April 13, 2005

Flores, Minnich lead Lady Tigers to 10-0 victory

Flores tosses four-hit shutout, Minnich goes 4-4, Romero homers in win

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photos by ERIC LEBLANC)

The Hahnville Lady Tigers took the season series from the Destrehan Lady Cats Saturday morning as they went on to a 10-0 victory.

Leading Hahnville on the mound was starting pitcher Chelsey Flores who pitched a complete game shutout while only allowing four hits and a walk. Flores also was successful at the plate, going two for three with an RBI.

Leading the Lady Tigers on offense was shortstop Annie Minnich who was four for four for the second time against Destrehan while collecting two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Right fielder Karla Troxler also scored two runs while swiping three bases. And third baseman Ariel Romero homered as well.

Leading the Lady Cats on offense was left fielder Kaci Wilson who was one for two with a stolen base and a walk. Destrehan starter Julianne Beaugh went three and a third innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out two. Reliever Chantelle Simoneaux went two innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk while recording a strikeout.

The Lady Cats were the first to have the chance to score in the top of the first. After Wilson walked with two outs, she stole second base. The throw went into center field and Wilson advanced to third. The throw to third was errant as well, but Wilson was thrown out at the plate.

In the bottom of the first, Hahnville scored their first run after Flores reached base on an infield single. Center fielder Dara Fontenot then drove in Flores’ courtesy runner Amber Dutreix with a single. Fontenot was thrown out at second on the play, but Dutreix scored before the tag was applied and the Lady Tigers led 1-0.

Flores set down the Lady Cats in order in the second, third and fourth innings giving the Lady Tigers the opportunity to add to their lead.

In the bottom of the second, Minnich led off with an infield single. She then stole second and scored two batters later on a balk. Then with two outs, Romero slammed a solo home run over the left-center field fence to put the Lady Tigers up 3-0.

The Lady Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third as Flores singled, Fontenot walked and Minnich reached on an infield single. Then catcher Meghan Vial lifted a deep sacrifice fly that scored Dutreix and put the Lady Tigers up 4-0.

The Lady Cats had a great defensive play from Wilson who had moved to right field in the fourth inning. Hahnville first baseman Michelle Eusea scorched a single into right field, but Wilson gunned it to first and recorded the out. The Lady Tigers followed that up with a walk from Troxler who then stole second and scored on a single from left fielder Lela Clowers.

The Lady Cats had another chance to score in the top of the fifth after third baseman Courtney Berthelot singled off the center field fence and Simoneaux singled. But two pop outs ended the threat.

In the bottom of the fifth, Minnich doubled, stole third and scored on a single by second baseman Gina Sierra. Sierra then stole second and scored when Romero reached on an error, putting the Lady Tigers up 7-0.

The Lady Cats had one more chance to score in the top of the sixth after left fielder Kala Keller and Wilson hit back-to-back two-out singles. But a caught stealing on third base ended the inning.

The Lady Tigers put away the game in the bottom of the sixth. Troxler walked and stole second to start the inning. Clowers followed with a single and Flores drove in Troxler with a sacrifice fly. Fontenot then walked and stole second. And Minnich ended it with a two-run single that gave Hahnville a 10-0 victory.

With the win, the Lady Tigers improve to 23-7 overall and 13-2 in district. With the loss, the Lady Cats fall to 17-9 overall and 9-5 in district. Both teams will find out their playoff future this week.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.