After a brief spell of five losses in seven games, the Hahnville Lady Tigers appear back in the form that saw them surge out the gates this season.
Hahnville has won seven of its last eight, including a dominating statement victory at Mount Carmel Tuesday night, 13-2 over the fifth-ranked power points team in Division I select.
“I think we’re kind of back in our routine,” said Hahnville head coach Jeremy Duplantis. “At the beginning of the year you’re practicing, then in the middle of the year you’re playing every day, you’re not really in the weight room anymore … now we’re able to work out two or three times a week, work on things in practice and fix things we were doing wrong. We’re playing a lot more like we were at the beginning of the year.”
Brazzi Jacob – thriving in the leadoff spot after a midseason lineup shift – led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Rylee Villasenor went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Addison Walton went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Jenna Cancienne was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Jacob, Jordan Chaix and Villasenor each doubled.
Cancienne earned the win in the circle, going the complete game and allowing two runs on four hits. She struck out three and walked no batters.
Hahnville (20-6) took charge from the very start of the game – Jacob, Amberly Dempster, Villasenor and Cancienne combined for four straight singles, Cancienne’s clearing the bases to make it 3-0. Walton soon followed with a two-out single to make it 4-0. Sophie Boudouin’s own two out single made it 5-0.
“We got up there first and jumped out ahead,” Duplantis said. “That kind of set the tempo. We just kept hitting the ball tonight.”
Chloe Krey answered for Mount Carmel with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, but it did little to slow the Tigers’ momentum. Hahnville added three more runs in the second to go ahead 9-2, with Chaix’s two-run double highlighting that frame.
Villasenor had the big day a game earlier as Hahnville defeated district foe Thibodaux 12-3. She went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored – her sizeable production powered by two home runs. She also pitched a scoreless inning in relief, striking out all three batters she faced. Dempster and Chaix also homered on a four-home run day for the Tigers. Cancienne doubled and Boudouin tripled. Dempster drove in four runs.
Cancienne went six innings in the circle for Hahnville, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks. She struck out two.
“Jenna’s not a power pitcher, but she works really hard at her spins and her spots. She battles. She has that mentality to battle,” said Duplantis. “And she does that every pitch – which has made her successful.”
Hahnville’s district win over H.L. Bourgeois saw Cancienne go 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs and Jacob go 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Chaix went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Walton and Boudouin each drove in two runs.
Emerson Tregre went the complete five-inning game to earn the win, striking out five. She allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and no walks.
Jacob has been a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup throughout her career, and her senior year has been stellar. She’s batting .506 this season.
“Her pitch selection … we put her in the 1 spot because she’ll see a lot of pitches, extends counts, fouling balls off until she gets that pitch she wants. I love the way she fights in the batter’s box,” Duplantis said.
Fellow senior Cancienne is just under the .500 mark.
But Hahnville has also had an infusion from its youngest class, with Villasenor batting .528 this year.
“Those three have been swinging big bats for us, but all the way down to nine we’re getting some big hits in key situations,” said Duplantis.
Ranked No. 5 in Division I non-select power points, Hahnville is in strong position for a first round bye and home field in at least one playoff game. If the Tigers can get into the top four, that could mean a bye and potential home games until the state softball tournament in Sulphur.
