MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / February 26, 2000

RESERVE – Newman rallied from a two-run deficit in the sixth inning to defeat Riverside, 4-2, Thursday afternoon at Lady Rebel Field, handing the Lady Rebels their first district defeat in almost three years.

Newman improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in District 9-2A. Riverside, whichhad not lost a district game since late in the 1997 season at St. CharlesCatholic, fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in district.

Trailing 2-0 heading into the sixth inning, Stephanie Canto led off with a walk against Riverside starter Nicole Lambert. Laura Folse followed by beating outa bunt to third. Jessica Neveu then laid down a bunt that catcher JessicaWatts fielded and threw past first base, allowing Canto to score and sending Folse and Neveu to second and third, respectively.

After Jennifer Levine popped up to first baseman Brandi Falgoust in foul territory for the first out, Maria Laurato tied the score with a line drive single to center. Following a stolen base by Laurato and a pop up to short byEmily Dupuis, Katherine Katz dropped a liner into right. Cassie St. Amantfielded the ball and threw to first but had the throw short hop the bag, allowing Neveu and Laurato to score to make it 4-2.

Summer Delaneuville drew a walk from Canto to open the bottom of the seventh but was erased as Heather Carbajal fielded pinch hitter Kelly Louque’s grounder to short and turned the double play. Canto then got AmieGraugnard to ground back to the mound for the final out.

Lambert had allowed only two base runners through the first five innings, allowing the Lady Rebels to take the 2-0 lead. With two outs in the secondinning, Jennifer Guidry doubled off the glove of a diving Folse in center.

Guidry would come in on a two-base throwing error by Carbajal on Delaneuville’s grounder to short, making it 1-0.

Heidi Richard led off the bottom of the third with a double to the wall in right.

Lambert then just missed a two-run home run, doubling high off the wall in right-center, scoring Richard for a 2-0 lead. Canto would prevent furthertrouble by striking out Falgoust and Vanessa Taromina and getting St. Amantto fly out to center. Canto retired 14 of the final batters she faced to pickup the win.

“They made the plays at crunch time,” Riverside coach Matt White said.

“They played well and hung around. I knew a 2-0 lead would not be big enoughagainst Newman. I have to give them the credit. They made the plays and wedidn’t. But it was the first game in district. It’s still wide open.”

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher