MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 8, 2000

LUTCHER – When Lutcher and Riverside meet, it usually comes down to who makes the plays at crunch time.

Advantage Lady Bulldogs in the first game of the Lutcher Tournament Friday afternoon.

Lutcher scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of three Riverside errors, for a 2-1 victory over the Lady Rebels.

Lutcher (6-6) went on to defeat Christian Life, 5-2, Saturday before falling to East Ascension, 11-1. Riverside (3-3) lost to East Ascension, 8-4,Saturday before defeating Christian Life, 5-1.

Friday’s contest was dominated by pitchers Michelle Roussel of Lutcher and Summer Delaneuville of Riverside. Roussel (2-2), making her first start ofthe season after battling a rotator cuff injury, gave up one earned run on six hits while walking three and striking out five. Delaneuville (3-3) gave up twounearned runs on two hits while striking out three.

“For her first game out, Michelle did an excellent job,” Lutcher coach Helen Funk said of Roussel.

Riverside got a two-out single to center by Nicole Lambert in the first inning.

Lambert went to second on a passed ball but was left stranded as Roussel got Amie Graugnard to line out to Kassie Waguespack at second.

Carlie Humphries doubled to left with two outs in the bottom half of the inning before Delaneuville got Roussel to ground back to the mound for the third out. Delaneuville would not allow another baserunner until HeatherMorgan singled to right to open the fifth inning.

Riverside broke the stalemate in the top of the fifth as Cassie St. Amant ledoff with a walk. Morgan then caught Delaneuville’s bunt attempt but threwpast first base, allowing St. Amant to go to second. After Jessica Wattsbunted St. Amant over, Jennifer Guidry brought her in by ripping a single tocenter. Heidi Richard followed with a single to shortstop but Roussel gotLambert to fly out to center to end the inning.

Lutcher came back in the sixth inning. Lindsey Louque reached on an error byfirst baseman Jennifer Keating to open the inning. Graugnard then fieldedWaguespack’s bunt and threw high over first, putting runners at second and third with none out.

Louque was caught off third by Graugnard on Toni Riley’s bunt attempt for the first out. Amber Boe then reached on a fielder’s choice to load the basesas Waguespack beat Delaneuville’s throw on a grounder back to the mound.

After Delaneuville struck out Humphries, Roussel hit a slow chopper to second.

Waguespack came in with the tying run with Riley following as Lambert’s throw to the plate sailed high.

Guidry and Richard, who each finished 2-for-4 in the game, singled with two outs in the top of the seventh. Roussel closed the game by getting Lambertto fly out to Riley in center.

“We got one clutch hit,” Riverside coach Matt White said. “Their pitcher andour pitcher did a great job and it came down to making the plays.”In Saturday’s action, Roussel pitched a two-hitter and Breeze Vicknair went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs in the win over Christian Life. Morgan went 3-for-3 against East Ascension but the Lady Bulldogs were charged with eight errors.

For Riverside, Guidry went 3-for-3 and drove in a run and Lambert added two RBIs on two hits in the loss to East Ascension. In the second game againstChristian Life, Delaneuville gave just two hits while going 2-for-2 with an RBI at the plate.

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