Tom Dodge
St. Edmund broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the third as the Lady Jays rolled to a 10-2 win District 5-1A over rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
St. Ed’s grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Mary Beth Lafleur was hit by a pitch and Anna Belle Fontenot blasted a home run over the left field wall.
Sacred Heart threatened in the top of the second when Catherine Lawson walked, but Lady Jay pitcher Karleigh Soileau then struck out two batters to end the frame.
St. Ed’s added a run in the bottom of the inning when Anna Chapman singled and scored on a hit by Soileau.
The third inning surge by the Lady Jays proved to be the difference in the game as 11 St. Ed’s batters went to the plate.
Madison Comeau walked and Fontenot followed with towering home run to left field.
Chapman added a two-out solo home run to push the Lady Jays ahead, 6-0.
Alice Brown walked and then Soileau and Lafleur were both hit by pitches to load the bases.
Jenna Smith reached on an error that pushed two runs across..
Comeau reached on an errant throw that allowed Mary Beth Lafleur and Smith to score as the Lady Jays moved ahead, 10-0.
Sacred Heart avoided the shutout in the fourth when Halle Lafleur walked and courtesy runner Carley Cloud scored on a sacrifice by Larson.
The Lady Trojans final run came in the top of the seventh when Jodie Landry singled and scored on a St. Ed’s error.
The Lady Jays had chances for a mercy-rule win but left two runners stranded in both the fourth and sixth innings.
In the fourth frame, Guillory and Chapman both walked but could not score.
In the sixth inning, Kennedy Ardoin singled and Chapman walked again but neither scored.
Anna Belle Fontenot finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Chapman went 2-for-2 with two walks and a home run.
Mary Beth Lafeur finished 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.
Soileau earned the win as she struck out 11, walked three and allowed one earned run on two hits.
St. Edmund (12-2, 2-0) visits Opelousas Catholic (9-9, 1-1) on Tuesday sa district action continues.
In the battle for the District 5-1 title and seeding for the LHSAA Division IV playoffs, Catholic High of Pointe Coupee is presently the top seed, followed closely by St. Edmund.
Opelousas Catholic is No. 10, while Sacred Heart of Ville Platte sits at No. 11.
No. 19 Westminster Christian Academy needs to move up into the top 16 teams to earn a playoff berth.