Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / May 11, 1998

RESERVE – The Reserve Christian Lady Eagles completed their last season in the Louisiana Christian Schools Athletic Association with a second- place finish in the state softball tournament held at Reserve Christian Saturday.

The Lady Eagles, the third seed in the tournament after finishing the regular season with a 4-4 record, upset second-seeded Houma Christian, 15-3, in the semifinals. Reserve Christian advanced to the finals where itfell to Northside Christian, 8-1.

In the semifinals, Amber Keller pitched the complete game, allowing one hit while walking two and striking out five. Keller gave up two runs in thefirst and one in the third before settling down to retire the final 10 batters of the game.

“The key was pitching,” Reserve Christian coach Brandon Dufrene said.

“Amber was in control and kept herself going.”Reserve Christian scored single runs in the first and second innings before breaking the game open in the third. Bases on balls were the key as KatieMillet, Katie Pitre, Summer Vicknair and Sarah Davis all walked in the five-run inning that gave the Lady Eagles a 7-3 lead.

The Lady Eagles scored eight runs in the third to put the game way. Againit was the bottom of the order that got the rally started as Pitre was hit by a pitch and Tara Goudeau followed with singles.

After Shelly Ford reached on an error and Jessica Dufrene flied out, the Lady Eagles bats really got going. Keller, Millet, Angela Tucker, Pitre andGoudeau all singled and Vicknair followed with the big blow, a triple, to give the Lady Eagles a 15-3 lead. Vicknair led the way for the Lady Eagles,going 2-for-3 in the contest.

In the finals, Reserve Christian trailed 1-0 before Northside broke the game open with five runs in the third. Six errors by the Lady Eagles gaveNorthside a 6-0 lead. Jessica Dufrene singled and scored the Lady Eagles’run in the fifth, but Northside came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the rally. Vicknair had Reserve Christian’s only other hit,a single in the sixth.

Despite the loss, coach Dufrene said the team had a good year, coming together and getting more comfortable at the plate at the end of the year.

“We did better than I thought we would,” Dufrene said. “I couldn’t ask formuch more from the players. We had good kids and we had fun.”

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