By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

A pitching duel fell just outside of Riverside’s grasp on Monday, as Ascension Catholic bested the visiting Rebels 2-1 in the season opener for both teams.

The teams combined for only four hits – Riverside accounting for three of those.

The Bulldogs scored runs in the first and third innings, and Ascension Catholic pitchers combined to strike out 14.

“I feel like it’s a game we should have won,” said Riverside coach Kristy Hebert. “Our bats just didn’t show up.”

The game was a meeting of 2008 state semifinalists in their respective classifications: Ascension Catholic in Class 1A, and Riverside in 2A.

Pitchers Heidi Garcich and Destin Vicknair combined to keep Riverside in the game. Garcich started and went three innings . She struck out two, and allowed one run. Vicknair relieved her and struck out five in the final three innings.

“I was very happy with the way they threw the ball,” said Hebert.

The Bulldogs scored the deciding run in the third inning off of a ball hit up the middle. A Rebels error saw an runner reach home from third for the Bulldogs’ second run.

Riverside committed three errors in the game.

The Rebels cut their deficit to one in the fourth inning. Shea LaFountain tripled to lead off the inning. Ayla Vicknair drove a fly ball to the outfield to sacrifice her in.

Hebert said the loss did little to dull her enthusiasm about the upcoming season.

“I’m excited about the team we have,” she said. “Here, we only gave up one hit. If we clean up the errors, we probably win 1-0. So it wasn’t all bad.”

The Rebels began play at the Comet Classic tournament at St. Charles on Thursday. The team will conclude play today at 3:15 against St. Charles, after facing off with De La Salle at 11:05 a.m in a morning game.