MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / April 28, 1999

LUTCHER – A year ago, the Lutcher Lady Bulldogs, coming off a loss the previous year in the quarterfinals, looked to take it one step at a time in the Class 3A state softball tournament in Alexandria.

A year later as the Class 3A state champions, the Lady Bulldogs are adhering to that same philosophy.

“My confidence is just as high,” Lutcher coach John Bentivegna said. “Lastyear, I never would have dreamed of winning as state title. This year, I’mtrying not to be overconfident. We’re going there to play to win but I don’twant to look ahead. I don’t want to treat it any differently. Anybody canbeat anybody.”The Lady Bulldogs (25-5-1) are going back to Alexandria after winning the District 10-3A title and defeating Redemptorist, 7-0, and Albany, 5-1, in the playoffs.

Lutcher will face Abbeville (14-19), a wild card selection after finishing third in District 7-3A. But the Ladycats are not your typical wild cardteam. Making their first appearance in the postseason since the programwas reinstated in 1995, the Ladycats upset District 8-3A champion Brusly and pitcher Emily Stelly in the bi-district round, 3-1. Abbeville thendefeated Rayville, 17-7, in the regionals.

“They can hit the ball,” Bentivegna said. “To score three runs againstBrusly, that put an alarm on. They swing the bats. But we got a goodpitcher too. I think we are offensively sound enough to score more runsthan Brusly.”While Abbeville is making its first trip to the postseason since the 1970s, Lutcher is playing in the state tournament for the fifth time in six years.

With that experience, Bentivegna said nerves should not be a problem for his team.

“It won’t be new to us,” Bentivegna said. “Hopefully the pressure is on theother team. I’m hoping they might be a little nervous.”Bentivegna said his players are getting more focused in practice, knowing what they have to do in order to win a state title.

“We’ll play harder because of last year,” senior third baseman Katie Cashio said. “We have to get out defensively and play ball. We can’t let upon anybody.”Pitcher Erin Hymel, another senior, agreed that last year’s experience will help this year.

“Hopefully we can do it again,” Hymel said. “It’s going to take a lot of hardwork to get to the championship game. A lot of playing together. We getalong really well and we know we have to play together to win. I thinkwe’ll do good.”Lutcher and Abbeville face off Friday at 3 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Thewinner will face the winner of the Kaplan-Mansfield quarterfinal game in the semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m. The Class 3A finals are scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.

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