by RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Vandebilt Catholic arrived in Reserve Saturday for the Riverside softball tournament intent on issuing a bit of payback to the Rebels, who downed the defending 4A champions, 14-4, in the season opener for both teams.

But while this contest was a much tighter affair, Riverside proved its early win was no fluke, besting the Terriers, 4-0.

“Obviously, we knew it would be tougher this time around,” said RA coach Kristy Hebert. “Vandebilt’s a team that’s always going to improve as the year goes on. It’s good to play these kinds of teams right before the playoffs.”

Vandebilt Catholic is the fourth ranked team in terms of power points within Class 4A. The Rebels are first in 2A.

Riverside swept play at the weekend tournament, also topping South Beauregard and Mount Carmel. The Rebels moved to 22-1 on the season.

With the score tied at 0, the fifth inning proved to be the game’s pivotal point.

Vandebilt Catholic threatened first in the top of the fifth, but Riverside catcher Katie Bailey and shortstop Toni Hebert combined to keep the Rebels from falling behind. First, Becca Himel walked – but Bailey threw out courtesy runner Maggie Moreau as she tried to steal second base. Then Carly Ellender singled, but she was tagged out at second by Hebert on another strike from Bailey.

Vandebilt pitcher Leah Begeron struck out the first two Rebel batters in the bottom half, but Riverside would rally. Megan Stein and Shea LaFountain drew back to back walks. Taylor Terrio hit a grounder to third and beat out the throw to first to load the bases.

Terrio’s infield single was the Rebels’ first hit of the game.

It drew Destin Vicknair to the plate, who delivered the game’s decisive hit – a bases-clearing double that made it 3-0.

“(Begeron) did a really good job,” said Hebert. “They made a few big plays. But if you keep swinging the bats, eventually some are going to fall, and that’s what I told them.”

“We really weren’t hitting the ball well,” said Vicknair. “I didn’t think about it though. The bases were loaded and all I thought was to just swing the bat.”

Jenna Roussel’s RBI single in the next inning would make it 4-0.

“I never thought we’d only have one loss at this point,” said Vicknair. “But we definitely want to keep it going.”

Riverside defeated South Beauregard, 11-1, in a game the Rebels scored in all but one inning.

Bailey went 3-for-4 with a home run. Terrio went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Vicknair hit a home run. Kristy Milioto was 2-for-3.

Destin Vicknair earned the win, allowing no hits and striking out three. She and Chelsey Stein each pitched three innings.

The Rebels scored five second inning runs to take a 6-0 lead over Mount Carmel in the tourney’s final game. MCA scored four in the seventh inning but could not complete the comeback.

LaFountain went 2-for-4. Vicknair hit her second home run of the tournament. Bailey went 2-for-2.