MICHAEL KIRAL

PHOTO: RESERVE CHRISTIAN’S SUMMER VICKNAIR lines a single to left in the first inning against Hosanna Christian Tuesday afternoon. (Staff Photo by Michael Kiral) RESERVE – In a game packed with emotion, Reserve Christian quickly took care of business against Hosanna Christian Tuesday afternoon on the Lady Eagles Field. Reserve Christian scored nine in the first and added eight more in the second on its way to an 18-3 non-district victory. The game was called in the third due to the 15-run rule. Reserve Christian dedicated the game to Stephanie “Nikki” Wilking, the team’s center fielder who died of meningitis earlier this month. Catcher Renee Delaneuville presented a rose to Wilking’s mother, Paula, and put a rose next to a wreath on the center field fence. The team left center field open and Wilking’s name in the batting order. A moment of silence was observed each time her place in the order came up. Team members wore a black “12” (Wilking’s number) on their jerseys and her name on their caps. The proceeds from the game went to Kids for Kops, the organization Wilking founded that was instrumental in getting bullet-proof vests for St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s deputies. “It’s going to be a game to remember forever,” Reserve Christian head coach Michael Marix said. “We were lucky to have Nikki. We thank God for the beautiful weather today and to be able to pay tribute to our teammate and our friend.” Reserve Christian improved to 3-2 with the win while Hosanna Christian fell to 0-3. Hosanna broke through first with a run in the top of the first, loading the bases on walks by Amy Thompson, Megan Lacour and Leah Edmonston with two outs. Thompson then stole home before Reserve Christian starter Maggie Keller (3-1) struck out Rebecca Leblanc to end the inning. Summer Vicknair opened the bottom of the inning by reaching on an error. One out later, Mary Venus reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Delaneuville brought both runners home with a triple to left-center. After courtesy runner Marisa Millet scored on a wild pitch, Keller walked, Bridgit Giroir reached on a fielder’s choice and Angie Tucker singled to right to load the bases. A walk by Brittany Watson brought in courtesy runner Michelle LaRoze to make it 4-1. Vicknair then lined a single to center, bringing home two more runs. Megan Venus followed with a drive to right. Watson and Vicknair scored and Venus came around on the inside-the-park home run to make it 9-1. Hosanna cut the deficit to 9-3 in the second as Chelsey Davis, Thompson and Jennifer Rivet walked to load the bases with two outs. Lacour followed with a double to left field. Davis and Thompson scored but Rivet was thrown out at the plate by Mary Venus to end the inning. Delaneuville led off the bottom of the inning with a double to right. Millet, running for her, scored on Keller’s single to right. After walks by Giroir and Tucker loaded the bases, Watson singled to right to score LaRoze and Giroir to make it 12-1. With one out, Vicknair reached on an error as Tucker scored. Megan Venus then singled to left to score Watson. A single by Mary Venus brought in Vicknair to build the lead to 15-1. Wild pitches would score both Megan Venus and Mary Venus to make it 17-1. Tucker came in to pitch the top of the third and struck out three while walking one. Vicknair singled to right with one out in the third and went to third on a two-base error. After a walk by Millet, LaRoze grounded to second to score Vicknair, making it a 15-run lead.