March 19, 2005

Thibodaux stumped by Stumper

Destrehan starter pitches two-hit shutout while left fielder slams two-run home run

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

The Destrehan Lady Cats tuned up for their showdown with parish rival Hahnville this weekend with a bashing of one of the other Lady Tiger teams in the district. Thursday afternoon, the Lady Cats took down Thibodaux 10-0 in six innings.

Starting pitcher Sloan Stumper provided the firepower from the mound, allowing just two hits in six innings pitched while striking out three. Providing the firepower from the plate were catcher Shannon Clark who was three for four with two RBIs and left fielder Kaci Wilson who was two for three with a home run and two RBIs.

The game started out as a pitchers' duel. Both starting pitchers faced the minimum through the middle of the third. Then Destrehan started their first rally in the bottom of the inning. Second baseman Katie Lassere led off the inning with a single and was advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt by Rebecca Caminita. Then, with two outs the fireworks started. Center fielder Kacie Brady broke the scoreless tie with an RBI double that drove Lassere in. Then shortstop Gabrielle Roy tripled to left center and drove in Brady. Clark continued the rally with a double of her own that drove in Roy and third baseman Courtney Berthelot doubled Clark's courtesy runner, Kala Keller, in to bring the score to 4-0.

The Lady Cats struck again in the fourth. Lassere led off the inning with a single. Pinch runner Sherri Taylor then stole second and third base and scored when the throw to third went into left field.

The fifth inning was productive for the Lady Cats as well. Clark led off the inning with a single. Then with two outs, Wilson drove a pitch over the left-center field wall, hitting the scoreboard, and recording a two-run home run that put Destrehan ahead 7-0.

After allowing a leadoff single in the top of the fourth, Stumper retired the last nine batters she faced in order, including two strikeouts to finish off the top of the sixth.

The substitutes came on in the bottom of the inning and also feasted on the Thibodaux pitching. Chantelle Simoneaux and Ariell Burks led off the inning with singles and Simoneaux scored when Amanda Meyer reached base on an error. Caitlin Shollmier then doubled, driving in Burks to bring the score to 9-0. With one more run needed, Clark cracked out her third hit of the game, driving in Meyer and giving the Lady Cats a 10-0 victory.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in district. Destrehan will host the Hahnville Lady Tigers today at 11 a.m.

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