Tom Dodge
MERRYVILLE – The Lady Jays exploded for eight runs in the top of the third inning and added five more in the fourth frame as St. Edmund cruised to a 13-3 win over Merryville.
With the win, S. Edmund (13-10 overall, 6-1 in District 4-1A) clinched at least a share of the district title.
The Lady Jays won the 2001 district championship and were co-champions in 2004.
The Lady Panthers (7-4 overall, 3-2 in District 4-1A) scored first when Alyssa Duncan singled, stole second and third before crossing home plate on a hit by Dyson.
St. Edmund tied the game in top of third when Gabby Fontenot singled and scored on a double by Maggie Larriviere.
Larriviere scored on a ground out by Anna Belle Fontenot, while Abby Miller doubled and scored on a hit by Karleigh Soileau.
Soileau scored on a two-out hit by Olivia McDaniel as the Lady Jays moved ahead, 4-1.
Jamie Fuselier and Jaedyn Soileau both singled before Fontenot’s hit scored McDaniel.
Larriviere singled in Fuselier, while Jaedyn Soileau and Fontenot scored on a passed ball to push the Lady Jays ahead, 8-1.
After Merryville closed the gasp to 8-2 in the bottom of the second, the Lady Jays psuhed across five more runs to increase the margin to 11 runs.
Karleigh Soileau and Olivia Clark both singled and scored on a hit by McDaniel.
McDaniel later stole home and Jaedyn Soileau singled and scored on a hit by Fontenot.
Larriviere singled in Fontenot to push the Lady Jay ahead, 13-2.
Merryville scored a run in the bottom of the fifth when Duncan reached on a two-out error and scored on a sacrifice but the Lady Jays sealed the mercy-rule win.
Larriviere went 4-for-4 to lead St. Edmund with three RBI and a run scored.
Fontenot went 3-for-4 with two RBI amd three runs scored.
Larriviere earned the win as she allowed six hits and one earned run, striking out seven.
After a scheduled raod trip to Delcambre today, the Lady Jays will participate in the St. Thomas More tournament next weekend.