MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / April 1, 2000

DESTREHAN – With their bats being held in check by Central Lafourche pitcher Jessica Bryant Tuesday afternoon, the Destrehan Lady Cats relied on two old-fashioned ingredients – pitching and defense – to pull out a 2-0 victory at East Bank Bridge Park.

Destrehan improved to 11-11 overall and 7-2 in District 7-5A play. CentralLafourche fell to 12-10 overall and 3-6 in district.

Destrehan’s Kim Bierman (11-10) out-dueled Bryant, allowing just two infield hits and two walks while striking out 10 in pitching the complete game shutout. Bryant (6-4) gave up two earned runs on six hits and one walk whilestriking out three.

“Kim pitched a heck of a game,” Destrehan coach Jemi LaHaye-Carlone said.

“She picked it up when she needed to and has been solid on the mound. Ourdefense has been playing behind her and that’s important.” Central Lafourche threatened in the top of the first as second baseman Kelly Richard reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. But Bierman came back to get Bryant and catcher Julia Alaria to fly outto left and center, respectively.

Destrehan broke through for a run in the bottom of the second as catcher Jamie Tarullo lined a double over the head of left fielder Megan Morris. AfterMaren Cameron was hit by a pitch, Melissa Andersen hit back to Bryant who forced courtesy runner Emily Eoff at third. Both runners then moved up on awild pitch.

Mandy Miguez followed with a single to right, driving in Cameron to make it 1- 0. Stephanie Poche then hit a fly ball to right. Sandy Dujore made the catchand threw home on the fly, catching Andersen trying to score.

Richard got Central Lafourche’s first hit of the game with two outs in the top of the third by beating out a grounder to short. Richard then stolesecond but Bierman struck out Bryant to end the inning.

Bierman led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right. Afteradvancing to second and third on wild pitches, Bierman raced home on another pitch in the dirt, giving the Lady Cats a 2-0 lead.

Bierman and the Lady Cat defense made the lead stand up over the final four innings. Poche doubled to right to lead off the sixth but Bryant retired thenext three hitters to get out of the jam. Central Lafourche then threatenedin the top of the seventh as Dujore walked and Morris lined a single off Bierman’s glove with one out. Bierman responded with a strike out and gotTakola Raymond to pop up to Cameron at short to end the game.

Destrehan travels to South Lafourche today before playing host to district leader Hahnville Tuesday.

“We scheduled tough pre-district teams and it has paid off,” Carlone said.

“We tend to peak during district and we are where we want to be right now.”

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