Sulphur bound

PINE PRAIRIE — Another power packed performance at the plate has propelled the Pine Prairie Lady Panthers into the LHSAA Fastpitch 56 Tournament, as they coasted past St. James here Saturday afternoon in a 12-2 run-rule win.
In the game, Pine Prairie collected 13 hits; eight of those were of the extra base variety, including three home runs.
With the win, the Lady Panthers will advance to the quarterfinals in Sulphur to take on the number one seed Parkview Baptist on Friday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. It is the first appearance at the state tournament in three years for Pine Prairie.
This year’s version of the Lady Panthers has demolished opposing pitching all season long. And, Pine Prairie head coach Carolyn Deville knows that all too well. The Lady Panthers are hitting .355 as a team and scored 298 runs on the year. They have an amazing slugging percentage of .557 and have belted 31 home runs so far this season.
“This is probably the best hitting team I have had since I have been here as the head coach,” stated Deville. “I am more of a defensive coach, but if you want to stay up to date on the game, sometimes you have to learn new things. We have incorporated a new approach at the plate and we have really been explosive on offense this season.”
Senior first baseman Shaina Boutte agrees with Deville.
“You can’t score runs on defense,” said Boutte. “All of the players on the team have really bought into the system at the plate. Everyone, from top to bottom, is capable of hitting the ball hard. It is a big reason why we are going to the state tournament.”
It did not take the Lady Panthers long to establish their dominance over the Lady Wildcats. After sending St. James down in order in the top of the first, Pine Prairie pushed the first three of their runs across the plate in the bottom of the inning.
Jacie McFarlain and Julia Chaddrick each reached base on errors from the Lady Wildcats. Sara Tate collected the first of her two hits of the game, tripling in McFarlain and Chaddrick. The scoring continued when Macey Harvey singled, plating Tate. The next three batters were put out, but the damage had been done and Pine Prairie quickly led 3-0.
The story remained the same for St. James in their next three at bats. Starting Lady Panther hurler Karli Ortego and the Lady Panther defense held the Lady Wildcats without a base runner until the top of the fifth inning.
In the meantime, the Pine Prairie offense continued to fire on all cylinders. The Lady Panthers plated another run in the bottom of the second. An error by the St. James centerfielder allowed Allie Fontenot to reach first base. After a perfect sacrifice bunt from Brandy Manuel, Fontenot was driven home by a triple off of the bat of McFarlain. Chaddrick and Tate went down for the final outs of the inning, but Pine Prairie had added to their lead.
The bottom of the third saw the Lady Panthers increase their lead to 5-0 with two additional runs. Harvey doubled to lead off and Boutte reached with a walk. After Tori Johnson was put out, Tori Bordelon doubled in Harvey and Boutte. The next two batters were retired to end the inning.
The most explosive inning for Pine Prairie came in the bottom of the fourth. McFarlain led off with a solo home run. Chaddrick popped up to the catcher and Tate reached on an error. After Harvey flied out to the shortstop, Boutte ripped a pitch over the left-centerfield fence for a two-run home run.
Not to be outdone, Johnson smashed a line drive over the right field wall that busted a window on the St. James bus. After Bordelon singled, she was caught stealing to end the inning, but not before the Lady Panthers had extended their lead to 10-0.
St. James showed some life in the top of the fifth, garnering their only two hits of the game. A single and a two-run home run cut the lead to 10-2. However, Pine Prairie ended the game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs to earn the run-rule win.
Deville was very excited for her team’s opportunity to play once again in Sulphur.
“Our lone senior, Shaina, was a freshman when we went to the tournament the last time,” said Deville. “So, I am very excited for these other girls to experience that and for Shaina to get back before she graduated. We know that it will take a great amount of mental toughness over there. The atmosphere can be overwhelming and playing on turf is something different. We are going there taking the same approach we have all season; one game at a time.”
Boutte points to two main reasons for the Lady Panther’s success this season.
“Our team is very close,” commented Boutte. “We pick each other up when one of us is not on our game. We hang out together all of the time. That goes a long way in being a true team. Also, all of our coaches have really been great. They push us to be better every day.”
Ortego was brilliant on the mound for the Lady Panthers, allowing only two runs on two hits and striking out five.
Bordelon was three for four with two doubles and three RBI to lead Pine Prairie at the plate. Also picking up multiple hits for the Lady Panthers were McFarlain, Tate, Harvey and Boutte.