JOHNSON SHUTS DOWN DOVES, 5-0

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 25, 1998

By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / March 25, 1998

LAPLACE – Tina Johnson held Archbishop Blenk to five hits as the Destrehan Lady Wildcats came away with a 5-0 victory in the St. CharlesCatholic Lady Comet Classic Saturday afternoon at the Lady Comet Diamond.

The Lady Wildcats, who had lost earlier in the day to St. Charles Catholic,3-0, and E.D. White, 4-3, improved to 5-8 on the season. Archbishop Blenkfell to 5-6 after defeating host St. Charles Catholic, 7-1, and falling toE.D. White, 7-6, in a tiebreaker.Blenk reached Johnson for singles in each of the first two innings but failed to get either runner in scoring position. Destrehan then reachedDove’s starter Kristy Breaux for three runs in the bottom of the second.

With one out, Holly Gagliano was hit by a pitch by Breaux. Kim Biermanfollowed with a single to right with Gagliano hustling to third in front of right fielder Tanya Wattigny’s throw.

Rachel Owens followed with a grounder back to Breaux who threw home to get Gagliano at the plate. Gagliano slid in safely as Owens broke forsecond to draw the throw from catcher Becky Bromley. Owens was thrownout but Bierman came in to score to give the Lady Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Mignon Benoit kept the inning alive by drawing a walk from Breaux. AnnaGlore then reached as shortstop Nikki Carlone threw high and wide to first base. Vali Lowry followed by dropping a single into left-center, bringingin Benoit with the third run of the inning.

Destrehan added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Owens led off theinning with a single to right and advanced to third as Benoit doubled to the left field wall. Glore followed with a grounder in front of the plate thatBromley fielded, catching Owens in a run-down. Owens was tagged out bythird baseman Natalie Melford but not before Benoit advanced third and Glore reached second.

Lowry followed with a grounder to short. Carlone looked home and threwto first but Lowry beat the throw as Benoit scored. After Johnson walkedto load the bases, Glore scored as Michelle Lerouge forced Lowry at third.

Blenk put runners on in the fourth and fifth innings on a single by Melford and a walk by Lauri Falterman but Johnson was able to pitch out of both innings without further damage. The game was called after the fifth dueto the tournament’s time limit.

Johnson went the distance, striking out one and walking one in improving to 5-6 on the season. Breaux pitched four innings, allowing four runs onsix hits while walking two.

The Lady Cats host Central Lafourche at East Bank Bridge Park tomorrow afternoon in District 6-5A action.

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