But both teams make post-season cut, play opens Tuesday

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

RESERVE – East St. John hosted Destrehan Tuesday for a 5A game with district implications heading into this week’s opening of the softball playoffs. After going blow for blow heading into the seventh inning with a 2-2 tied score, DHS knocked in the winning run on a double to right field to pull ahead. ESJ was unable to match with one of their own for a 3-2 final.

East St. John’s Stacey Sutton was on the mound for the Wildcats, and she held Destrehan at bay through the opening inning to give her team the chance to go up first. ESJ’s Jamie August singled up the middle with one out and stole second to get into scoring range. Kayla Tamplain doubled to left field to advance August before Janay Claviere batted them in with a hotline that bounced off of the shortstop’s glove.

Destrehan fought right back in the top of the third with an inside the park home run by DHS with a runner on second. That brought it into the bottom of the third tied at two. Here, ESJ put two runners on before DHS pitcher got a handle and retired the side.

Destrehan fired back trying to get the momentum, loading the bases with just one out. But a hit to third base made a force out at home and a pop-up to left field ended the threat.

Another jam came in the top of the sixth inning with one out when confusion on the ESJ defense loaded the bases. But an in-field hit to the shortstop forced the first out at home and the second came on a strikeout. Destrehan took the lead in the final inning after a DHS walk and a double to right field drove in one to make it 3-2. ESJ’s August started off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. She made it all the way to third with two outs to go before DHS pitcher Julianne Beaugh ended it with a strikeout.

Destrehan takes their team into the playoffs this week when they have earned a host game scheduled for Tuesday. ESJ is set to travel to play Higgins also on Tuesday. Both games begin at 4 p.m.