MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 17, 1999

LAPLACE – Coming off the first state championship in school history, St.

Charles Catholic coach Teri Hruska knows her team is under pressure to duplicate that feat this year.

“They are talking about another ring, another sign,” Hruska said. “Ourgoals every season are district championship, playoffs, state tournament appearance and championship. We have those goals this year but it is goingto be a little bit harder. I have to get them hungry.”The Lady Comets finished the 1998 season with a 24-9 record, placing second behind Riverside in District 9-2A with an 8-2 record. The LadyComets would defeat the Lady Rebels in the Class 2A state championship game, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh for a 2-1 victory.

St. Charles Catholic opened the defense of that title with a sweep of theLady Comet Jamboree Saturday. The Lady Comets scored twice in thebottom of the third to defeat Covington and came back later that afternoon to hold off South Terrebonne, 3-1.

In the opener, Lacey Trepagnier held the Lady Lions to one hit over three innings. The Lady Comets threatened in the bottom of the first, loading thebases on a walk by Cristin Clement, a fielder’s choice by Jenni Traina and a single to center by Jessie Zeringue but could not push the run across.

Covington had its biggest threat in the top of the third as Heather Nuss led off by getting hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second by Allison Desporte. Yvette Cooper then singled to center with Joanie Kepler chargingthe ball and throwing out Nuss at the plate. Trepagnier then struck outErica King to end the inning.

Zeringue led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center. Courtesyrunner Stephanie Trosclair was then sacrificed along by Kristen Clement and Courtney Vicknair reached on an error. After Alisha Reine walked toload the bases, Trista Laporte lined a shot to center. Reine was forced atsecond but Trosclair came in with the go-ahead run. Trepagnier and MonicaArcuri then walked to force in Vicknair.

In the night cap, the Lady Comets scored twice in the top of the second against South Terrebonne. Trosclair led off with a walk and wassacrificed to second by Trepagnier. Monica Arcuri followed with a singleand stole second with both runners coming around to score on error by the shortstop.

South Terrebonne trimmed the lead to one in the bottom of the inning as Kristen Guidry doubled into the left field corner and Sara Sloufflet singled to center.

The Lady Comets got the run back in the third as Vicknair led off with a single, went to third on a ground out by Zeringue, stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. South Terre-bonne threatened in thebottom of the inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs before Kepler made a running catch of a fly ball into the right-center field gap.

“We played good teams and I was pleased with what I saw today,” Hruska said. Trepagnier allowed four hits in three innings while walking none.Hruska is looking for the junior to fill the spot in the rotation left open by the graduation of Kristin Oberschmidt. Another player that had to bereplaced was catcher Kori Guillory with Zeringue stepping up to fill that role.

“Lacey did a good job on the mound and Jessie has been doing a good job calling pitches,” Hruska said. “They are going to be big players for us.”The ace of the staff will again be Marci Martin. The junior was an all-state selection in 1998 after going 19-7 with a 1.41 earned run averageand 155 strikeouts.

Martin, along with shortstop Shannon Dolive, are currently playing basketball. Sophomore outfielder Sarah Weber will also miss at least thefirst couple of weeks with an injury. With those players out, the youngerplayers will be able to get in some playing time early in the season.

“The kids are getting a chance to play early to show what they can do,” Hruska said. “That can only help the team.”Reine, a .394 hitter who drove in the winning run in the championshipgame, will lead off the batting order. Kristen Clement will bat secondfollowed by Zeringue. Martin is the clean-up hitter followed by Dolive whobatted .361 in 1998. Weber, Trepagnier, Vicknair and Kepler complete theorder. Coming off the bench will be Traina, Trosclair, Cristin Clement andKatie Arcuri. Hruska said the lineup will include more speed than it has inrecent years.

The Lady Comets open the regular season tomorrow with a home game against Newman Saturday morning.

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