By GEORGE MAHL-Sports Editor

SULPHUR – It had all the makings of a “Rocky” movie. Drama, excitement and uncertainty. However, for the St. Charles Catholic High School Lady Comets, it also meant sadness. With SCC leading 1-0 at the end of the fourth, Belle Chasse High School put three runs on the board and held on to 3-2 victory in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. The loss ended the Lady Comets playoff run.

Belle Chasse starting pitcher Jordan Gaudet gave up two runs on six hits for the Lady Cardinals. To her credit, Lady Comets starter Heather Heltz performed solid as well. She had a no-hitter through four innings and only allowed four hits total.

Throughout the first few innings, St. Charles Catholic had difficulty figuring out Gaudet. Through the first 3 2/3 innings, SCC only managed to get two base runners on base. Heltz and Kelly Cupit were the only to runners to see the base.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Comets began to mount somewhat of an attack. After catcher Ashley Reine and Amanda Helm got out, Brittany Marse stepped up and delivered a single. She then advanced to third on two consecutive passed balls. Designated hitter Mary Clement then got up and delivered a single that scored Marse. Cupit, the next hitter, flied out to third to end the threat.

Another golden opportunity for the Lady Comets came in the top of the fifth. Second baseman Jenna Oncale singled and advanced to third on a passed ball. After Heltz got a base hit, Reine, the cleanup hitter, walked to load the bases with one out. However, the Lady Comets could do no further damage as Gaudet got the next two hitters to get out.

The bottom of the inning saw the Lady Cardinals put three runs on three hits on the board to take the lead. After freshman Breck Reynolds singled and Angel Ziegler walked, Erica Champagne got up and smashed a triple to left scoring Reynolds and Ziegler. Senior shortstop Roshone Andrews got up and nailed a double to center that allowed Champagne to score from third.

In the top of the sixth, the Lady Comets added another run. Clement started off the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice from Rebaldo.

Then, on what looked to be a routine fly ball out, Sara Burtin dropped the ball, which allowed Clement to score. However, a crucial play occurred to end the inning for SCC. With Rebaldo on first with two outs, Vicknair hit a ground ball to Reynolds in which it appeared she made an error.

However, the umpire ruled interference on Rebaldo, thus ending the inning. That appeared to be large because it was to be the last threat the Lady Comets would have.

The most glaring post game stat for St. Charles Catholic was the number of runners left on base. The Lady Comets left a total of nine baserunners on.

The Belle Chasse defense contributed to the victory as well. BCHS only committed three errors and recorded eight fly ball outs in the game.

Top hitters for SCC were Clement (2-3, 1 run scored) and Rebaldo (2-3).

St. Charles Catholic finished the 2003 season with a record of 21-12.