By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

The St. Charles Lady Comets don’t take kindly to the use of the word “potential” when it comes to their team.

After all, potential is really just unfulfilled promise – and by the looks of their recent play, the Lady Comets seem driven on letting everyone know exactly how good they are right now.

St. Charles took victories over three higher classification powers this past weekend, toppling St. Amant, Dutchtown and Vandebilt Catholic at the Lutcher tournament.

St. Amant is currently the top ranked team in Class 5A. Vandebilt Catholic is the top rated squad in 4A. And Dutchtown is ranked sixth in Class 5A.

After the Comets (14-5, 2-0) secured convincing district victories over Lutcher and Brusly before the weekend, it seemed like a spot for the Comets to let their guards down.

Not in the cards, said SCC Coach Ty Monica.

“We knew that given the competition we were up against, if we came in with anything but our A game, we could not only leave with three losses, but three real spankings,” he said.

As one might expect, none of the wins came easy. It began with a 4-3 victory over Dutchtown on Friday.

The Griffins (15-5, 3-0) loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, but pitcher Courtney Western induced a double-play ball that the Comets turned to lock up the win.

Western (6-4) came on in relief for starter Ashley Trosclair, who left with the game tied at three after five innings. Trosclair allowed five hits, while Western allowed one over her two innings of work.

Brooke Becker had two RBIs in the win for SCC. Stephanie Caporella was 2-for-3 and Western was 3-for-4.

In the Comets’ next win, Lauren Coniglio led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs as St. Charles defeated St. Amant 4-2.

The two teams were tied at two after an inning, but St. Charles scored a run in each of the second and fifth innings for the difference in the game.

St. Amant (21-2) had runners at first and third with two out in the seventh, but Western was able to retire the Gators’ cleanup hitter to end things.

Western (7-4) earned the win, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out eight.  

At the plate, she was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Katie Tregre went 2-for-3.

    The Comets’ final challenge of the weekend came against Vandebilt Catholic (12-4-1), where Ashley Trosclair earned the win for her team in a pitcher’s duel.

    Trosclair (7-1) allowed three hits and no runs over seven innings as St. Charles took a 1-0 victory.

    It was the second meeting this season between the two teams. Vandebilt won the first game by the same score, 1-0 on Feb. 26.

    The game’s only run came in the third inning. Jessie Braud’s triple set up an RBI single by Western with one out that proved the difference.

    Again, the Comets survived a close call. The Terriers loaded the bases in the seventh and final inning, but Trosclair got the game’s final batter to fly out to centerfield.

    “We’ve been tested for sure,” Monica said. “Now, nobody can say later on that we haven’t been in these situations before.”

    Just as he did after the two district wins, Monica stressed that while his team may enjoy the victories as they come, nobody is satisfied yet.

    “You know, I don’t want to peak too early, but we’ve made long strides from the beginning of the season, and I know it for a fact,” he said. “But we have to keep improving.

“It’s like we say, either you’re getting better or you’re getting worse. Nobody stays the same.”