourth and fifth innings were uneventful for both teams. Commanding pitching performances on both sides, stymied the opponents’ bats, leading to no runs scored by either team. In fact, each team only managed one base runner in those two innings. A single by St. Ed’s gave them their only runner and a double by Erin Fontenot put Sacred Heart’s lone runner on base.
With the game winding down, it was looking as if extra innings were a certainty. However, the Lady Trojans had other plans. After blanking the Lady Jays in the top of the sixth, Sacred Heart tacked on two vital runs in the bottom of the inning. Courtney Vidrine led off for the Lady Trojans, reaching base on an error. After Andrepont popped out to the second baseman for the first out, Kara Aguillard ripped a double to centerfield, scoring Vidrine. The next batter, Caroline Fontenot walked, putting runners on first and second. Hannah Lemoine lined out to shortstop for the second out.
Needing to add insurance runs, Sydney Fontenot came up huge, singling in Aguillard for the second run of the inning. Laura Beth Fontenot struck out to end the inning. Now all Sacred Heart need to do was hold on and a trip to Sulphur would be on the itinerary next week.
With the way the game had unfolded up to this point, it was only fitting that St. Ed’s would have one final push, putting every spectator on the edge of their seat until the final out was recorded. The Lady Jays were down to their last out, when an error landed Sydney Thibodeaux on first base. The very next batter, Heather Bieber drove a 2-2 Soileau pitch into the rightfield corner, plating St. Ed’s third run and placing the tying run at third base. Fortunately for the Lady Trojans, Soileau was able to induce a ground ball from Lafleur right back to her for the final out.
Soileau went the distance on the mound for Sacred Heart, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out four. At the plate, Soileau also led the Lady Trojans, going two for three with two doubles. Aguillard and Sydney Fontenot were each one for three, with a run batted in.