STAC closes out with win
By Tom Dodge
STAC ended the summer season on a high note with a 7-5 win over Beau Chene on Monday.
“We have a great group of kids and great parents,” STAC coach Liz Hebert said after the finale. “We played good competition and that will help us get better for next year.”
The visiting Lady Gators jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Shelby Labbe singled to open the inning and then scored when Paige Cavallin reached on an infield error.
Katie Jean and Blair Sanders moved aboard on back-to-back hitbatsmen by STAC pitcher Jori Lejeune.
Chesley Sibille hit a sacrifice with the bases loaded to push Cavallin across for a 2-0 lead.
Ravin Quebodeaux then hit a shot to centerfield to score Jean and Sanders as Beau Chene moved ahead 4-0.
Vanessa Veronie increased the Lady Gators’ margin to 5-0 with a sacrifice to score Quebodeaux.
But the five-run inning was all Beau Chene managed as STAC pitcher Lejeune and the defense stiffened and the offense began to mount the comeback win.
Courtney Fontenot opened the bottom of the third inning with a walk and Brittany Faul followed with a single.
Fontenot scored on a sacrifice from Megan McLemore to close the gap to 5-1.
Faul scored when Cesley West reached on an error as STAC moved closer, 5-2.
STAC tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, sparked by singles from Lejeune and Emily Turner.
Turner scored on a hit by Kaye Kaye Devillier, while Devillier scored on a single by Fontenot.
Amber Darbonne tied the game when she reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a passed ball.
STAC sealed the win in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jennifer Frey walked and scored on a passed ball and Cesley West reached on a error and scored on a sacrifice by Lejeune.
Lejeune finished the five-inning varsity outing with three strikeouts, one walk, three hits and two hit batters - but also grabbed the win.
“It was a great summer,” Hebert said of the June schedule. “The girls had fun and they learned. We are growing and getting better.”
Hebert said the STAC schedule is to help the Lady Bobcats prepare for the next varsity season.
“We had some that are going to be freshmen play for the first time,” she said. “That is experience that you can’t trade. They know what they need to work on and they have from now to January to work on it.”
Hebert said now the games are over, the weight training begins for the rest of the summer and that will continue into the fall with strength coach Dale Guillory.
“Without athletic P. E. they won’t grow,” she said. “Dale does a fantastic job and without him I don’t think the girls would do what they do on the field.
“They have potential and the caliber to be a great team,” Hebert said. “But it is up to them to accomplish that.”