MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 22, 1999

LUTCHER – “I’m not going to yell at you. This is Metro. We’re learning.”Those words that Lutcher coach John Bentivegna told one of his players during his team’s game against St. Charles Catholic Wednesday afternooncould be the motto for the Metro League. Wins and Losses are not asimportant as getting players a chance to play and help them develop for the future.

For Bentivegna and the Lutcher softball program, Metro play takes on added importance this year. The Bulldogs lost seven starters off thisseason’s Class 3A semifinal team with only right fielder Toni Riley returning to her same spot. Michelle Roussel is moving to the mound afterstarting at shortstop this year.

“Last year, I knew what I had,” Bentivegna said of the Metro season a summer ago. “This year, I’m trying them out to see who’s going to bewhere.”The situation was a little different with Lutcher’s opponent Wednesday, St. Charles Catholic. The Lady Comets bring back the majority of theirplayers next year so Metro is an opportunity to prepare for down the line.

The team is coached by former Lady Comets Kim Traina and Kristin Oberschmidt.

“Metro is just for the younger players to get playing time together,” Oberschmidt, who is serving as the assistant coach, said.

“We have four eighth graders coming up and we are trying to get them in and show them what’s it like to play on the high school level. I think theywill do pretty good.”Lutcher defeated St. Charles Catholic, 12-0, in a game called in the sixthinning due to the time limit. Roussel went the distance for the Lady Pride,as the Lutcher team is known as, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit.

Lutcher broke on top with five runs in the bottom of the first. Amber Boeled off with a single to left against St. Charles Catholic starter LaceyTrepagnier. Two outs later, Roussel reached on an error and HeatherMorgan walked to load the bases.

A walk by Breeze Vicknair brought in Boe with the first run. NatalieLouque then cleared the bases with a triple to center field and scored on an overthrow at third, giving Lutcher a 5-0 lead.

Lutcher added two runs in the bottom of the second. Jill Martin led offwith a walk and came around to score on a single to right by Sarah Morgan.

Morgan stole second and scored on a single to center by Boe.

Lutcher made it 9-0 in the third. With one out, Morgan singled to left andwent to second on a wild pitch. Louque followed with a drive to center fora double, bringing home Morgan. Louque then scored as Kassie Waguespackbounced a single to center.

Lindsey Louque led off the fourth with a walk and came in two outs later on a single to left by Boe to make it 10-0. Boe went 3-for-3 in the gamewith two stolen bases.

Nikki Michel beat out a single to short for the Lady Comets with two outs in the fifth. Michel advanced to second on a wild pitch but was leftstranded.

Amanda Rebaldo reached on an error in the fourth and Katie Arcuri reached on a two-base error in the sixth for the Lady Comets’ other two base runners.

Lutcher added two runs in the sixth. Natalie Louque led off the inning witha single to left. Louque also went 3-for-3 in the game with four runsbatted in and three runs scored.

Louque eventually scored on a wild pitch. One out later, Martin walked andalso came around to score on a wild pitch.

“I have confidence with Michelle in the circle,” Bentivegna said of the outlook for his team. “If we can keep hitting the ball like we did today, itwill help out.”

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