MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / April 25, 1999

RESERVE – Riverside’s Amie Graugnard followed Warren Morris’ career at LSU while she was growing up.

Thursday afternoon in the regional playoffs against Port Barre, the junior third baseman did a pretty good imitation of Morris, the player who hit the home run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Miami (Fla.) in the 1996College World Series.

Graugnard homered twice, driving in four runs, to lead the Lady Rebels to an 8-2 victory at Lady Rebels Field. The victory advances Riverside (25-5)to the state softball tournament in Alexandria for the fourth straight year. The Lady Rebels open the tournament against the winner of theregional between South Beauregard and South Cameron.

Port Barre, the District 6-2A runner-up, ended its season at 17-13.

Port Barre pitcher Michelle Bergeaux had struck out Graugnard the first two times up Thursday and she was determined to even the score when she led off the fifth inning with the score tied at 2.

“I just hit the ball,” Graugnard said. “She had struck me out twice and Iwasn’t going to let her do it again.”The solo home run over the left-center field fence gave the Lady Rebels a lead at 3-2 they would not relinquish. In the top of the sixth, Jodi Robinlined a shot into the gap in left-center field gap with left fielder Kelly Louque racing over to make a back-handed stab to hold her to a single.

Shortstop Heidi Richard then went into the hole to grab Tara Guidry’s liner.

Nicole Lambert opened the bottom of the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Richard. Cassie St. Amant then lined a single toleft, advancing to second as Lambert beat the throw to the plate. Louquefollowed with a walk to put runners at first and second.

One out later, Graugnard took the first pitch and sent it over the left- center field fence, giving the Lady Rebels a 7-2 lead. The two home runswere the first of Graugnard’s career.

“She delivered for us,” Riverside coach Matt White said. “The last onepushed us ahead. After that, we were ready to get three outs and get out ofhere. We were nervous the whole game and that loosened us up.”Riverside was not through in the inning. Courtney St. Amant followed witha double to the gap in left-center, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored as Katie Brady lined a single to left, making it 8-2 heading into the seventh.

Port Barre threatened in the seventh as Mary Duplechain reached on an error and Andre Duplechain dropped a single down the right field line with two outs. But Riverside starter Tanya Teague then got Sandy Nolan toground out to end the game.

The first three innings were a pitching duel between Teague (24-5) and Bergeaux (17-13). Riverside threatened in the first as Courtney St. Amantdoubled and Brady and Brandi Falgoust walked to load the bases with one out. Bergeaux then got Lambert and Richard to fly out to get out of thejam.

Port Barre broke through in the fourth inning as Andre Duplechain led off with a single to left.

One out later, Brooke Ortego lined a shot along the left field line past a diving Louque for a triple as Duplechain scored to make it 1-0. Teagueprevented further damage by striking out Kelli Guidry and getting Robin to ground out to third.

Riverside came right back in the bottom of the inning. With one out,Lambert lined a double into the left field corner and Richard followed with a walk.

One out later, Louque lined a shot off the left field wall for a double, bringing in Lambert and Richard to give the Lady Rebels a 2-1 lead.

Port Barre tied the score in the top of the fifth. Tara Guidry led off bygetting hit by a pitch and advanced to third one out later on a throwing error by Teague on Mary Duplechain’s grounder back to the mound.

Desi Bourque followed with a single to center to bring in Guidry. Teagueagain got out of the jam, getting Andre Duplechain to fly out to center and Nolan to ground out to third.

Ouachita Christian 4, St. Charles Catholic 0

MONROE – Ouachita Christian’s Brienne Berry pitched a no-hitter as the Eagles eliminated defending Class 2A state champion St. Charles Catholicfrom the regional playoffs with a 4-0 victory Thursday afternoon.

Ouachita Christian, the District 2-2A champions, improved to 19-4-1 on the season. The Eagles next head to the state softball tournament inAlexandria where they will play Iota in the quarterfinals Friday. Iotadefeated Block, 8-0, in the regionals Thursday.

St. Charles Catholic, the District 9-2A runner-up, finished its season at22-11.

The Eagles scored two runs in each of the first and fourth innings against St. Charles Catholic starter Marci Martin (19-9). Candi Slade had threehits for the Eagles while Berry helped her cause with two hits in three at bats.

Berry improved to 11-3 on the season with the win.

Class 2A Results (Through Thursday) Ouachita Christian 4, St. Charles Catholic 0Iota 8, Block 0 Teurlings 4, Newman 1 DeQuincy at Pope John Paul II, today.

South Beauregard at South Cameron Riverside 8, Port Barre 2 Buckeye 7, Loyola 0 Christian Life 11, Buras 0

Quarterfinal Matchups at Alexandria Friday Ouachita Christian vs. IotaTeurlings vs. DeQuincy-Pope John Paul IISouth Beauregard-South Cameron vs. RiversideChristian Life vs. Buckeye.

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