Tigers on move after win over DHS

After besting archrival Destrehan last week, Hahnville has had to sit and wait for a bit.

Like many teams throughout the state, the Tigers saw a chunk of their schedule rained out. Contests with East St. John and three games at the St. Amant tournament have been rescheduled (Hahnville will face East St. John for a doubleheader Apr. 5, while the St. Amant tournament will take place Apr. 8-9), and Hahnville coach Jerry Nugent hopes his team will be able to get back into its routine this week, beginning with a District 7-5A game Thursday at Thibodaux.

The Tigers (8-2, 3-0) will stop at Thibodaux en route to a weekend tournament at Sulphur, which is not coincidentally the site of the annual state softball tournament.

“Besides stopping at Thibodaux on the way out of town, our itinerary’s the same as it would be (for the state tournament),” Nugent said. “It’s a big part of the reason we schedule it. Another is the quality of the competition, which will be very good.”

Hahnville is scheduled to play Calvary Baptist, Kinder and Evangel at the tournament. Kinder sports a record of 9-1. Evangel is 5-5 and considered a top contender in Class 5A. Calvary Baptist is undefeated thus far this season through six games.

“It’s a great way to simulate the state tournament experience,” Nugent said.

But before they get there, the Tigers have some important business to take care of at Thibodaux, which is off to a 7-4 start and has won two district games in a row.

“They’re always a very tough opponent,” Nugent said. “They’re a fundamentally sound team and don’t make anything easy for you.”

Hahnville closed out its 13-3 win over Destrehan (6-5, 2-1) last week in five innings via the 10-run rule.

Destrehan took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but it was all Hahnville from there. The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the first then took complete control with a five-run second inning.

Madison LeBlanc got Hahnville going with a single to lead off. Karly Taranto followed with a single of her own, then Kelly Ortego’s double scored courtesy runner Madison Fremen to put Hahnville ahead 4-3. Pryscilla Prince drew a walk before Kamryn Keller doubled home two more runs. Sarah Van Etta drew a walk, Prince scored on a passed ball and Maeson Martindale’s RBI single pushed the lead to 8-3.

“Destrehan jumped on us early,” said Nugent. “They had the momentum. I felt like we had to score one run in the bottom of the first, but fortunately our bats have been very productive and we were able to tie it right there, then keep that going the rest of the way.”

Nugent also credited a strong defensive play by catcher Madison LeBlanc with helping to curb Destrehan’s hot start, a pickoff throw to third base to cap the top of the first inning.

“That kept it manageable,” Nugent said.

The Tigers scored three more runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to end the game by the 10-run rule.

Taranto earned the win for HHS. She allowed two earned runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two.

“She didn’t have her typical control,” Nugent said. “But Karli’s a very reflective kid. She’s always thinking about what could have gone better. She made the adjustments and held them scoreless the rest of the way.”

At the plate, Van Etta went 3 for 3 with five RBIs and two runs scored.

Martindale was 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Prince scored four runs. Keller went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Ortego was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. The Tigers finished the game with 13 hits.

Lainnie Dugas went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Destrehan. Carla Beck and Gia Zeringue also knocked in runs

 

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