MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 17, 1999

LAPLACE – The Destrehan Lady Cats will look to build on their first appearance in the state regional playoffs as the 1999 season begins.

“I think the girls are a lot more confident this year,” Destrehan coach Jemi LaHaye said.

LaHaye will be entering the new season with a young team. The Lady Catslost 10 seniors, including eight starters, from the team that went 11-12 and lost to Covington 7-3 in the regional playoffs. Among those thatgraduated were pitcher Tina Johnson and outfielder Vali Lowry, both all- River Parishes selections in 1998.

Even with the inexperience, LaHaye is excited about her third year with the program, saying that players are getting used to her style of play.

“The biggest key is that all the girls are finally getting on the same page,” LaHaye said. “They understand my style and I think that will helpus.”LaHaye said that fans of the Lady Cats should expect a more open attack this year as for the first time under the guidance, the team does not have a real power hitter.

“We are going to do a lot more bunting and running,” LaHaye said. “We donot have many power hitters so we are going to make things happen.”Leading off the projected batting order is freshman center fielder Danielle White. Sophomore left fielder Mandy Miguez follows with sophomore firstbaseman/outfielder Emily Eoff batting third. Pitchers Kim Bierman andKatie Kolwe will bat clean-up followed by the team’s lone returning starter, catcher/ first baseman Holly Gag-liano. Gagliano batted .300 lastyear in being named second team all-district.

Junior second baseman Anna Glore will bat sixth followed by sophomore shortstop Maren Cameron or Gretchen Driscoll. Junior third basemanJennifer Eskine and junior outfielder Jamie Tarullo round out the order.

Coming off the bench are sophomore Stephanie Poche and juniors Thyme Yoes and Nicole Peltier.

Bierman, a sophomore, and Kolwe, a junior, will handle the mound duties this year. Bierman is the fastest of the two with Kolwe having moremovement on her pitches.

“I plan on splitting them up in games,” LaHaye said.

Destrehan opened its season at the St. Charles Catholic Lady CometJambor-ee Saturday morning. In the opener, The Lady Cats scored three inthe first and six in the second for a 9-0 victory over Reserve Christian.

Gagliano and Miguez had singles and the Lady Cats stole five bases in the game. Kolwe allowed only two runners to reach base in the two innings.The nightcap was a rematch of the regional against Covington. The LadyLions jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first before the Lady Cats scored two in the second. Gagliano singled to open the inning and wassacrificed to second by Miguez.

Gagliano came around to score and Miguez as the throw to first went into right field. Poche then brought in Miguez with a single to short. Covingtonadded a run in the bottom of the second with the Lady Cats scoring one in the third to make the final 5-3.

Destrehan opens the season today against Dominican at City Park. The LadyCats’ home opener is Tuesday against Bonnabel.

In other games in the jamboree, South Terrebonne defeated Ponchatoula, 7-3, and Ponchatoula blanked Reserve Christian, 15-0.

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