Pine Prairie shuts out Berwick in Class 3A opening round

PINE PRAIRIE -- It was business as usual for the Pine Prairie Lady Panthers in their 6-0 first round playoff win over Berwick here Saturday evening.
With the win Pin Prairie now advances to the regional round of the playoffs and will host St. James on Saturday.
The Lady Wildcats defeated South Beauregard on Monday by the score of 9-4. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
All season long the Lady Panthers have relied on a powerful offensive game and some stellar pitching to earn the number eight seed in the 2016 softball postseason. Pine Prairie once again used that successful formula to subdue
Berwick, as the Lady Panthers struck for seven hits, five of those of the extra base variety, in the win.
“It is definitely a good way to start the playoffs,” stated Pine Prairie head coach Carolyn Deville. “We kind of turn the players loose at the plate when it comes to their batting. Unless there is a time where it is an obvious bunt situation, we allow them to be free. I think these girls are pretty disciplined at the plate.”
Despite the forceful way in which the Lady Panthers won, Deville still was not 100 percent pleased with every aspect of the game.
“We made some base running mistakes for sure,” said Deville. “Tonight it did not hurt us, but it could be a factor later on down the road. We are going to need to clean up those things before the next round. Fortunately we have the next week to do that.”
Pine Prairie wasted no time in taking control of the game. After allowing a Berwick base runner to second base in the top of the first inning, starting pitcher Karli Ortego and the Lady Panther defense held firm and did not allow the St. Mary parish version of the Lady Panthers to cross the plate.
In the bottom of the first, Pine Prairie struck with authority, when Sara Tate blasted a 210 foot two out solo home run over the left field wall to give the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Berwick lead off the top of the second with a single from Madison Carline. However, Pine Prairie turned a nifty double play to get out of the inning, allowing their offense to get back to work.
And get back to work they did. In the bottom of the second, senior first baseman Shaina Boutte added to the lead with a monster solo home run over the left field wall to increase the Pine Prairie advantage to 2-0.
After sending Berwick down in order in the top of the third, Pine Prairie once again used extra bases to add to their run total. With two out, Tate tripled over the centerfielder’s head. Macy Harvey then promptly doubled to score Tate and gave the Lady Panthers a 3-0 lead.
After an uneventful fourth inning, Pine Prairie continued to increase their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Jacie McFarlain doubled and reached third on an over throw from the outfield. Julia Chaddrick’s sacrifice fly drove home McFarlain for the fourth run of the game.
The Lady Panthers added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. A combination of walks and miscues from Berwick allowed Tori Johnson and Tori Bordelon to cross the plate. But, they were not really needed as Ortego and the Pine Prairie defense held Berwick scoreless in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
Ortego picked up the win on the hill, throwing seven complete innings, allowing no runs on two hits, while striking out seven.
Tate and Harvey led all Lady Panthers at the plate. Tate was two for three, including a triple, a home run and an RBI, Harvey was also two for three, including a double and an RBI.