STAC stumbles against Lady Knights
By Tom Dodge
The rustiness of being off the softball field for over a month showed Monday night as the STAC team from Eunice High fell 2-0 to the South Beauregard based team.
“The offense will come around,” STAC coach Liz Hebert said. “It has been nearly a month-and-a-half since the high school season ended and we only had one practice.
“We will get back into the swing of things.”
South Beauregard grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Tiffany Havard singled and scored on Brittany Martarona’s hit that was extended into a triple when it was mishandled in right field.
South Beauregard had a base runner in the second and fifth innings on an error and single, but neither could score as the STAC defense stiffened.
STAC loaded the bases to threaten in the bottom of the third inning when Brittany Faul was hit by a pitch and Jennifer Frey and Ceslie West reached on back-to-back walks.
But the South Beauregard pitcher recovered to record two straight strikeouts and alsm the door on the STAC offense.
The third error of the game allowed Courtney Hebert to reach base in the top of the sixth and Annette Ramsey hit a sacrifice to score Hebert for the insurance two-run advantage.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the third, no STAC batters reached base again until Frey advanced on an error and Camille Faul drew a walk – but again the rally was snuffed out.
South Beauregard threatened again in the top of the seventh when Mararona reached on the fourth STAC error of the game and Courtney Hebert doubled but the rally was halted before the visitors from Longville could score.
STAC’s last chance to win the game came in the bottom of the inning when Blaire Fusilier singled to lead off the frame but was left stranded at second base.
“I was disappointed in our hitting,” Hebert said of the opener where only two hits and seven batters reached base for the STAC offense. “But this is summer ball and that gives our younger players a learning experience.”