By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles ran a gauntlet this past weekend, playing three tough opponents as part of the St. Amant tournament.

The Lady Comets went 1-2 against the likes of Belle Chasse, St. Thomas More and Mount Carmel – all teams of Class 4A or higher who are already boasting eight or more wins.

St. Charles Coach Ty Monica called it the toughest tournament his team has ever played in, but that the level of competition will pay off in the end.

“We’re progressively getting better,” he said. “We’re getting a chance to play up in classification, and these have been some real challenges.

“There aren’t too many schedules around that are as tough as ours has been so far.”

The Comets opened the tourney with a 4-2 loss to Belle Chasse on Friday.

St. Charles (7-4) led 1-0 after two innings, but the Cardinals (9-3) scored four in the top of the third inning, which would prove to be enough.

After three walks by SCC starter Courtney Western (3-3) loaded the bases, a two run-double by Belle Chasse gave the Cardinals the lead, and a two-run single with two outs would give it breathing room.

St. Charles scored once more, in the bottom of the game’s sixth and final inning, but would get no more.

The Comets would turn the tables in the next game, scoring a big inning of their own. Five third inning runs spelled defeat for opposing St. Thomas More (8-5), as the Comets won 5-0.

Ashley Trosclair notched a shutout on her way to a complete game victory.

The Mount Carmel Cubs would prevent the Comets from reaching a second tourney win, though, later that evening. Cub pitching shut St. Charles (8-4) out as Mount Carmel (9-3-2) scored two in the third inning and once more in the fifth to take a 3-0 win.

Western (3-4) notched a complete game effort for SCC (8-5) in defeat.

Monica says he hopes the team’s offense can pick up its level of play before district play begins tomorrow, at Lutcher.

But he’s pleased at the level of the team’s defense and pitching, something he says the Comets want to hang their hat on.

“We’ve pitched really well, especially in key spots,” said Monica. “Our defense has been very good too, and that of course helps our pitching more than anything.”

That pitching has been anchored all season by an extremely formidable 1-2 punch in Trosclair and Western, whose 3-4 record belies how well she’s pitched for her team.

“Her record may not show it, but if you look at who these losses came against, they’ve all been very tough teams. She’s helped keep us in these games.”