Getting offensive

Pride and much needed power points were on the line, as the Pine Prairie Lady Panthers and the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans clashed in a non-district shoot out here Tuesday afternoon.
The two teams combined for 26 runs and 29 hits, including three home runs, as the Lady Panthers got past the Lady Trojans by the score of 15-11.
This was the second time this season that the two inter-parish rivals hit the diamond against each other. The first time was the very first game of the season. In that contest Pine Prairie came away with an 11-1 win.
But, according to Pine Prairie head coach Carolyn Deville, the Lady Panthers knew that this time would be different.
“It was early in the season when we played them the first time,” stated Deville. “Even though we beat them the first time, we knew the type of ball that had been playing lately. So, I think today’s game made both of us better for this time of the year. I do want to wish Sacred Heart the best of luck in the playoffs.”
Despite the loss, Sacred Heart head coach Glenn Lafleur was very proud of how his team came to play.
“Great final game of the season,” said Lafleur. “Our kids came to play and we did not give up. I am very pleased with the effort today. I told them after the game that we can play with anybody if we play like we did today. We played a quality club today and that will make us better for the playoffs.”
The offensive explosion began early in the contest, as the two clubs scored a total of ten runs combined in the first inning.
Sacred Heart started the game putting up four runs in the top of the first.
Caroline Fontenot doubled to lead things off for the Lady Trojans. After Logan Shipp struck out, some uncharacteristic errors by the Pine Prairie defense and a hit by pitch lead to Sacred Heart’s early offensive outburst.
Pine Prairie responded in the bottom of the first by putting up six runs of their own.
Jacie McFarlain led off with a double. Julia Chaddrick reached base on an error, putting runners at first and third with no outs. Sara Tate then took a 1-2 pitch deep over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
Later in the inning, Allie Fontenot and McFarlain added to Pine Prairie scoring with and RBI single and double respectfully.
Things began to look like they had settled down for Pine Prairie in the top of the second, as they retired Sacred Heart in order.
The Lady Panthers then added two more runs in the bottom of the second on singles from Macey Harvey, Tori Johnson, Tori Bordelon and Fontenot.
However, Sacred Heart would not go away quietly. The Lady Trojans erupted for five more runs in the top of the third. Singles by Kara Aguillard and Laura Beth Fontenot were punctuated by a huge three-run home run off of the bat of Gabbie Andrepont and a double from Natalie Doucet.
The Lady Trojans were able to hold the Lady Panthers scoreless in the bottom of the third to take a 9-8 lead.
Sacred Heart added two more runs in the top of the fourth when Erin Fontenot ripped a two-run home run over the left field fence.
The Lady Trojans once again held Pine Prairie without a run in the bottom half of the inning to go up 11-8.
But it was all Pine Prairie the rest of the way. The Lady Panthers struck again for six more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. This time Fontenot and Harvey doubled, while McFarlain, Johnson and Brandy Manuel added singles to aid in the scoring.
Up 14-11, the Lady Panthers added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Julia Chaddrick scored on a single from Tate.
Meanwhile, Johnson shut down the Sacred Heart offense in the final three innings, after coming in relief of staring pitcher Karli Ortego, as Sacred Heart could only manage two base hits the rest of the way.
Pine Prairie was led at the plate by Fontenot, who was 4-4 with three RBI. McFarlain was 3-5 with one RBI and scored twice.
Gabbie Andrepont led Sacred Heart, going 4-4, including a home run and four RBI. Erin Fontenot was 2-3 with a home run and two RBI.
With the win, Pine Prairie moves to 24-5 on the year and was scheduled to play Calvary Baptist at home on Wednesday, weather permitting, before the playoff brackets are released on Thursday.
Sacred Heart dropped to 12-12 on the season with the loss. The Lady Trojans will wait and see who and where they will play in the playoffs when the brackets come out on Thursday.