MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / February 16, 2000

RESERVE – Fans at Riverside’s Lady Rebel Diamond will see a few changes this season.

Lights have been installed on the field, bringing night softball to the River Parishes. But the biggest change might be on the pitching mound.Riverside enters the year 1 A.T. – After Teague. Tanya Teague had been theLady Rebels’ ace for the past four seasons, leading the Lady Rebels to four consecutive state tournament appearances in being a three-time all-State selection.

Teague is currently 2-0 at Chippola Junior College in Florida. Her place on themound at Riverside is being taken by junior Summer Delaneuville and senior Nicole Lambert. And through two scrimmages and the Riverside Jamboree,there has been little drop off in production.

Both Delaneuville and Lambert pitched well in scrimmages against Parkview Baptist and Ascension Catholic. Delaneuville kept it up against VandebiltCatholic Saturday, holding the Lady Terriers to two hits in the Riverside Jamboree.

But Vandebilt Catholic also got good pitching from Carrie Spearman.

Spearman held the Lady Rebels hitless as the Lady Terriers came away with a 2-0 victory.

Vandebilt got both of its runs in the top of the first. Chrissy Picou led offthe game with a single to left and was sacrificed to second by Erica Chauvin.

Stacey Vestal brought her in with a double to right and came around to score on a sacrifice by Brenna Paris.

The Lady Terriers threatened to increase that lead in the top of the second, putting a runner on third with two outs. But Delaneuville struck out Picou toend the inning.

Riverside also threatened in the bottom half of the inning as Kelly Louque walked and Vanessa Taromina reached on a fielder’s choice with one out. ButSpearman came back to strike out Delaneuville and got Ashley LeBlanc to fly out to right.

The pitching mound is not the only place where the Lady Rebels currently have competition. Jennifer Guidry and Taromina are competing in center fieldwhile the catching duties have been shared by LeBlanc and Jessica Watts.

The rest of the lineup is Amie Graugnard back at third; Holly Richard at shortstop; Lambert at second when not pitching; Brandi Falgoust at first; Cassie St. Amant in right; and Louque in left.”Hitting is going to be our strong suit,” Riverside coach Matt White, who led the Lady Rebels to the state quarterfinals last season, said. “We can put upfive or six runs a game. When the pitching comes around, we will be rightthere. Right now, if the pitching stays where it is, we are still ahead of thepace of last year.

Riverside opened the season Tuesday at home against Assumption and plays at Destrehan tomorrow. The schedule also includes games against E.D. Whiteand Denham Springs as well as the St. Charles Catholic and Riversidetournaments in March.

White said the harder schedule will help the Lady Rebels in the long run.

“If we take care of business, we will be right there,” White said. “We play alot of good competition and it really helps the program. You see good pitchingwhich is what you will see in the playoffs.”

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