Lady Tigers blank DHS for second time

Thelezia Folse

Hahnville junior Summer Melancon had a big game against East Ascension, finishing with two doubles and three RBIs in her team’s 6-5 victory.

The Lady Tigers picked up their twelfth-straight win Tuesday, blanking the Destrehan Lady Cats 5-0 to tighten their grip on the top spot in District 6-5A.

Hahnville junior pitcher Hannah Haydel no-hit Destrehan in a 9-0 win earlier this season and was masterful yet again.

She struck out eight batters to improve to 22-2 on the season.

With Haydel mowing down batters from the circle the Hahnville offense slowly picked up runs in the victory.

The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first, added three runs in the fourth and got a final run in the seventh for the 5-0 win.

Summer Melancon, Elise deBruler and Taylor Webre each had two hits for Hahnville. Melancon finished with two RBIs, while deBruler and Webre each brought in a run.

Destrehan’s Abby Hall (8-14) suffered the loss.

The victory moved the Tigers to 6-1 in district play while Destrehan fell to 1-6.

Though a win over a rival is always important, the Lady Tigers biggest victory came last Thursday against East Ascension.

Hahnville's win avenged an earlier loss to East Ascension, who had beaten the Lady Tigers 5-4 in the first district game of the season for both teams.

The Lady Tigers took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, but East Ascension stormed back by picking up a run in the fourth and adding three more in the fifth to go on top of Hahnville 4-3.

But as they have done in most of their tough games this season, the Lady Tigers found a way to win in the end, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth and holding East Ascension to one run in the seventh for the 6-5 victory.

Melancon led the Lady Tigers from the plate, finishing with two doubles and three RBIs. Hahnville head coach Kenneth Vial said it was only a matter of time before Melancon's bat heated up.

"She has struggled this year, but I think she has fought her way through it" Vial said.

Amye Barre also had two hits in the game and brought in two runs. Courtney Dutreix had three hits, while Webre and Hope Mair both singled in runs.

Hahnville ace Haydel got the win.

"Hannah was good enough," Vial said. "She was sick all day but pitched anyway."

Tiffany Robinson had two hits for East Ascension, including a solo home run. Rachel LeBlanc (21-2) suffered the loss.

"East Ascension is a good team and they hit through their lineup," Vial said. "They have a really good pitcher."

Hahnville made three errors in the game, but Vial said they were all on tough plays.

"There was nothing routine about any of them," he added.

The Lady Tigers have a long week ahead of them. They will host Dutchtown at 4 p.m. on Thursday and will host Mt. Carmel on Friday at 4 p.m.

Hahnville travels to St. Amant on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game, hosts Central Lafourche at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 11 and then will face East St. John Tuesday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at Hahnville.

They wrap up the regular season on April 13 when they travel to take on Zachary at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, Destrehan travels to East St. John Thursday for a 4 p.m. game, and then host East Ascension on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Their final regular season game will take place on April 11 when they host St. Amant at 5:30 p.m.