MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / February 19, 2000

LAPLACE – The St. Charles Catholic Lady Comets will be counting on the time-honored formula of pitching and defense as they move up to Class 3A this season.

The Lady Comets are coming off a 1999 season in which they finished 22-11 and reached the state regionals in Class 2A. State semifinalist OuachitaChristian ended St. Charles Catholic’s chance at a repeat of its state titlewith a 4-0 victory.

St. Charles Catholic returns the nucleus of that team. Leading the way issenior pitcher Marci Martin, an all-district selection a year ago. Martinfinished the season with a 19-9 record to go along with a 2.12 earned runaverage and 150 strikeouts.

Joining Martin on the mound will be senior Lacey Trepagnier. Trepagnier went3-2 in 1999 with a 5.17 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Freshman Heather Heltz hasalso been penciled in on the mound.

“Those are two pitchers that can keep you in the ballgame,” St. CharlesCatholic head coach Teri Hruska said. “Lacey is showing better self-confidence and more poise out there.”Catching Martin’s and Trepagnier’s deliveries will be senior catcher Jessie Zeringue. Zeringue led the team in 1999 with a .449 batting average and .674slugging percentage and knocked in 21 runs. Zeringue will be backed up byfreshman Ashley Loupe.

At first base will be senior Courtney Vicknair. Vicknair had a fieldingpercentage of .963 to go with a .326 batting average and 21 RBIs. SeniorStephanie Trosclair will be at second base after batting .300 in 1999. SeniorKristen Clement returns at third base, coming off a .320 average in herjunior year. Junior Jenni Traina moves from second base to shortstop aftercompiling a .388 average a year ago. Infield depth will come from sophomoresTrista LaPorte and Amanda Cintron and freshmen Amanda Rebaldo, Kelly Cupit and Katie Monica.

In the outfield will be Trepagnier, senior Cristin Clement and junior Sarah Weber. Clement batted .325 a year ago. Also seeing action will be seniorJoanie Kepler, who batted .300 in 1999, sophomores Katie Arcuri and CrissyMichel and freshmen Kristin Lodrigues and Jessica Jones.

Pitching and defense figure to be the key with the uncertainty of how the Lady Comets will hit. The team will have some speed once they reach base.”Defensive I feel will keep us in a lot of games,” Hruska said. “We have goodpitching and the defense is very experienced in the field. Hopefully, it willkeep us in a position to win.”The Lady Comets opened the season Tuesday with a 11-7 victory at Dominican. St. Charles Catholic plays at Covington today. The schedule alsoincludes games against Destrehan, Bishop Sullivan and East Ascension. TheLady Comets also will be play in the Hahnville and Riverside tournaments.

St. Charles Catholic will play in District 9-3A this season. The districtincludes 1998 state champion and 1999 semifinalist Lutcher. And E.D. Whitegave the Lady Bulldogs a run for their money last season for the district title.

“It’s going to be tough,” Hruska said. “Lutcher always has a good team andE.D. White will be right in the thick of things. I’m not counting them out butI’m not counting us out either. It’s going to be good competition.”

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