Tom Dodge
By Tom Dodge
Sports Editor
It was a defensive battle that took an extra inning to determine the outcome between Eunice High and Church Point.
Sydni Lemelle was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the eighth inning and scored on error after a double by Alexis Ortego as The Lady Cats grabbed a 3-2 win over the Lady Bears.
Eunice had a chance to grab the win the bottom of the seventh when Raegan Fontenot singled but didn’t score.
Church Point’s chance to break the tie came in the top of the seventh when Kaleigh Little reached on a fielder’s choice and Elizabeth Herpin singled but neither could score.
The Lady Bears scored a run in the top of the fourth frame when Macey Dailey singled and crossed home plate on a ground out by Amelia Dailey.
Church Point added a run in the top of the sixth when Macey Dailey tripled to left field and scored when Laura Miller reached on a fielder’s choice.
The Lady Cats were held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Ortego singled and Gabby Mitchell blasted a home run over the center field fence and Eunice forced a 2-2 tie.
Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Ortego went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Macey Dailey went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Herpin finished 2-for-4 to lead the Lady Bears.
Caroline Vienne earned the complete game win as she struck out three, walked one and allowed two earned runs on seven hits.
EHS 17, LaGrange 2
The Lady Cats scored in every inning as Eunice rolled a 17-2 mercy-rule win over LaGrange.
Jailyn Pavich earned the win as she struck out 10, walked two and allowed two earned runs on three hits.
Eunice jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first inning, begun when Ortego reached on an error and scored on a triple by Mitchell – who later advanced home on a passed ball.
Olivia Thibodeaux and McKenzie Guillory both singled to keep the rally going.
Pavich doubled in Thibodeaux and courtesy runner Malllory O’Brien to push the Lady Cats ahead, 4-0.
Eunice exploded for eight runs in the second to put the game away, begun when Sydni Lemelle was hit by pitch and scored on a single by Ortego.
Sophie Vidrine doubled in Ortego and Mitchell followed with a RBI triple.
Thibodeaux singled in Mitchell as the Lady Cats increased their lead to 8-0.
Pavich reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Thibodeaux and courtesy runner Harli Turner scored on a hit by Raegan Fontenot.
After Lemelle walked, Ortego followed with a single to drive in Fontenot and Lemelle for a 12-0 EHS advantage.
Eunice added a run in the bottom of the third when Mitchell reached on an error and scored on a double by Guillory.
LaGrange avoided the shutout with two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Cats sealed the win with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Harmony Jason tripled to right field and scored on an error, while Lemelle walked and crossed home plate on a double by Ortego.
Vidrine doubled in Ortego and Mitchell’s double scored Vidrine for the 17-2 final margin.
Ortego finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Mitchell went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Thibodeaux (2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS) and Guillory (2-for-3, RBI) were the other two multiple hit batters of the Lady Cats.
Eunice (18-5 overall, 4-1 in District 4-4A) visits North Vermilion (12-6, 5-0) on Tuesday.