Lady Panthers sharpen up for the playoffs

Submitted by admin on Thu, 04/10/2008 - 18:08

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

After winning their district with a perfect 12-0 record, the Lady Panthers of Pine Prairie took on Class 4A powerhouse Beau Chene and Class B powerhouse Grand Lake. The Lady Panthers, ranked third in Class 2A, swept the contests with a 4-2 victory over Grand Lake and a 2-0 win over Beau Chene. The Lady Panthers grabbed two runs in the bottom of the third inning against GLHS. Chelsea West walked with one out and later scored on a single from Kayla Johnson (2-4). The senior catcher later crossed the plate herself on a double from fellow senior Alex Deville.

With a 2-0 lead, the girls in orange and black increased their lead the next time at the plate. Emily Marcantel (2-3) singled to begin the fourth inning. A sacrifice from Courtney Townsend moved her to second base and a single from Billie Manuel pushed Marcantel home. Ashley Marcantel (2-3, RBI) singled later in the inning, sending Manuel across the dish.

Grand Lake could not get anything going until the top of the sixth frame. Back-to-back home runs made it a 4-2 ball game. PPHS senior pitcher Chelsey Fontenot regained her composure and found a way to settle the Lady Hornets down. Fontenot got the victory in the circle. She went all seven innings, fanning eight batters and scattering six hits.

The Lady Gators of Beau Chene came to town to meet the Lady Panthers. It was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game. Beau Chene’s Paige Carrolin and PPHS’ Chelsey Fontenot kept their opponents off of the score board.

Finally, in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Panthers cracked the scoreboard. Emily Marcantel looked at one pitch for a ball. She took the next pitch deep for a solo home run.

In the bottom of the sixth inning. Pine Prairie increased their 1-0 lead. Maddison Murray hit a leadoff single to begin the inning. She moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Kayla Johnson. Murray crossed the dish on a double from Alex Deville (3-3, 3 DB, RBI).

Pine Prairie escaped with a 2-0 victory over a very strong Beau Chene team. Fontenot got the win in the circle. She fanned nine batters and surrendered only one hit. Pine Prairie ends the year with a 24-6 record. Fontenot is 23-5 on the season.

The LHSAA playoff seeding meeting is tomorrow. The Lady Panthers, along with Mamou and Sacred Heart, will find out who and where they will play in the Class 2A playoffs that begin Tuesday.