After knocking off both Dutchtown and St. Amant last week, the Hahnville Lady Tigers are playoff bound.
Last year, Hahnville cruised through one of the toughest districts in the state with a 10-0 record, but heading into last week, the team was 3-4 and needed to pick up wins against fellow powerhouses Dutchtown and St. Amant to secure a playoff spot.
Hahnville beat Dutchtown 3-0, and then put together one of their best games of the season to rout St. Amant 7-1. The Lady Tigers finished district play two days later by stomping East St. John 19-0.
Now, Hahnville head coach Kenny Vial feels that his team is peaking at the perfect time.
“Our hitting has come on as of late and I do think we are peaking at the right time,” he said. “We still have not put on our best show, but I’m hoping that comes when the playoffs start.”
Hahnville, who is 27-5 on the season, has only lost one non-district game this year. That’s a testament to how tough District 6-5A is year in and year out. St. Amant and East Ascension both finished district with 8-2 records, while Dutchtown, like Hahnville, was 6-4. Destrehan wrapped up district play with a 2-8 record, while East St. John was winless at 0-10.
“Playing in our district prepares us for the playoffs,” Vial said. “The intensity inside the fence is incredible at times and every pitch counts.
“There are no times to relax and smell the roses in this district.”
But Vial wouldn’t have it any other way.
“That’s the way it should be,” he said. “Anything you achieve here comes with a battle.”
Lauren Candies, who was an all-state pitcher last season, has paced the Lady Tigers this year and Vial said that every time she is on the mound he feels like his team has a chance. But Vial said several other players have stepped up this season, including Courtney Dutreix, Elise deBruler, Amye Barre, Alexandra Friloux and Summer Melancon.
Dutreix leads Hahnville in hits, stolen bases, runs and average. She is batting .405, with 43 hits, 12 stolen bases and 30 runs. deBruler is batting .338 and leads the team in RBIs with 24, while Barre has 29 hits and 23 runs.
Friloux, who is hitting .300, has also come up with some big hits throughout the season.
“But the big surprise is Summer,” Vial said. “We always felt she could help us at the plate, but this year she has hit about .330 and has been strong the last half of district.
“Defensively, her and Courtney at second and shortstop have been incredible.”
The playoffs begin on April 20 and Vial likes his team’s chances.
“These kids play a lot of softball in many different states and there is nothing they haven’t seen,” he said. “I think they can make a run because I have seen most of the top teams and we fit in well with them. This is a funny game and I always say I would rather be lucky than good because you don’t have to practice luck.
“If the ball bounces right, the stars line up and we can get to the park on time, I like our chances.”
Be the first to comment